Advocacy Efforts
The Association of Asthma Educators actively engages in Advocacy efforts on the behalf of its members in order to reduce asthma disparities and improve asthma outcomes.
ALERT: Allergy and Asthma Day on Capitol Hill is coming! Learn more and REGISTER HERE
Join us at AAN's 21st annual Allergy & Asthma Day Capitol Hill (AADCH) on Wednesday, May 9, in Washington, D.C. Together we will lend our voices and our hearts to advocate for people with asthma, allergies and related conditions.
This important advocacy event brings members of Congress and their staffs face to face with patients, caregivers, advocates, healthcare professionals, industry leaders and researchers to discuss critical legislative and regulatory issues that involve asthma and allergy care. View our 2018 Policy Priorities.
Allergy & Asthma Network will host an AADCH webinar in April to help attendees prepare for the Capitol Hill day. A packet full of resources (many of which will be posted on our website prior to the AADCH) will also be available during check-in at the event.
The Network will host a briefing the morning of AADCH to review and provide updates on the Capitol Hill day policy priorities. We will also provide the latest legislative and political updates to ensure AADCH participants and other interested advocates have the most recent information prior to their visits with Congress members.
In May 2017, more than 100 patients, caregivers, healthcare professionals and advocates from across the United States attended AADCH. (Check out a recap of the day here). We anticipate another successful event in 2018 – and we need your help to ensure issues related to allergies, asthma and related conditions are on the radar of Congress members.
Are you ready to take your advocacy efforts to the next level? Are you not sure how to begin? Our friends at AAN have produced a helpful video, whether you are taking on Washington D.C. , or your local leaders.
Recently, AAE was a co-signer (with ALA, AAP, AAAAI and many others) in a letter that was sent to all Senators and Representatives in Washington DC to support funding for CDC’s National Asthma Control Program at $30.596 million for FY 2017. VIEW THE LETTER HERE
The increase in FY 2016 will mean two or three additional states will have the opportunity for federal funding for their state's asthma program.
AAE has been active in the Childhood Asthma Leadership Coalition (CALC) and, as such, has been instrumental in:
- Supporting the Elementary and Secondary School Act/Every Student Succeeds Act (ESEA) passed by Congress and signed into law December 2015. On page 206 a provision was added which will allow school districts to use some of their federal education block grants to pay for the development and implementation of school asthma management plans. Download PDF of letter by clicking here.
- Supporting the CMS/Medicaid rule change that allows non-providers to be reimbursed for asthma education. Download PDF of letter by clicking here.
- Asking HUD for smoke-free housing. Download PDF of letter by clicking here.
- Asking numerous government agencies to help in decreasing racial disparities and improving asthma outcomes. Download PDF of letter by clicking here.
- Asking to extend CHIP funding. Download PDF of letter by clicking here.
AAE asked key Senators to oppose the Freedom to Breathe Act, 2011, which would allow the reintroduction of Primatene Mist to the market. Download PDF of letter by clicking here.