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Welcome

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

PRACTICE MANAGEMENT CORNER

As part of our on-going member support, we are introducing a new website feature to help with common practice management challenges. We welcome your input with questions or challenges you would like to address. Read More

ADVOCACY UPDATES

Penicillin Allergy Verification and Evaluation (PAVE) Act

Penicillin Allergy Verification and Evaluation (PAVE) Act to be introduced by Rep. Bucshon. AAOA is one…

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CMS Released the Annual Medicare Physician Fee Schedule Proposed Rule

On July 10, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) released the Medicare Physician…

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Latest on Federal Issues

This blog will feature weekly updates from our Socioeconomic Committee and Health Policy team to…

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Upcoming Dates

08/02/24: Scientific Abstract Submission Deadline
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12/01/24: Research Grant Cycle
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04/01/25: Fellow Exam Application Deadline
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06/01/25: Research Grant Cycle
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EDUCATION

AAOA Annual Meeting

Register for FREE* to attend the 2024 AAOA Annual Meeting in-person, in Las Vegas, or virtually!

*The 2024 AAOA Annual Meeting is FREE to all AAOA members in good standing

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

Coming Soon! New Explorers Course — Hybrid
90-days Access Feb 27 – May 27, 2025 
March 27-29, 2025 - Live
The Hythe, Vail, CO
Book Your Room

2025 AAOA Basic Course in Allergy & Immunology - Hybrid
90-days Access June 10 – Sep 15, 2025
July 10-12, 2025 - Live
The Chateaux Deer Valley, Park City, UT
Book Your Room

USP 797 Online Module
Learn More and Register

AAOA Educational Stacks
Available Now!

News and Updates

CEO Update, September 2024

“Life starts all over again when it gets crisp in the Fall”. F. Scott Fitzgerald…

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ABOHNS Practice Analysis Job Task Analysis Survey

On September 24 the ABOHNS initiated a Practice Analysis (Job Task Analysis) Survey. All ABOHNS…

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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

Congress Considers Extension of Telehealth Flexibilities Post-Pandemic

The COVID-19 pandemic forced Congress and the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) to quickly implement flexibilities to allow providers to deliver care virtually. Now many providers and patients are eager to retain access to virtual care once the public health emergency concludes but retaining these flexibilities will require Congress to intervene in some cases. Several bills do just that; however, key members of Congress are signaling that they may take a different approach rather than just passing any single piece of legislation.

Despite its bipartisan popularity, legislation that comprehensively expands access to telehealth services never advanced prior to the pandemic because of the cost associated with it. The Congressional Budget Office (CBO), the group that assigns a price to legislation, has always scored telehealth as exceedingly expensive, believing telehealth services are delivered in addition to in-person services, not as a replacement.

Data collected during the latter part of the pandemic will be useful as CBO reassesses the costs of different telehealth policies. However, experts believe there will still be significant costs attached.

To get around this, some members of Congress, including Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-CA), have floated the idea of extending the telehealth flexibilities temporarily for a period of one or two years to collect more data on the use of these services
outside of a public health emergency. This option is still on the table, but others want to craft a more sustainable policy which would balance expansion with concerns about fraud and abuse by addressing telehealth policy-by-policy.

Some of the policies being discussed frequently include:

  • Eliminating the originating site and geographic restrictions on telehealth: This may be the most popular telehealth policy among legislators and key stakeholders. Prior to the pandemic, Medicare beneficiaries were only eligible to receive telehealth services at qualified originating sites in certain geographic areas; in many cases, beneficiaries still had to travel to a location meeting these requirements for a telehealth visit. As we have all experienced, telehealth services when used appropriately provide benefit to patients in a variety of locations, including in their homes located in all areas—rural and urban.
  • Maintaining coverage for audio-only visits: Prior to the pandemic, providers could not provide an evaluation and management visit by telephone, but audio-only visits became a necessity during the pandemic as many Medicare beneficiaries did not have the devices or broadband required for telehealth visits with simultaneous audio and visual connections. Many providers have reported audio-only visits have been critical to providing care for patients, particularly older Medicare beneficiaries and those to which other social determinants of health apply.
  • Pay parity for telehealth visits: During the public health emergency, CMS is paying the same amount for virtual and audio-only visits as it is paying for in-person care. Congress has heard from many stakeholders about how important it is to maintain this parity post-pandemic, but Congress rarely intervenes and dictates how much CMS should pay for certain services. This issue is most likely to be left to the agency.

We will be monitoring legislative efforts to expand telehealth and keep members engaged on the latest developments.

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