The College’s Advocacy Council wants to address some important developments regarding the recent change in presidential administration and its potential impact on allergy. We acknowledge the concerns that are circulating, while also emphasizing that rumors often do not materialize as anticipated.
There is significant speculation surrounding Robert F. Kennedy Jr.’s intentions to dismantle the advisory capacity of both the RUC and the CPT committees. Both groups play a role in how physician services are priced by Medicare. Some believe RFK plans to reduce AMA’s role in determining Medicare payments by turning the process over to CMS.
Additionally, the Trump administration’s ongoing regulatory freeze is having a profound effect on all regulatory activity including NIH-funded research and includes pausing NIH grant reviews and other scientific meetings. It is important to note that a temporary regulatory freeze is a very common step taken by almost every new president. An NIH spokesperson provided a general statement. “HHS has issued a pause on mass communications and public appearances that are not directly related to emergencies or critical to preserving health,” said the spokesperson. “This is a short pause to allow the new team to set up a process for review and prioritization. There are exceptions for announcements that HHS divisions believe are mission critical, but they will be made on a case-by-case basis.”
While these developments are undoubtedly concerning, the executive branch, without congressional support, has limited authority to enact drastic changes. We are assessing the full scope of these changes and monitoring the situation. We are carefully evaluating our options and will provide updates as developments unfold.
In other news – On the national commercial carrier front, United Healthcare is moving toward abandoning CPT’s current definition of 95165 (allergen extracts) and opting instead for a more arbitrary definition. Specifically, they are reportedly defining a billable dose under CPT code 95165 as 1 ml. Though the exact ramifications of this shift are still unclear, we should be mindful that UHC is a private company and has the ability to set its own coverage policies. We’ll continue to keep you advised of any further developments.
The Advocacy Council – ADVOCATING FOR ALLERGISTS AND THEIR PATIENTS.
