The Sinus and Allergy Health Partnership, comprised of representatives from the American Academy of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, the American Academy of Otolaryngic Allergy, and the American Rhinologic Society, continues to work on your behalf. A follow-up to the Strategic Planning Meeting of this past January was recently held in conjunction with the AAO-HNS Annual Meeting in Denver. Our new administrative assistant, Will Cusack, and a new AAO-HNS representative, Dr. Donald Lanza, were welcomed. The founding Chairman of the Sinus and Allergy Health Partnership, Dr. Jim Denneny, passed the leadership baton to Dr. Michael Benninger, as the former assumes his new duties as the Coordinator-Elect for Socioeconomic Affairs of the AAO-HNS.

1. A Breakfast Mini-seminar, attended by a capacity crowd of 1,000, heard Drs. Hadley, Benninger and Osguthorpe discuss the different evaluation and treatment parameters for acute versus chronic rhinosinusitis. The latter 2 physicians and Dr. Jim Denneny also gave part of the "Scope of Practice" Mini-seminar during another portion of the Academy Meeting. Drs. Benninger, Stankiewicz and Osguthorpe continue to work with representatives of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, and the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), on a study that will compare direct maxillary sinus taps with endoscopically-directed cultures in patients with rhinosinusitis. The literature would indicate a concordance in the 60-85% range, but there has not been sufficient data to establish such to the satisfaction of the FDA. A protocol has been drawn for a study of over 200 patients from the geographically dispersed medical centers represented by SAHP members.

2. The Professor of the Day outreach to Family Medicine residencies is emphasizing University-associated training programs (103 otolaryngology residency programs and approximately 530 family medicine programs). Over 50 presentations have been scheduled to date, with the goal of the full 103 to add to the over 100 presentations at community-based family medicine residencies delivered by SAHP members and associates this past year.

3. The SAHP's first foray into interactions with managed care entities was a meeting this summer with representatives of Blue Cross/Blue Shield of Illinois, which is in a joint group of intermediaries representating Texas, Hawaii, Alaska and South Carolina. The Illinois group questioned the Medicare guideline for a zero global period after endoscopic sinus surgery, and the upshot of the discussions was that they tentatively agreed to reimburse for up to 3 nasal endoscopies and sinus cleanings in the first post-operative month. A follow-up visit with that Illinois intermediary was made by Dr. Emanuel a month ago, for a presentation on otolaryngologist care of allergy, nasal and sinus conditions.

The Sinus and Allergy Health Partnership (Drs. Benninger, Emanuel, Hadley, Kennedy, Lanza, Osguthorpe and Stankiewicz) wishes to thank the constituent organizations, and the members that they represent, for their continuing support of our educational research and socioeconomic endeavors. Please direct your questions and/or suggestions for the SAHP to its Executive Director, Jami Lucas, or Coordinator, William Cusack, at 1990 M Street, NW, Suite 680, Washington, DC, 20036 (Phone 202-955-5010, FAX 202-955-5016, e-mail www.allergysinus.org).

ARS e-Survey The ARS is interested in the views of the users of its website so that future revisions of the website may better serve the needs of its users. Please rate this article!
	Not helpful			Helpful
	1	2	3	4	5