In the last few weeks, the College has written extensively about the proposed changes to the 2019 Medicare Physician Fee Schedule. In brief, reimbursement under Medicare Part B would suffer a 6% decrease for allergy services in 2019. Our Advocacy Council analyzed and reported on the proposed E&M changes.
Obviously, no one at the College is happy about these proposed changes – and we know that you aren’t either. That’s why we are pushing ahead, all hands on deck, to fight this change. The College and the AAAAI are working together with our respective legal and lobbying teams to develop a joint strategy that will be presented to The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) to have these proposed changes eliminated (or at least reduced).
First, we are working on scheduling a joint, in-person meeting with CMS at the end of August to discuss the proposed changes. Then, we will send a joint comment letter to CMS by the Sept. 10 deadline.
The leadership of the College is committed to do everything in our power to have the voices of allergists heard. Do you have thoughts or concerns about these proposed changes? If so, our Advocacy Council wants to hear from you. We will keep you updated every step of the way, so stay tuned for more info as it develops.
Bradley E. Chipps, MD, FACAAI
ACAAI President
