The Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America (AAFA) and our volunteers work to develop and implement public policies to improve the quality of life for people with asthma and allergies.
HOT TOPICS!
HHS ANNOUNCES NEW INITIATIVE TO PROMOTE ENROLLMENT OF ELIGIBLE CHILDREN IN CHIP AND MEDICAID THROUGH SPORT ACTIVITIES 8/4/10
The Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America endorses Get Covered. Get in the Game. , the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services’ (HHS)newest initiative aimed at increasing awareness about available health coverage and enrolling eligible children in Medicaid and the Children's Health Insurance Program (CHIP). The campaign is part of Connecting Kids to Coverage, an effort led by HHS Secretary Kathleen Sebelius, which looks to find and enroll uninsured children who are eligible for public coverage.
Medicaid and CHIP are two jointly-funded federal-state partnerships that seek to insure those who do not have access to affordable private health care. Medicaid typically provides coverage to low-income individuals and families based upon state eligibility rules. CHIP differs in its ability to provide low-cost health insurance coverage to those children in families who earn too much to qualify for Medicaid, but cannot afford private coverage.
This summer, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) will launch the Get Covered. Get in the Game. campaign in an effort to insure nearly five million uninsured children who are eligible for health coverage. The campaign is unique in its use of sport activities as the impetus for enrolling children in these programs. With the youth sports season around the corner, coaches, schools, families, and communities will converge to raise awareness and protection on and off the field. The campaign hopes to increase enrollment in seven pilot states, including Colorado, Florida, Maryland, New York, Ohio, Oregon, and Wisconsin.
The Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America supports the Get Covered. Get in the Game. campaign and its efforts to link children with vital health benefits. Uninsured children living with asthma and allergies desperately need the care and medications that these programs provide.
For more information about enrollment in children’s health insurance programs call 1-877-KIDS-NOW (1-877-543-7669) or visit www.InsureKidsNow.gov .
SHOULD AIRLINES BAN PEANUTS?
SPEAK OUT BY September 23!
On Wednesday, June 2nd, the U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) released a series of proposals that would create new consumer protections for air travelers. Included in the summary are three options that would provide greater access to air transportation to persons with peanut allergies. The DOT is soliciting comment from the public on the several proposed approaches.Click here to learn more and to find out where to post your own comments today!
HEALTH CARE REFORM PASSES
Congress addressed health care reform legislation this year and AAFA wants to keep you informed as we voice the interests of asthma and allergy patients. Click here for updates and health reform background and resources links.
FDA ANNOUNCES NEW SAFETY MEASURES FOR POPULAR ASTHMA MEDICATIONS
On February 18, 2010, the Food and Drug Administration proposed new safety measures for long acting beta agonists drugs used for asthma. These include label changes and research studies. AAFA's Director of Public Policy, Charlotte Collins, attended a meeting of FDA advisors concerning safety of these medications at which FDA said that a final decision has not been made. For a statement of AAFA's position and a link to FDA's web site, click here.
CDC ANNOUNCES FLU ADVICE FOR ASTHMA PATIENTS
The US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has flu tips for people with asthma and their caregivers. To learn more about these recommendations and for updates, visit www.cdc.gov/H1N1Flu/asthma.htm on the Web or call CDC at 1-800-CDC-INFO. For up-to-date information on seasonal and H1N1 flu (formerly known as "swine flu") flu, visit www.flu.gov. To find flu shots in your area, click here.
"MICHELLE'S LAW" TAKES EFFECT
"Michelle's Law", a federal law permitting college students to take up to a year off of school for medical reasons and remain on their family's health insurance plan, took effect in October. The law is named for the late Michelle Morse, who continued her college studies while battling colon cancer in order to remain on her parents' health insurance plan.
AAFA SPEAKS TO THE FOOD AND DRUG ADMINISTRATION ON PRIMATENE BAN
AAFA made a statement at a recent meeting of the FDA to recommend ways to let the public know about the upcoming ban of over-the-counter epinephrine inhalers, like Primatene Mist. The ban will go into effect on December 31, 2011. Click here for AAFA's report on the workshop Click here to read AAFA's statement to FDA
COMPARATIVE EFFECTIVENESS RESEARCH
Comparative Effectiveness Research (CER) that identifies the most effective treatments can be an important tool, but patients need safeguards to protect their access to the best medical options to meet their needs. AAFA has a policy memo on CER , and updated information about CER proposals in Congress.
AGENCY OFFERS FREE TOOL TO MEASURE ASTHMA CARE SAVINGS
The federal Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ) has announced a free tool to assist businesses by calculating their savings if they offer asthma management programs for their workers. http://statesnapshots.ahrq.gov/asthma/
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