Phadia Joins Allergy & Asthma Network Mothers of Asthmatics In Calling For National Institutes of Health Guidelines-Level Care For All People With Ast

Main Category: Respiratory / Asthma
Article Date: 07 May 2009 - 7:00 PDT

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Phadia US Inc, the world leader in in vitro allergy diagnostics and manufacturer of ImmunoCAP Specific IgE blood testing, announced its support of Allergy & Asthma Network Mothers of Asthmatics (AANMA) in calling for national asthma guidelines-level care for all people with asthma.

Most recently updated in 2007 by the National Institutes of Health, National Asthma Education and Prevention Program (NAEPP) The Guidelines for the Diagnosis and Management of Asthma is a federally-funded, evidence-based set of standards proven to reduce needless suffering and death as well as costs associated with asthma.

While the NAEPP guidelines stress the importance of evaluating the role of allergens in patients with persistent asthma, many Americans - especially those served by federally funded programs such as Medicare and Medicaid - do not receive this level of care. Today during Asthma Awareness Day in Washington, D.C., Phadia joins AANMA, the leading patient advocacy group for people with allergy, asthma and related conditions, in calling for NAEPP-level care for all asthma patients.

Michael Land, president of Phadia US Inc said, "NAEPP-level care specifically calls for evaluation of the role of allergens in patients who have persistent asthma. By identifying allergens, patients can reduce exposure to allergens and take action to minimize symptoms, possibly reduce their reliance on expensive prescription medicines and hopefully avoid trips to the hospital emergency room. Unfortunately, many Americans with asthma, especially those receiving public assistance, do not receive NAEPP-level care. This adds cost to our healthcare system and puts asthma patients at risk."

Nancy Sander, president and founder of AANMA, said, "We thank Phadia for their support of Asthma Awareness Day Capitol Hill 2009. Improving care for all asthma patients is a crucial issue for our organization and at the heart and soul of our mission. It's unfortunate that guidelines established by a government-funded panel are not applied to asthma patients served by federally funded healthcare programs. Asthma adds more than $20 billion to the cost of healthcare in the U.S. At a time when the entire nation is intensely focused on reducing healthcare expenses, we cannot overlook preventive measures like those called for in the NAEPP guidelines."

AANMA's 12th annual Asthma Awareness Day Capitol Hill On May 6 will ask Congress to take no-nonsense steps to save lives and dramatically reduce the financial burden asthma places on families. Speakers will include members of Congress, leading physicians and families whose lives have been affected by asthma. Congressional supporters of AANMA's initiatives are listed on the event website.

About Phadia

Phadia AB, headquartered in Uppsala, Sweden, is the world leader in in vitro IgE diagnostic research and product development. Its US affiliate, Phadia US is in Portage, Michigan. For more information, contact their Customer Service at 800.346.4364.

For more information on Phadia or ImmunoCAP, please visit http://www.isitallergy.com/.

About Asthma Awareness Day

Held on May 6, 2009, AANMA's 12th annual Asthma Awareness Day Capitol Hill will support disease-specific and patient-centric healthcare reform initiatives that will save lives and money. Members of Congress and the media will attend a breakfast briefing to meet families whose life-and-death stories demonstrate need for action, healthcare experts whose programs currently save lives and money in America's lowest income, hardest hit populations, and nonprofit organizations who provide free quality services to patients. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), asthma affects 23 million Americans and causes 3,884 deaths a year.

Source
Allergy & Asthma Network Mothers of Asthmatics

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