As both a mom and a nutrition specialist, a study released this past weekend at the 2009 Annual Meeting of the American Academy of Allergy, Asthma & Immunology (AAAAI), really hit close to home.

The study, conducted by Tamara T. Perry, M.D. and colleagues at the University of Arkansas and the Arkansas Children's Hospital Research Institute, found that families of children with food allergies are more likely to have financial burdens as a result of the condition. The reason for the financial strain? Children with food allergies face twice the risk of not receiving the appropriate specialist care than other kids.

In my job at Nutricia (the company that makes Neocate and other medical foods), I talk to parents of babies and kids with food allergies on a daily basis. So many times, it takes months and months for them to make it to us. Months and months of an incorrect diagnosis' and ineffective treatments. Months and months of medical bills and time off work to take the baby to doctor's appointments.

I talk to a lot of very weary parents.

Interestingly enough, I actually started to go down this road with my own daughter. When Reagan was born, eight years into my career with Nutricia, the last thing on my mind was that she would be a Neocate baby. But she quickly started showing signs of allergic reflux. Fortunately, I knew the signs and was able to get a diagnosis and the right formula faster than a lot of families. But not everyone is so lucky.

According to a study by Kaiser Associates, it takes three months, on average, for families to get a proper diagnosis and treatment for a milk protein allergy. (That's an average - I've actually heard of kids suffering for six, or even nine, months before getting the right care.) That's a lot of medical bills and a lot of time off work. More than a few families have made the decision for one parent to quit working outside the home - going from two-incomes to one - based on their food allergic child's health needs.

We really need our healthcare system to better understand food allergies so families get the right diagnosis and the right management tools much faster. And we parents need to arm ourselves with as much information as possible that we can share and discuss with our doctors. That's why blogs like this one and other online resources are so valuable.

I encourage you all to share your experiences with others - online and offline. It not only increases awareness, it also provides priceless support. I was very lucky to have a strong support system of family, friends and co-workers (especially given my job!) but not everyone has that. And, even when you do, the advice and encouragement from others means a lot.

For the families I talk to, the lack of insurance coverage for medically necessary formulas like Neocate also contributes to the financial strain discussed in Tamara Perry's study. Some companies have started patient assistance programs, such as the Neocate Assistance Program (NAP), for families struggling financially. But insurance should be covering these medically necessary formulas.

I am fortunate in that I live in Maryland, where the laws currently require insurance companies to reimburse me for Reagan's Neocate. But Maryland is one of only 11 states with legislation on insurance reimbursement for amino acid-based formula. Many parents like you have started lobbying for insurance coverage by getting out in their communities and contacting their legislators. If you're interested in getting involved, click here for more information.

In the spirit of sharing experiences, raising awareness and offering support, I'd love to hear some of your stories. How have you tackled the economic impact of having a child with food allergies? What has and hasn't worked to get the right care and/or to get insurance coverage. And if you want to know what you can do to become more involved in increasing awareness about food allergies, just let me know.