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News -> July, 2001 News
The Sinus and Allergy Health Partnership (SAHP), an organization comprised of representatives from the American Academy of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery (AAO-HNS), the American Academy of Otolaryngic Allergy (AAOA) and the American Rhinologic Society (ARS), remains quite active on your behalf.
A Strategic Planning Meeting was held in January, and our current activities are sketched as follows:
- A subgroup of the SAHP (Drs. Denneny, Benninger, Stankiewicz and Osguthorpe) met with representatives of the Centers for Diseases Control and Prevention and the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to map out a study that will compare direct maxillary sinus taps with endoscopically-guided middle meatal cultures in patients with rhinosinusitis. The literature would indicate a concordance in the 80-85% range, but to establish such sufficient for acceptance by the FDA will require a study of at least 128 patients from geographically dispersed medical centers. A protocol has been drawn up, and a "model" consent form for Institutional Review Board consideration has also been assembled. The SAHP is currently in the process of raising sufficient funding to pursue this project. Note that such follows the SAHP's "Antimicrobial Treatment Guidelines for Acute Bacterial Rhinosinusitis" published by Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery in July of 2000, and will serve as a precursor to a similar "white paper" on chronic rhinosinusitis.
- Since 1999 the SAHP has had an outreach program to Family Medicine residencies (of which there are over 530 in the United States and Canada) via otolaryngologist-delivered slide lecture series on rhinosinusitis and on allergic rhinitis (over 200 presentations to date). Residencies at community hospitals were the initial target. Now, the SAHP is expanding to residencies associated with academic medical centers. The slide lecture series has been significantly updated (Drs. Osguthorpe, Hadley, Stankiewicz, Emanuel and Kennedy) and will be provided to the academic rhinologist and/or otolaryngic allergist designated by the Departmental Chairperson. The SAHP will help arrange for the lectures, and will provide honoraria.
- A significant portion of medical care is now "managed care". Sometimes as part of misguided cost containment efforts, at other times due to inter-specialty rivalry (e.g., allergy care) or lack of knowledge of recent medical advances, unwarranted intrusions into medical practice by managed care entities increasingly frustrate otolaryngologists. The SAHP has decided to expand its' scope of activity into the socioeconomic arena, and will start with an attempt to interface with, and modify if feasible, managed care entities. The SAHP is in the process of identifying payers with supportive reimbursement models, as well as problem payers, and any partnering opportunities that may exist. Our first foray will be a June meeting (Drs. Stankiewicz, Benninger and Osguthorpe) with representatives of Blue Cross/Blue Shield of Illinois (which is in a joint group with the BC/BS intermediaries of Texas, Oregon, Alaska and South Carolina) on guidelines for nasal endoscopy after sinus surgery, whether for inspection or cleaning. While Medicare guidelines for endoscopic sinus surgery specify a "zero global period", many third party payers are denying reimbursement for nasal endoscopy for up to 90 days after sinus surgery. This is clearly an error, and will be the first problem the SAHP will attempt to address. In doing so, we hope to amplify the current initiatives on this problem underway by the AAO-HNS and the ARS.
The Sinus and Allergy Health Partnership (Drs. Benninger, Denneny, 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 (now) socioeconomic endeavors. Please direct your questions and/or suggestions for the SAHP to its Executive Director, Jamie Lucas, or Coordinator, Nick Williamson, at 1990 M Street, NW, Suite 680, Washington, DC, 20036 (phone 202-955-5010, FAX 202-955-5016, e-mail www.allergysinus.org.
J. David Osguthorpe, M.D.
SAHP Board Member (representing the AAO-HNS)
Editor of ARS Newsletter
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