Allergen-specific immunotherapy is the only treatment that alters the clinical course of allergic rhinitis (nasal allergies), reducing the risk of asthma and the development of new allergies. A recent Florida Medicaid study found that allergen-specific immunotherapy(AIT or allergy shots,) reduced costs in children with allergic rhinitis, and a further study was then performed to evaluate the cost impact of AIT in adults as well as children.

Through a review of Florida Medicaid claims from 1997 to 2009, researches identified 1319 adults and 3648 children receiving AIT for recently diagnosed allergic rhinitis. They were matched to 4815 adult and 14,463 children with recently diagnosed allergic rhinitis who were not treated with AIT. 18 months of health care costs were compared between groups.

For the total sample, 18 month health care costs $6637 for patients receiving AIT vs. $10,644 for those not receiving AIT – a 38% reduction. The cost reductions were similar for adults and children, with savings of 30% for adults and 42% for children. Analysis of the data disclosed that the savings were from both inpatient and outpatient expenses.

From the Journal of Allergy and Clinical Immunology, 2013;131:1084-1091.

Kenneth Backman, MD from Allergy & Asthma Care of Fairfield County comments: “Allergen-specific immunotherapy has long been known to effectively treat allergic rhinitis and asthma, reducing symptoms and medication usage. It’s good to have another study demonstrating that allergy injections save money as well.”