will look at what their comments are and evaluate those. If we need more information, if there’s additional stud- ies out there that we’re not aware of, we’re happy to look at those. If scien- tific evidence can back up what aller- gists are concerned with, we’re cer- tainly willing to look at that.” One of the allergists’ complaints in
the AAAAI comment letter was USP didn’t present scientific evidence of its own in proposing the revisions. The association wrote, “USP’s failure to provide any rationale for its proposed changes” limited the process to sub- mit written comment. “We think it’s an overreach … into
our practices,” said Houston allergist- immunologist Carlos Vital, MD, “es- pecially when there has been no data or evidence from any practice that I know of saying that the preparation and administration of allergen immu- notherapy in private practice offices causes severe infections and second- ary infections.” Dr. Alvarez says he wishes USP
would take into account the perspec- tive of those who are practicing medi- cine before proposing changes that have “wide-reaching implications for the health care system, and are actu- ally counter to our goal of improving access and lowering costs of safe and effective care.” “These proposed changes actually
worsen outcomes and increase costs, so that’s both sides of the equation for worsening health care value,” he said.
“I believe that I and other practicing physicians should have a say in how these regulations come about.” n
Joey Berlin is a reporter for Texas Medicine. You can reach him by phone at (800) 880-1300, ext. 1393, or (512) 370-1393; by fax at (512) 370-1629; or by email at
joey.berlin@
texmed.org.
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May 2016 TEXAS MEDICINE 69
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