Practice operations depend on a risk assessment of community spread of cases and your state’s current status with respect to being open or closed. It is important to realize that this is a fluid and changing environment, that risk may change with time and decisions may need to change.   

American Academy of Allergy, Asthma & Immunology (AAAAI): Considerations for Safe Clinical Practice During the Pandemic: written by the COVID-19 Response Task Force (12/20/20) 

The COVID 19 Task Force does not anticipate any contraindication for patients on allergen immunotherapy (AIT). However, it would be best to not get the 2 shots within 48 hours of each other to avoid confusion should a reaction occur.

On December 21, 2020, Congress passed a legislative package (HR 133) comprised of COVID-19 relief provisions and appropriations for FY 2021. The key pieces of most interest to allergy practices are summarized here. 

Frequent updates regulatory issues related to the COVID 19 pandemic from the AAAAI's professional advocacy partner can be found at https://www.aaaai.org/about-aaaai/advocacy/covid.

See what other AAAAI members are asking the COVID-19 Task Force about AIT, asthma, immunocompromised patients, vaccines and other topics:

• Administering Immunotherapy
• Asthma
• Immunocompromised Patients
• Other Important Issues
• Vaccines

American Medical Association (AMA): COVID-19: A physician’s guide to keeping your practice open

Centers for Medicare & Medicaid (CMS): Recommendations on re-opening healthcare facilities to provide non-emergent care 

Medical Group Management Association (MGMA): COVID-19 Medical Practice Reopening Checklist 

National Governors Association and Association of State and Territorial Health Officers Roadmap to Recovery: A Public Health Guide for Governors

COVID-19 Coding Update

The AMA, in cooperation with CMS, has released new codes for specific vaccine products. A spreadsheet of all the COVID-19 testing, vaccine and vaccine administration codes can be downloaded here.

CMS has a list of specific COVID 19 vaccine codes and payment allowances and a comprehensive toolkit for providers with the information needed to administer and bill for the vaccines.