Checklist Helps Asthmatics Choose Health Care

SATURDAY, Nov. 19 (HealthDay News) -- Allergic and asthmatic Americans may have a new tool to help them pick the health plan that''s right for them.

The new American College of Allergy, Asthma and Immunology (ACAAI) "checklist" advises consumers about what kinds of features they should look for and what questions to ask when choosing a managed care or insurance program.

A recent ACAAI member survey found that 90 percent of allergists said they had patients enrolled in health plans that actually hindered their quality of care.

"The [U.S.] National Institutes of Health and professional organizations have developed consensus guidelines for the best treatment of allergies and asthma, yet some health insurance plans do not provide adequate reimbursement for all the recommended diagnostic and treatment options," Dr. Myron Zitt, ACAAI president, noted in a prepared statement.

The checklist advises people with allergies and asthma to choose plans that:

• Allow patients to see a specialist for allergic diseases such as asthma, hay fever, eczema and other skin allergies; allergies to food, drugs and insect stings; and recurring infections caused by immune system deficiencies,
• Provide the option of diagnosis and ongoing disease management by a specialist,
• Don''t limit the number or frequency of visits for allergy/asthma care,
• Offer reimbursement for special diagnostic tests,
• Provide affordable specialty treatment such as allergy shots and anti-IgE therapy, which blocks antibodies that cause allergic reactions,
• Don''t require excessive co-payments or other out-of-pocket costs for specialty allergy and asthma diagnoses and treatments.

More information

The American Academy of Family Physicians offers tips on controlling allergy symptoms.

-- Robert Preidt

SOURCE: American College of Allergy, Asthma and Immunology, news release, Oct. 20, 2005

Last Updated: Nov. 19, 2005