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More than 40 AGA members, representing 24 states, visited Capitol Hill earlier this fall to fight for the science and practice of gastroenterology during AGA’s annual Advocacy Day.
NIH funding
AGA members met with lawmakers and their staffs on Sept. 16 to discuss the success that research and medical breakthroughs have had for their patients and encouraged Congress to support increased funding for NIH. Many members of Congress support increased funding for NIH, but a small group of House members is preventing passage of a bill that would increase funding for the institute by $1.25 billion in fiscal year (FY) 2017. The Senate Appropriations Committee passed a bill in June, on a vote of 29-1, to increase funding for NIH by $2 billion. Advocacy Day attendees urged their congressional offices to support the higher Senate number.
MACRA implementation
Members also discussed the need for congressional oversight to ensure that the Medicare Access & CHIP Reauthorization Act of 2015 (MACRA) law is being implemented as Congress intended. They shared their concerns over the impact this law could have on gastroenterologists, especially those in small or solo practices, and emphasized the need for CMS to provide flexibility to physicians to enable them to comply with the new requirements.
Participants highlighted the recent announcement that CMS will allow physicians more options for reporting in the first year as a positive sign that it is listening to the concerns voiced by Congress and the physician community on the regulatory burdens. AGA members also discussed the barriers that currently exist in qualifying as a specialty-focused alternative payment model (APM) and the need for continued flexibility to ensure that all physicians have the opportunity to participate in more value-based payment models.
Virtual advocacy
In conjunction with the Capitol Hill meetings, all AGA members were invited to participate in a Virtual Advocacy Day campaign. This additional component allowed all members to contact their members of Congress via email to voice their concerns about sustainable NIH funding for FY 2017 and the need for more congressional oversight of MACRA.
It’s not too late for you to show your support for the science and practice of GI. Contact your congressional representatives in support of important issues at www.gastroadvocacy.org/actionalerts.aspx.
More than 40 AGA members, representing 24 states, visited Capitol Hill earlier this fall to fight for the science and practice of gastroenterology during AGA’s annual Advocacy Day.
NIH funding
AGA members met with lawmakers and their staffs on Sept. 16 to discuss the success that research and medical breakthroughs have had for their patients and encouraged Congress to support increased funding for NIH. Many members of Congress support increased funding for NIH, but a small group of House members is preventing passage of a bill that would increase funding for the institute by $1.25 billion in fiscal year (FY) 2017. The Senate Appropriations Committee passed a bill in June, on a vote of 29-1, to increase funding for NIH by $2 billion. Advocacy Day attendees urged their congressional offices to support the higher Senate number.
MACRA implementation
Members also discussed the need for congressional oversight to ensure that the Medicare Access & CHIP Reauthorization Act of 2015 (MACRA) law is being implemented as Congress intended. They shared their concerns over the impact this law could have on gastroenterologists, especially those in small or solo practices, and emphasized the need for CMS to provide flexibility to physicians to enable them to comply with the new requirements.
Participants highlighted the recent announcement that CMS will allow physicians more options for reporting in the first year as a positive sign that it is listening to the concerns voiced by Congress and the physician community on the regulatory burdens. AGA members also discussed the barriers that currently exist in qualifying as a specialty-focused alternative payment model (APM) and the need for continued flexibility to ensure that all physicians have the opportunity to participate in more value-based payment models.
Virtual advocacy
In conjunction with the Capitol Hill meetings, all AGA members were invited to participate in a Virtual Advocacy Day campaign. This additional component allowed all members to contact their members of Congress via email to voice their concerns about sustainable NIH funding for FY 2017 and the need for more congressional oversight of MACRA.
It’s not too late for you to show your support for the science and practice of GI. Contact your congressional representatives in support of important issues at www.gastroadvocacy.org/actionalerts.aspx.
More than 40 AGA members, representing 24 states, visited Capitol Hill earlier this fall to fight for the science and practice of gastroenterology during AGA’s annual Advocacy Day.
NIH funding
AGA members met with lawmakers and their staffs on Sept. 16 to discuss the success that research and medical breakthroughs have had for their patients and encouraged Congress to support increased funding for NIH. Many members of Congress support increased funding for NIH, but a small group of House members is preventing passage of a bill that would increase funding for the institute by $1.25 billion in fiscal year (FY) 2017. The Senate Appropriations Committee passed a bill in June, on a vote of 29-1, to increase funding for NIH by $2 billion. Advocacy Day attendees urged their congressional offices to support the higher Senate number.
MACRA implementation
Members also discussed the need for congressional oversight to ensure that the Medicare Access & CHIP Reauthorization Act of 2015 (MACRA) law is being implemented as Congress intended. They shared their concerns over the impact this law could have on gastroenterologists, especially those in small or solo practices, and emphasized the need for CMS to provide flexibility to physicians to enable them to comply with the new requirements.
Participants highlighted the recent announcement that CMS will allow physicians more options for reporting in the first year as a positive sign that it is listening to the concerns voiced by Congress and the physician community on the regulatory burdens. AGA members also discussed the barriers that currently exist in qualifying as a specialty-focused alternative payment model (APM) and the need for continued flexibility to ensure that all physicians have the opportunity to participate in more value-based payment models.
Virtual advocacy
In conjunction with the Capitol Hill meetings, all AGA members were invited to participate in a Virtual Advocacy Day campaign. This additional component allowed all members to contact their members of Congress via email to voice their concerns about sustainable NIH funding for FY 2017 and the need for more congressional oversight of MACRA.
It’s not too late for you to show your support for the science and practice of GI. Contact your congressional representatives in support of important issues at www.gastroadvocacy.org/actionalerts.aspx.