State and federal advocacy have been at the core of the College for more than 50 years. What began with the Joint Council of Allergy, Asthma and Immunology now thrives as the Advocacy Council of the College – a dedicated, physician-led entity recognized as the leading voice for practicing allergists and the allergy-immunology specialty.
From its founding by Robert Becker, MD, through the leadership of Don Aaronson, MD, JD, MPH, James Sublett, MD, and now Allen Meadows, MD, our Advocacy Council has been guided by physicians with deep expertise. Our current physician team, including Gary Gross, MD, and other prominent experts, brings more than 100 years of combined experience in coding, reimbursement, and governmental affairs. The ACAAI is the only allergy organization backed by a Washington-based team of health care experts and consultants whose primary focus is allergy/immunology. With allergy as its sole priority, the College and its health policy partners deliver unparalleled, specialized representation at both the state and federal level.
Our mission remains clear: to defend and empower allergists who care for patients every day – whether in community-based practices, academic settings, or military service. We recognized early on that many critical battles, like the ability to mix extracts in your office, are won (or lost) at the state level, where payer policies, insurance regulations, and local legislation increasingly shape patient access and practice viability.
That’s why, more than a decade ago, we reimagined our House of Delegates as a robust grassroots network of trained physician advocates in every state. We partner closely with state allergy societies daily on issues ranging from reimbursement and prior authorization burdens to drug access, unreasonable caps on services, and evidence-based care protections. State advocacy isn’t an add-on for the College; it is – and always will be – a foundational pillar of our work to protect your patients and your practices.
Why this matters to you
Recent challenges – like shifting payer decisions to the state level, prior authorization hurdles, and threats to evidence-based treatments – demand focused, experienced advocacy. The College’s Advocacy Council has been leading the charge – long and hard – on these fronts, monitoring state and federal policies, lobbying officials, resolving payment disputes, and representing our specialty before payers and regulators. Our track record of tangible gains at both levels underscores why we remain the specialty’s foremost advocate.
If a state-level policy, payer practice, or regulatory issue is impacting your patients or practice, reach out to the Advocacy Council at AdvocacyCouncil@acaai.org. Our experienced team will guide you on the most effective strategies, help you avoid common pitfalls, and share proven approaches that have succeeded in other states. The Advocacy Council also provides knowledgeable experts to speak at state and regional allergy society meetings as part of the College’s Practice Management Symposium program. These programs are an opportunity to get the latest updates on advocacy and payment issues important to you. Contact jenniferpfeifer@acaai.org to arrange an Advocacy Council speaker for your state society meeting. We’re here to support you—because advocating for allergists and their patients is what we do best.
The Advocacy Council – ADVOCATING FOR ALLERGISTS AND THEIR PATIENTS.
