Contact us at AdvocacyCouncil@acaai.org or 847-427-1200.
2026 Strike Force 2.0 – Still advocating for allergists
Sept. 30 – Five members of the College’s Advocacy Strike Force headed back to Washington on Sept. 30, and their schedule was packed with more than 20 Congressional meetings. While we had hoped the “Asthma and Allergy Patient Protection Act” would have been introduced by now, its introduction has been delayed – but that won’t stop our leaders from talking about it and advocating for its support. The forthcoming bill will address the growing administrative and financial burdens imposed by commercial payers on allergy/immunology practices.
The Strike Force comprises Advocacy Council Executive Director J. Allen Meadows, MD, FACAAI; ACAAI President Cherie Zachary, MD, FACAAI; ACAAI Vice President Maureen Petersen, MD, FACAAI; House of Delegates Vice Speaker Vivek Rao, MD, FACAAI; and ACAAI Treasurer Melinda Rathkopf, MD, MBA, FACAAI. Matt Reiter and Jasmine Garner from Capitol Associations accompanied the Strike Force.
Our Strike Force also addressed FAA’s review of Medical Emergency Kits (MEK) on airplanes and advocated to include single-dose (children and adult) epinephrine in the EMKs. Currently, these kits include vials of epinephrine and syringes, which require a qualified health care professional (QHP) to estimate the correct amount of epinephrine and administer it; if a QHP is on board at the time of the incident. Pre-measured single-dose epinephrine can be administered by members of the flight crew.
They’ll educate members of Congress about immunotherapy and how allergen extract is prepared and administered to patients. We’ve asked that CMS follow AMA’s CPT definition of a dose instead of the 1cc rule, and to remove the MUE of 30 per date of service.
Finally, the College’s Strike Force encourages Congress to pass a permanent solution to physician reimbursement, to sustain allergy practices and ensure patients’ access to care.
The Advocacy Council — Advocating for allergists and their patients.
2026 Strike Force – Advocating for allergists
May 5, 2026 – As part of National Asthma & Allergy Awareness Month, ACAAI Strike Force members are on Capitol Hill today advocating on behalf of our specialty. They are engaging policymakers on the issues that matter most to allergists, their practices, and their patients, including:
- Landmark allergy legislation – Allergy and Asthma Patient Protection Act
- Reducing prior authorization burdens, recoupments, repeated documentation requests, and auto-downcoding
- Medicare payment reform
- Fair reimbursement for allergy shots
- Food allergy priorities
This year’s Strike Force includes eleven allergists — Drs. Cherie Zachary, Dave Stukus, Maureen Petersen, J. Wesley Sublett, Steve Dorman, Todd Mahr, J. Allen Meadows, Amar Dixit, Lawrence DuBuske, Vivek Rao, and James Tracy — who are meeting with key Congressional offices and committees with jurisdiction over, or interest in, these policy areas.
Each year, the ACAAI Strike Force works to strengthen existing relationships with legislators and establish new ones for the future. This approach reflects both ongoing staff turnover on Capitol Hill and evolving policy priorities for the College and Congress.
The Strike Force is expanding engagement with offices interested in broader allergy issues—ensuring policymakers recognize ACAAI as a key partner on topics such as research funding, medication access, and the new/forthcoming Allergy and Asthma Patient Protection Act.
The Advocacy Council — Advocating for allergists and their patients.
