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Celebrating Over 80 Years Of Service!

The American Academy of Otolaryngic Allergy (AAOA) represents over 2,700 Board-certified otolaryngologists and health care providers. Otolaryngology, frequently referred to as Ear, Nose, and Throat (ENT), uniquely combines medical and surgical expertise to care for patients with a variety of conditions affecting the ears, nose, and throat, as well as commonly related conditions. AAOA members devote part of their practice to the diagnosis and treatment of allergic disease. The AAOA actively supports its membership through education, research, and advocacy in the care of allergic patients.

"Advance the comprehensive management of allergy and inflammatory disease in Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery through training, education, and advocacy."

AAOA Member Benefits

  • Up to 60% discount for CME programs and free Annual Meeting. All AAOA’s CME programs meet ABOTOHNS Continuing Certification.
  • AAOA US ENT Affinity program, where AAOA members can gain savings on antigen, allergy supplies, and any of the other 5 service lines US ENT offers. For more email info@usentpartners.com.
  • Tools and resources to comply with US General Chapter 797 and practice management tools.
  • Advocacy support.
  • And much more! Learn More

ADVOCACY UPDATES

FDA Revised Draft Insanitary Conditions Guidance

The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) states, in a revised draft guidance released this week, that…

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Allergy Comments on 2019 Proposed PFS

The Advocacy Council of the American College of Allergy, Asthma and Immunology (ACAAI) together with its…

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EpiPen Shortage Update

FDA has a drug shortage database which includes reasons for and updates on drug shortages. Today the…

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Upcoming Dates

04/01/24: Fellow Exam Application Deadline
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06/01/24: Research Grant Cycle
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06/25/24: Membership Application Deadline to be eligible for AAOA Member rate for the 2024 Basic Course

08/02/24: Scientific Abstract Submission Deadline
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12/01/24: Research Grant Cycle
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EDUCATION

AAOA Advanced Course

The recorded course content is available until April 30, 2024. This year’s Advanced Course featured Laryngology and Skull Base Surgery with Nausheen Jamal, MD and Garret Choby, MD as featured faculty.

RESIDENTS

For information about Resident membership, opportunities, DosedDaily, research grants, and other resources. Learn More

IFAR

Available Now

aaoaf-ifar

IFAR Impact Factor: 2.454

IFAR Featured Content: COVID-19 - Free Access
Endonasal instrumentation and aerosolization risk in the era of COVID‐19: simulation, literature review, and proposed mitigation strategies . Read More

Changes in Managing Practices

Working together with AAOA staff, volunteer leadership and members will enable us to have a positive impact on our members’ practices.

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Live and Online CME

2024 AAOA Advanced Course in Allergy & Immunology - Hybrid
On-Demand Content Access Deadline:
April 30, 2024
Learn More and Register

2024 AAOA Basic Course in Allergy & Immunology - Hybrid
July 25-27, 2024
The Diplomat, Hollywood, Florida
Learn More and Register

2024 AAOA Annual Meeting - Hybrid
November 8-10, 2024
Four Seasons Hotel Las Vegas
Learn More 

USP 797 Online Module
Learn More and Register

AAOA Educational Stacks
Next Availability - April 1, 2024

News and Updates

Starting an Allergy Practice

The essential tools and pearls for a successful allergy practice by those who have done…

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A Message From AAOA President, Wesley VanderArk, MD, FAAOA

July 2021 marks an almost 18 month journey through COVID. We have witnessed and personally…

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College Allergy Symptoms Treatment Back to Shcool

PRACTICE RESOURCES

AAOA Practice Resource Tool Kit

The American Academy of Otolaryngic Allergy (AAOA) Practice Resource Tool Kit is intended as a guide to help AAOA members integrate allergy into their otolaryngology practice and to continually improve on this integration as new information, regulations, and resources become available.

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PARTNER RESOURCE CENTER

AAOA has launched a Partner Resource Center to bring you partner resources that can assist your practice and patient care.

Visit the New Center>

PATIENT CORNER

Brief Update on the Final CY 2019 Physician Fee Schedule

On November 1, the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services released the final Physician Fee Schedule (PFS) detailing policies related to Medicare physician payment and the Quality Payment Program (QPP). A brief summary of key provisions for AAOA members follows:

Direct Practice Expense Inputs

The Protecting Access to Medicare Act (PAMA) authorized the Secretary of the Department of Health and Human Services to conduct a market research study to update direct practice expense (PE) inputs for supply and equipment pricing. CMS finalized its proposal to phase in the new direct PE input pricing from this study over a 4 year period to ease the transition to these new prices. However, in response to public comments including those from AAOA in coalition with the American College of Allergy, Asthma & Immunology, the Advocacy Council of the American College of Allergy, Asthma & Immunology, and the American Academy of Allergy, Asthma & Immunology, they are finalizing pricing for approximately 60 supply and equipment codes in CY 2019, including 3 antigen supply codes. The final supply values follow.

Supply/
Equipment Code
Description CY 2018 Price Proposed
CY 2019 Price
Final
CY 2019 Price
SH007 antigen, multi
(pollen, mite, mold, cat)
$6.700 $4.780 $8.960
SH009 antigen, venom $20.140 $27.360 $30.930
SH010 antigen, venom, tri-vespid $44.050 $51.320 $60.240

 

E/M Documentation and Payment Policy

For 2019, CMS originally proposed significant changes to evaluation and management (E/M) payment and documentation requirements, including a single payment for level 2-5 office visits for both new and established patients. The agency responded to the overwhelming negative stakeholder response to its proposal by significantly revising its final policy.

CMS will not implement any payment changes until January 1, 2021 which will allow the agency to further refine these policies based on stakeholder input. If the payment changes outlined in this final rule go into effect in 2021, CMS estimates allergy/immunology E/M reimbursement will be held harmless while otolaryngology will see a 5 percent increase.

On January 1, 2019, CMS will implement the following documentation changes:

  • The requirement to document medical necessity of furnishing visits in the home rather than office will be eliminated.
  • Physicians will no longer be required to re-record elements of history and physical exam when there is evidence that the information has been reviewed and updated. In addition,
  • Physicians must only document that they reviewed and verified information regarding chief complaint and history that is already recorded by ancillary staff or the patient.

For CY 2019 and 2020, the current coding and payment structure for E/M outpatient visits will remain in place, and providers should continue to use either the 1995 or 1997 versions of the E/M guidelines.

Beginning in 2021, CMS will pay a single rate for E/M outpatient visit levels 2, 3, and 4 (one for established and another for new patients) and will only require level 2 documentation based on the current guidelines, medical decision making, or time for these visits. The agency chose to not finalize the inclusion of level 5 visits in the single payment rate, to better account for the care and needs of particularly complex patients. CMS did finalize its policies to create complexity add-on which applies to allergy/immunology services and extended service codes that can be billed with all level 2-4 new and established outpatient visits. To see an impact of these payment changes, CMS created a matrix available here. The agency did not finalize its proposal to create a single practice expense (PE) value for E/M services because of the unintended negative consequences it had on the indirect PE for certain specialties, including allergy. In response to stakeholder feedback, CMS also discarded its proposal to apply a multiple procedure payment reduction when a procedure and E/M service using modifier -25 are billed together.

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