The Joint Council of Allergy, Asthma &Immunology was established in May, 1975, as the socio-economic/political advocate of the American Academy of Allergy, Asthma &Immunology and the American College of Allergy, Asthma &Immunology. JCAAI's purpose is to provide a mechanism for keeping allergists/immunologists abreast of the critical socio-economic issues which impact upon their practices. The JCAAI represents allergy/immunology in federal and state regulatory and governmental agencies, the Congress, in areas of reimbursement, and in other socio-economic areas where appropriate. JCAAI serves as a single voice in these areas representing the specialty of allergy/immunology.
The JCAAI represents approximately 4200 allergists.

Mission Statement

The Mission of the Joint Council of Allergy, Asthma and Immunology is to act on behalf of the specialty of allergy-immunology and the patients it serves; and to provide a unified voice in medical socio-economics which will enable patients to receive the highest quality allergy-immunology care.

Its goals are as follows:

To address socio-economic issues that impact the practice of allergy-immunology as specialty, which would include but are not limited to: public policy, patient acess, choice of physician, reimbursement and regulations.
To serve as the leader for developing educational activities that enlighten its membership on curent economic, political and social issues.
To provide a vehicle for advocacy and public education efforts on behalf of allergists-immunologists.
Why You Should Join the JCAAI
By: David F. Graft, MD

Several weeks ago, one of our members was audited by Medicare and was given a preliminary citation because no physician was in the office directly supervising the preparation of allergy vaccine vials. He emailed the JCAAI urgently, because the Medicare inspector was returning several days later. He had a response from the JCAAI within 12 hours, outlining four reasons why Medicare’s position was not correct. When he presented these reasons to the inspector, the citation was immediately withdrawn. This is the kind of service and support you can receive if you are a member of the Joint Council of Allergy, Asthma and Immunology (JCAAI).

Other Benefits

Frequent email “Updates” about current issues in governmental regulation of medical practice, their effect on allergy practices, and how to comply.
Postings on our “Members Only” web page, including a comprehensive model compliance plan which you can implement in your own practice. If properly implemented, the plan could not only save you from a fraud-audit by Medicare, but could more than pay for your JCAAI dues through increased income from efficient billing practices and more accurate CPT coding.
An OSHA needlestick plan, also on the “Members Only” web page, which can be directly attached to your bloodborne pathogen plan in your OSHA manual. This will facilitate compliance with new OSHA rules and thereby save you a potential fine for OSHA violation.
A state-by-state analysis, again on the “Members Only” web page, of the frequency of allergists’ use of the various E&M codes. When you compare your frequency of coding visit levels I-5 for new and established patients and consultations with this list, you will have a pretty good idea if you’re coding is in-line or out-of-line with your peers. If you are sufficiently out-of-line, this will make you susceptible to a Medicare audit.
PEAC Data to Medicare

The PEAC, or Practice Expense Advisory Committee, is an AMA committee which advises Medicare on how much overhead reimbursement should be in every CPT code. We will have 4 of our codes surveyed this year (this is mandated by Medicare). The results of this survey will directly impact your reimbursement. This audit is expensive to carry out and if all of us in allergy do not participate in funding the audit, we could end up with data that does not fully support fair reimbursement for our services to patients.

Are You A Member?

We know that in a number of offices, not every physician joins the Joint Council, but rather some physicians get their JCAAI information through their associates’ membership. Not only is this unfair to those offices where every physician has joined the Joint Council, it deprives the Joint Council of the funds necessary to fully represent YOUR financial practice interests. We need every one of you to join the JCAAI.

Join NOW!

In order for us to continue to represent your interests at the same level we have been providing you with for many years, we need your help. Membership in the JCAAI is a great investment. Your profit from this investment, in terms of increased income and decreased overhead, based on our advice, should more than pay your $175 annual membership dues fee. Please join the JCAAI and join most of your fellow allergists in protecting the economic security of allergists and allergy. A membership application can be downloaded from our open website here or you can request an application by calling 847-934-1918 or by writing us at JCAAI, 50 N. Brockway St., #3-3, Palatine, IL 60067.

We strongly urge you to join the JCAAI and help all of us in allergy protect our mutual socio-economic interests.