Asthma is a serious public health problem in New York as well as the rest of the nation. This chronic inflammatory disorder of the airways affects more than 17 million Americans including more than one million adults and 250,000 children in New York State.1  Total Medicaid health care expenditures for people with asthma in New York State exceeded $1 billion in fiscal year 2000.2

In recognition of asthma as a growing public health problem, the state Department of Health convened an expert panel in late Fall of 2002 to come up with a statewide guideline for the treatment of asthma.  The panel was comprised of several health plan medical directors, representatives from various physician specialty societies (Pediatrics, Family Practice, Internists and the Medical Society of the State of New York) and included many recognized experts in the field of allergy and pulmonology.   After a series of meetings and much discussion, consensus was reached and the panel approved the guideline, which is consistent with the current National Institute of Health Asthma Guideline.  The guideline, released in October of 2003 and endorsed by all HPA member plans was distributed to more than 20,000 physicians across New York.

In 2005, the guideline was updated and endorsed by all HPA member plans.

Asthma Guideline