Polly Hoppin, ScD¹, Sara Donahue¹, and Laurie Stillman, MM². (1) Environmental Health Program, Tellus Institute, 11 Arlington St., Boston, MA 02116, 617-266-5400, phoppin@tellus.org, (2) Asthma Regional Council of New England, The Medical Foundation, 622 Washington St., 2nd floor, Dorchester, MA 02124

The New England Asthma Regional Council (ARC) and the New England Public Health and Managed Care Collaborative (NEPHMCC), working with the New England regional office of the US Department of Health and Human Services, initiated a joint regional project in 2003 to advance the dialogue on and generate support for effective environmental interventions, in the context of rapidly emerging research for asthma. Initial research activities included interviews with payers and researchers around New England. We conducted approximately 20 in-depth interviews with health plans and state agencies in New England and with asthma researchers for the purpose of exploring perceptions of the state of the science on the effectiveness of environmental interventions in reducing asthma symptoms as well as current activities and perspectives on appropriate financing for environmental interventions. The presentation will also describe subsequent work by the Asthma Regional Council to convene a Symposium of researchers, payers and others involved in decisions about financing interventions, including providers and purchasers. Planned for Fall 2004, the Symposium will facilitate the exchange of information and perspectives and discussion of mechanisms for developing partnerships to ensure that the costs of preventive measures are covered and the benefits realized.

Learning Objectives:

At the conclusion of the session, participants will be able to
• understand payers' and researchers' activities, policies, and perspectives regarding environmental links with asthma and the effectiveness of indoor environmental interventions; and
• discuss possible strategies for better dissemination of new research on environmental links with asthma and the effectiveness of environmental interventions to payers as well as to providers, employers, policy-makers, and others who influence financing decisions.

Presenting author's disclosure statement:
I do not have any significant financial interest/arrangement or affiliation with any organization/institution whose products or services are being discussed in this session.