For Patients of Arizona Allergy Associates

Dr. Rahul Rishi was an owner and physician with Arizona Allergy Associates. The physicians at Arizona Allergy Associates gradually stopped coming to the Phoenix office to focus on their offices in the East Valley.

As the busiest provider in the Phoenix location, Dr. Rishi always held a special place in his heart for the patients in Phoenix. He wanted to preserve this office and devote all of his attention to the Phoenix office to ensure the patients in Phoenix received the best care possible. As Dr. Rishi puts it “This is my little restaurant and I want to make people happy”

No! You do not have to transfer your vials to another location or office. You may continue to receive your allergy injections in the Phoenix office like you’ve always done. You will have to be seen as a patient by Dr. Rishi to establish care under his new practice in order to continue to receive injections at this location. Your allergy shots that were billed under Arizona Allergy Associates will still be given by Dr. Rishi at the Phoenix location.

If you were a patient of Dr. Rishi’s and your shots were billed under AAA, you will continue to receive your allergy injections like normal until your serum expires. When your new serum is to be made, it will be billed under Valley Allergy. Dr. Rishi accepts the same plans as AAA including AHCCCS.

Yes, you may completely transfer your care to Dr. Rishi. Dr. Rishi would be more than happy to accept you as one of his patients. You would need to notify our staff. You would continue to receive your allergy injections that were billed under AAA until it is time for your renewal. Your injections would then be renewed and billed under Valley Allergy.

Yes, you may take your vials and transfer completely to one of AAA’s other offices. We are more than happy to accommodate your request. However, be aware that you are not required to do that. You have a choice! You can remain here or you can transfer to another office. We will support whatever decision makes the most sense for you.

It will not be impacted. Your Xolair was started under AAA. You will continue to receive your Xolair injections as directed. When your Xolair is set to expire, we will need to reauthorize your Xolair under Valley Allergy. Dr. Rishi will need to see you for an office visit under his new practice.

Since your medication was authorized and started by Arizona Allergy Associates, we will put you in touch with AAA’s biologic coordinator who can help assist with these and other questions.

No, Valley Allergy works with four different biologic management companies that can process and handle all of your concerns. We will put you in contact with one of those companies that works with your particular insurance policy.

Yes! Since Valley Allergy is technically a new practice, we would have to see you for an office visit to establish care under the new entity. This is primarily for insurance purposes. We apologize for this inconvenience. The good news is we will likely not have to perform allergy testing. We still have your records from AAA. This would likely be a brief office consultation.

1. There will be many positive changes. First, we will be open 5 days during the week. We will also offer two “late” days where shots will be offered up to 5:30 PM to allow for our patients to arrive after work or school to receive their injections. 
2. Dr. Rishi only works in the Phoenix office. Previously, he was traveling to 5 different offices throughout the Valley. You will receive his dedicated attention at this office. That means it will be easier to schedule appointments with more availability for you.  This also means there will be less office closures and more consistent service with one provider. Seeing the same provider allows for improved continuity of care. 
3. In addition,  Valley Allergy will be offering a text messaging app to allow patients to text their questions to our staff. 
4. We will Answer the Phone! We do not offer centralized call scheduling. When you call our office, you are calling this office. You are speaking with the front desk employees who work at this office. Dr. Rishi was adamant about eliminating centralized call scheduling. Should you need directions or nuanced information, the people who work in the office are the best people to answer your questions. 
5. We have reduced our wait times for allergy injections. Therefore, patients will be able to come and go with more ease. 
6. Finally, we may offer some half day clinics on Saturdays to accommodate our patients who cannot take off work during the week to be seen. This will be announced at a later date.