Society News

Are you a gastroenterology fellow settling into a new role and wondering what else you can do to make the most of your fellowship experience? The AGA Gastro Squad is excited you’re here and we’re here to help.

AGA has resources and programs specifically for fellows. Whether you’re embarking on your first year or your last one, these tools can be used at any point to help you during your training.

Start here:

Review and bookmark these guides to make the most out of fellowship.

10 tips for new GI fellows

First year fellows guide
 

Small talk, big topics

A podcast for trainees and early career GIs from fellow early career GIs. Join our hosts for conversations with leaders in gastroenterology. They offer guidance for training and dissect the changing landscape of GI and what it means for you. Check out recent episodes and download and subscribe wherever podcasts are available.

AGA university

Get your clinical questions answered or take a deeper dive into different topic areas with AGA University. Courses include Gastro Bites sessions about topics such as examining new guideline recommendations for managing chronic idiopathic constipation in adults. CME is available. Access AGA University here.

AGA young delegates program

Get plugged in with your fellow engaged early career GIs and learn about volunteer opportunities to represent AGA. The only criteria to participate is to be an AGA member. Join now.

Get more advice

Interested in receiving additional career guidance or professional development opportunities? Connect with the AGA Gastro Squad at @AmerGastroAssn on X and on Instagram.

Are you a gastroenterology fellow settling into a new role and wondering what else you can do to make the most of your fellowship experience? The AGA Gastro Squad is excited you’re here and we’re here to help.

AGA has resources and programs specifically for fellows. Whether you’re embarking on your first year or your last one, these tools can be used at any point to help you during your training.

Start here:

Review and bookmark these guides to make the most out of fellowship.

10 tips for new GI fellows

First year fellows guide
 

Small talk, big topics

A podcast for trainees and early career GIs from fellow early career GIs. Join our hosts for conversations with leaders in gastroenterology. They offer guidance for training and dissect the changing landscape of GI and what it means for you. Check out recent episodes and download and subscribe wherever podcasts are available.

AGA university

Get your clinical questions answered or take a deeper dive into different topic areas with AGA University. Courses include Gastro Bites sessions about topics such as examining new guideline recommendations for managing chronic idiopathic constipation in adults. CME is available. Access AGA University here.

AGA young delegates program

Get plugged in with your fellow engaged early career GIs and learn about volunteer opportunities to represent AGA. The only criteria to participate is to be an AGA member. Join now.

Get more advice

Interested in receiving additional career guidance or professional development opportunities? Connect with the AGA Gastro Squad at @AmerGastroAssn on X and on Instagram.

Are you a gastroenterology fellow settling into a new role and wondering what else you can do to make the most of your fellowship experience? The AGA Gastro Squad is excited you’re here and we’re here to help.

AGA has resources and programs specifically for fellows. Whether you’re embarking on your first year or your last one, these tools can be used at any point to help you during your training.

Start here:

Review and bookmark these guides to make the most out of fellowship.

10 tips for new GI fellows

First year fellows guide
 

Small talk, big topics

A podcast for trainees and early career GIs from fellow early career GIs. Join our hosts for conversations with leaders in gastroenterology. They offer guidance for training and dissect the changing landscape of GI and what it means for you. Check out recent episodes and download and subscribe wherever podcasts are available.

AGA university

Get your clinical questions answered or take a deeper dive into different topic areas with AGA University. Courses include Gastro Bites sessions about topics such as examining new guideline recommendations for managing chronic idiopathic constipation in adults. CME is available. Access AGA University here.

AGA young delegates program

Get plugged in with your fellow engaged early career GIs and learn about volunteer opportunities to represent AGA. The only criteria to participate is to be an AGA member. Join now.

Get more advice

Interested in receiving additional career guidance or professional development opportunities? Connect with the AGA Gastro Squad at @AmerGastroAssn on X and on Instagram.

The Fostering Opportunities Resulting in Workforce and Research Diversity (FORWARD) Program is now accepting applications for its 2023-2025 cohort. The FORWARD program supports and facilitates a unique pathway for physician-scientists from underrepresented populations to advance their careers and make a meaningful impact as leaders within AGA and in academic medicine. Here’s how the AGA FORWARD program creates a supportive environment that fosters career advancement, leadership development and a growing community:

• Learn important skills critical for a successful research career, expert grant writing training and coaching from esteemed GI mentors.
• Connect with a community of GI leaders through one-on-one mentorship and near-peer mentors in medicine from underrepresented populations.
• Develop leadership skills vital to directing your lab, your institution, the field, and AGA, partnering with an executive coach to assess, identify and work on key strengths and areas of improvement.

Embark on a transformative journey toward a successful and fulfilling career in academic medicine.

Apply today.

The Fostering Opportunities Resulting in Workforce and Research Diversity (FORWARD) Program is now accepting applications for its 2023-2025 cohort. The FORWARD program supports and facilitates a unique pathway for physician-scientists from underrepresented populations to advance their careers and make a meaningful impact as leaders within AGA and in academic medicine. Here’s how the AGA FORWARD program creates a supportive environment that fosters career advancement, leadership development and a growing community:

• Learn important skills critical for a successful research career, expert grant writing training and coaching from esteemed GI mentors.
• Connect with a community of GI leaders through one-on-one mentorship and near-peer mentors in medicine from underrepresented populations.
• Develop leadership skills vital to directing your lab, your institution, the field, and AGA, partnering with an executive coach to assess, identify and work on key strengths and areas of improvement.

Embark on a transformative journey toward a successful and fulfilling career in academic medicine.

Apply today.

The Fostering Opportunities Resulting in Workforce and Research Diversity (FORWARD) Program is now accepting applications for its 2023-2025 cohort. The FORWARD program supports and facilitates a unique pathway for physician-scientists from underrepresented populations to advance their careers and make a meaningful impact as leaders within AGA and in academic medicine. Here’s how the AGA FORWARD program creates a supportive environment that fosters career advancement, leadership development and a growing community:

• Learn important skills critical for a successful research career, expert grant writing training and coaching from esteemed GI mentors.
• Connect with a community of GI leaders through one-on-one mentorship and near-peer mentors in medicine from underrepresented populations.
• Develop leadership skills vital to directing your lab, your institution, the field, and AGA, partnering with an executive coach to assess, identify and work on key strengths and areas of improvement.

Embark on a transformative journey toward a successful and fulfilling career in academic medicine.

Apply today.

The suggested Medicare Physician Fee Schedule for calendar year (CY) 2024 was announced by the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) in July 2023. Physicians who specialize in pulmonary, critical care, and sleep medicine will be impacted by a number of policy and payment changes. Additionally, keep in mind that this is the proposed rule. Following are some of the key points for our readers:

1. The conversion factor that CMS is suggesting for 2024 is $32.75, which represents a $1.14 (–3.34%) reduction. The current conversion factor is $33.89. This is specifically meant to lower total Medicare spending.

2. It is forecast that pulmonary specialists will experience an estimated 1.09% reduction in Medicare reimbursements if the proposed changes are approved. Medicare reimbursements for critical care specialists will be reduced by 2.51%, and sleep medicine specialists will be seeing a 0.75% increase.

3. Interestingly, CMS is proposing a Healthcare Common Procedure Coding System (HCPCS) code G2211 that will have a distinct add-on payment starting on January 1, 2024. With the help of this add-on code, the resource costs of evaluation and management visits for primary care and long-term treatment of difficult patients will be more accurately recognized. In general, it will be used as an additional payment for outpatient office visits in recognition of the potential expenditures that doctors may face when treating a patient’s single, significant, or complex chronic condition over time. Payment for this add-on code would have a redistributive impact on all other CY 2024 payments, which are still lower than what was previously predicted for this policy in CY 2021 under the Medicare Physician Fee Schedule, which was not implemented at the request of various surgical specialties.

4. As you all are aware, split (or shared) E/M visits in hospitals and other institutional settings are those that are provided in part by doctors and in part by other practitioners of the same specialty but billed under a single provider. Thankfully CMS is recommending delaying the application of the “substantive portion” definition of more than 50% of the total period to at least December 31, 2024. Instead, they are going to keep the present definition of the “substantive portion” for CY 2024, which permits use of either more than half of the visit’s total time or one of the three major components (history, exam, or MDM) to determine who bills the visit. Please remember that Critical Care services (99291/99292) may also be shared or split; however, in this case, billing is based only on time.

5. According to CMS’s current regulatory stance, teaching physicians have to be physically present to charge for services involving residents at the end of the COVID-19 Public Health Emergency. Congress, on the other hand, stepped in and passed legislation to expand Medicare coverage of a number of telehealth services. In accordance with the expanded telehealth policies adopted by Congress, CMS is recommending that teaching physicians be permitted to employ audio/video real-time communications technology when the resident physician provides telehealth services to Medicare beneficiaries for CY 2024.

The CMS’s document is fairly comprehensive, so please visit this link for more information

The suggested Medicare Physician Fee Schedule for calendar year (CY) 2024 was announced by the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) in July 2023. Physicians who specialize in pulmonary, critical care, and sleep medicine will be impacted by a number of policy and payment changes. Additionally, keep in mind that this is the proposed rule. Following are some of the key points for our readers:

1. The conversion factor that CMS is suggesting for 2024 is $32.75, which represents a $1.14 (–3.34%) reduction. The current conversion factor is $33.89. This is specifically meant to lower total Medicare spending.

2. It is forecast that pulmonary specialists will experience an estimated 1.09% reduction in Medicare reimbursements if the proposed changes are approved. Medicare reimbursements for critical care specialists will be reduced by 2.51%, and sleep medicine specialists will be seeing a 0.75% increase.

3. Interestingly, CMS is proposing a Healthcare Common Procedure Coding System (HCPCS) code G2211 that will have a distinct add-on payment starting on January 1, 2024. With the help of this add-on code, the resource costs of evaluation and management visits for primary care and long-term treatment of difficult patients will be more accurately recognized. In general, it will be used as an additional payment for outpatient office visits in recognition of the potential expenditures that doctors may face when treating a patient’s single, significant, or complex chronic condition over time. Payment for this add-on code would have a redistributive impact on all other CY 2024 payments, which are still lower than what was previously predicted for this policy in CY 2021 under the Medicare Physician Fee Schedule, which was not implemented at the request of various surgical specialties.

4. As you all are aware, split (or shared) E/M visits in hospitals and other institutional settings are those that are provided in part by doctors and in part by other practitioners of the same specialty but billed under a single provider. Thankfully CMS is recommending delaying the application of the “substantive portion” definition of more than 50% of the total period to at least December 31, 2024. Instead, they are going to keep the present definition of the “substantive portion” for CY 2024, which permits use of either more than half of the visit’s total time or one of the three major components (history, exam, or MDM) to determine who bills the visit. Please remember that Critical Care services (99291/99292) may also be shared or split; however, in this case, billing is based only on time.

5. According to CMS’s current regulatory stance, teaching physicians have to be physically present to charge for services involving residents at the end of the COVID-19 Public Health Emergency. Congress, on the other hand, stepped in and passed legislation to expand Medicare coverage of a number of telehealth services. In accordance with the expanded telehealth policies adopted by Congress, CMS is recommending that teaching physicians be permitted to employ audio/video real-time communications technology when the resident physician provides telehealth services to Medicare beneficiaries for CY 2024.

The CMS’s document is fairly comprehensive, so please visit this link for more information

The suggested Medicare Physician Fee Schedule for calendar year (CY) 2024 was announced by the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) in July 2023. Physicians who specialize in pulmonary, critical care, and sleep medicine will be impacted by a number of policy and payment changes. Additionally, keep in mind that this is the proposed rule. Following are some of the key points for our readers:

1. The conversion factor that CMS is suggesting for 2024 is $32.75, which represents a $1.14 (–3.34%) reduction. The current conversion factor is $33.89. This is specifically meant to lower total Medicare spending.

2. It is forecast that pulmonary specialists will experience an estimated 1.09% reduction in Medicare reimbursements if the proposed changes are approved. Medicare reimbursements for critical care specialists will be reduced by 2.51%, and sleep medicine specialists will be seeing a 0.75% increase.

3. Interestingly, CMS is proposing a Healthcare Common Procedure Coding System (HCPCS) code G2211 that will have a distinct add-on payment starting on January 1, 2024. With the help of this add-on code, the resource costs of evaluation and management visits for primary care and long-term treatment of difficult patients will be more accurately recognized. In general, it will be used as an additional payment for outpatient office visits in recognition of the potential expenditures that doctors may face when treating a patient’s single, significant, or complex chronic condition over time. Payment for this add-on code would have a redistributive impact on all other CY 2024 payments, which are still lower than what was previously predicted for this policy in CY 2021 under the Medicare Physician Fee Schedule, which was not implemented at the request of various surgical specialties.

4. As you all are aware, split (or shared) E/M visits in hospitals and other institutional settings are those that are provided in part by doctors and in part by other practitioners of the same specialty but billed under a single provider. Thankfully CMS is recommending delaying the application of the “substantive portion” definition of more than 50% of the total period to at least December 31, 2024. Instead, they are going to keep the present definition of the “substantive portion” for CY 2024, which permits use of either more than half of the visit’s total time or one of the three major components (history, exam, or MDM) to determine who bills the visit. Please remember that Critical Care services (99291/99292) may also be shared or split; however, in this case, billing is based only on time.

5. According to CMS’s current regulatory stance, teaching physicians have to be physically present to charge for services involving residents at the end of the COVID-19 Public Health Emergency. Congress, on the other hand, stepped in and passed legislation to expand Medicare coverage of a number of telehealth services. In accordance with the expanded telehealth policies adopted by Congress, CMS is recommending that teaching physicians be permitted to employ audio/video real-time communications technology when the resident physician provides telehealth services to Medicare beneficiaries for CY 2024.

The CMS’s document is fairly comprehensive, so please visit this link for more information

Earlier this year, CHEST released new clinical resources on sepsis and antibiotic stewardship developed by the Sepsis Resources Steering Committee with grant support from the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).

The resources – including infographics, videos, podcasts, and research commentaries – aim to help clinicians increase their knowledge of sepsis prevention and treatment, especially when considering the use of antibiotics.

According to CHEST Past President, Steven Q. Simpson, MD, FCCP, who serves as Chair of the Sepsis Resources Steering Committee, sepsis is the number one cause of death in U.S. hospitals . It’s also the most expensive condition treated in those hospitals.

“Perhaps the single most important tool we have to fight sepsis is our array of antimicrobial therapies, including antibacterial, antifungal, and antiviral agents,” Dr. Simpson said. “It is vital that we use the antibiotics we have wisely and preserve them for future use.”

He pointed to the apparent tension between the need to administer broad-spectrum antimicrobials quickly to patients with sepsis and the need to limit the use of broad-spectrum agents as much as possible. But these concepts aren’t at odds with each another, he said. They’re allies in the sepsis war.

CHEST’s new resources can help clinicians practice good antimicrobial stewardship as they balance these needs. Included in the collection is a two-part video discussion exploring conservative and aggressive approaches to antibiotic use in suspected sepsis. A series of podcasts delves into complex sepsis cases, and easy-reference infographics outline key components of an antimicrobial stewardship program, rapid diagnostics for infectious diseases in the ICU, and sepsis mimics.

Steering committee members were chosen from CHEST’s membership for their clinical expertise in sepsis, infectious diseases, and antimicrobial stewardship. The committee selected topics based on current practice and knowledge gaps where education is most needed.

Working with the CDC increases CHEST’s impact in this area. Much of the care of patients with sepsis happens before they reach the ICU. The CDC’s broad reach with general and specialty medical audiences allows CHEST to share these resources with a wide array of clinicians who practice inside and outside of the ICU.

“Cooperation with the CDC gives us an opportunity to spread CHEST’s knowledge and expertise to a much broader audience, making the CDC a powerful partner and allowing us to serve the nation and beyond in a way that we cannot do by ourselves,” Dr. Simpson said.

Access the full collection of sepsis resources at chestnet.org/topic-collections/sepsis.

Earlier this year, CHEST released new clinical resources on sepsis and antibiotic stewardship developed by the Sepsis Resources Steering Committee with grant support from the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).

The resources – including infographics, videos, podcasts, and research commentaries – aim to help clinicians increase their knowledge of sepsis prevention and treatment, especially when considering the use of antibiotics.

According to CHEST Past President, Steven Q. Simpson, MD, FCCP, who serves as Chair of the Sepsis Resources Steering Committee, sepsis is the number one cause of death in U.S. hospitals . It’s also the most expensive condition treated in those hospitals.

“Perhaps the single most important tool we have to fight sepsis is our array of antimicrobial therapies, including antibacterial, antifungal, and antiviral agents,” Dr. Simpson said. “It is vital that we use the antibiotics we have wisely and preserve them for future use.”

He pointed to the apparent tension between the need to administer broad-spectrum antimicrobials quickly to patients with sepsis and the need to limit the use of broad-spectrum agents as much as possible. But these concepts aren’t at odds with each another, he said. They’re allies in the sepsis war.

CHEST’s new resources can help clinicians practice good antimicrobial stewardship as they balance these needs. Included in the collection is a two-part video discussion exploring conservative and aggressive approaches to antibiotic use in suspected sepsis. A series of podcasts delves into complex sepsis cases, and easy-reference infographics outline key components of an antimicrobial stewardship program, rapid diagnostics for infectious diseases in the ICU, and sepsis mimics.

Steering committee members were chosen from CHEST’s membership for their clinical expertise in sepsis, infectious diseases, and antimicrobial stewardship. The committee selected topics based on current practice and knowledge gaps where education is most needed.

Working with the CDC increases CHEST’s impact in this area. Much of the care of patients with sepsis happens before they reach the ICU. The CDC’s broad reach with general and specialty medical audiences allows CHEST to share these resources with a wide array of clinicians who practice inside and outside of the ICU.

“Cooperation with the CDC gives us an opportunity to spread CHEST’s knowledge and expertise to a much broader audience, making the CDC a powerful partner and allowing us to serve the nation and beyond in a way that we cannot do by ourselves,” Dr. Simpson said.

Access the full collection of sepsis resources at chestnet.org/topic-collections/sepsis.

Earlier this year, CHEST released new clinical resources on sepsis and antibiotic stewardship developed by the Sepsis Resources Steering Committee with grant support from the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).

The resources – including infographics, videos, podcasts, and research commentaries – aim to help clinicians increase their knowledge of sepsis prevention and treatment, especially when considering the use of antibiotics.

According to CHEST Past President, Steven Q. Simpson, MD, FCCP, who serves as Chair of the Sepsis Resources Steering Committee, sepsis is the number one cause of death in U.S. hospitals . It’s also the most expensive condition treated in those hospitals.

“Perhaps the single most important tool we have to fight sepsis is our array of antimicrobial therapies, including antibacterial, antifungal, and antiviral agents,” Dr. Simpson said. “It is vital that we use the antibiotics we have wisely and preserve them for future use.”

He pointed to the apparent tension between the need to administer broad-spectrum antimicrobials quickly to patients with sepsis and the need to limit the use of broad-spectrum agents as much as possible. But these concepts aren’t at odds with each another, he said. They’re allies in the sepsis war.

CHEST’s new resources can help clinicians practice good antimicrobial stewardship as they balance these needs. Included in the collection is a two-part video discussion exploring conservative and aggressive approaches to antibiotic use in suspected sepsis. A series of podcasts delves into complex sepsis cases, and easy-reference infographics outline key components of an antimicrobial stewardship program, rapid diagnostics for infectious diseases in the ICU, and sepsis mimics.

Steering committee members were chosen from CHEST’s membership for their clinical expertise in sepsis, infectious diseases, and antimicrobial stewardship. The committee selected topics based on current practice and knowledge gaps where education is most needed.

Working with the CDC increases CHEST’s impact in this area. Much of the care of patients with sepsis happens before they reach the ICU. The CDC’s broad reach with general and specialty medical audiences allows CHEST to share these resources with a wide array of clinicians who practice inside and outside of the ICU.

“Cooperation with the CDC gives us an opportunity to spread CHEST’s knowledge and expertise to a much broader audience, making the CDC a powerful partner and allowing us to serve the nation and beyond in a way that we cannot do by ourselves,” Dr. Simpson said.

Access the full collection of sepsis resources at chestnet.org/topic-collections/sepsis.

In an ideal world, change would be progressive, the direction would be clear, and adoption would be easy. We learned in these past few years that sometimes change cannot wait. The vulnerabilities of the health care system were laid bare by the pandemic, including vast disparities in treatment and the urgent need to grow our profession.

In the light of these truths, CHEST looked within and asked a difficult question: Are we doing everything we can? This question probably sounds very familiar – one you ask every day, one you know the importance of asking. It was time we asked it of ourselves.

Milestones are a good time to reevaluate

Philanthropy is not new to CHEST. We celebrated 25 years of the CHEST Foundation in Nashville during CHEST 2022. Stories about community and clinical research grants were circulated in website blogs, emails, and newsletters and on social media for years. Our committee member volunteers worked hard developing accurate and credible patient education content for the CHEST Foundation website. Because of our faithful donors, communities around the world had access to better medical care and healthier environments.

This is amazing work, but it was time to ask:

• What can CHEST provide that others cannot?
• Where are the gaps we can fill?
• What is our community passionate about changing?

Working collectively, CHEST and CHEST Foundation leadership, along with staff, rigorously reviewed the success of our past fundraising efforts, areas of commitment our donors had specified, and the direction of interest our membership was leading us toward – like social accountability, growth and diversification of our profession, grassroots community impact, and partnerships to expand our reach. The process took nearly a year to complete – but, in the realm of big changes, that’s equal to the time needed for one good, deep breath.

Focusing on significant change means narrowing our scope

Meeting these goals would mean changing how we worked and letting go of areas better served elsewhere. CHEST needed to:

1. Align philanthropy with our mission to elevate the value placed on giving, making it a core priority and responsibility of CHEST as an organization.

2. Consolidate philanthropy under CHEST to reduce administrative costs and create efficiencies, allowing more funds to go directly to our philanthropic efforts.

3. Establish clear and transparent areas of giving that resonate with our members as a way to grow our impact and make real change.

With the full support of the CHEST Board of Regents, the CHEST Foundation Board of Advisors – under the guidance of Advisory Chair, Robert De Marco, MD, FCCP, and CHEST Foundation President, Ian Nathanson, MD, FCCP – approved a merger of the CHEST Foundation with CHEST.

In order to increase our impact and create greater awareness of CHEST philanthropic efforts, the Board of Advisors got to work defining a giving strategy that would meet the philanthropic goals and priorities of the CHEST membership. Four areas were defined and are referred to as our philanthropic pillars: clinical research, community impact, support of the profession, and dedication to education.

These pillars were approved by the Board of Regents at their spring leadership meeting.
 

Giving goals without support are just dreams

This transition puts the responsibility for funding the giving pillars in the hands of CHEST. The first step is ensuring the members see the impact of their donations.

“When you see your donation in action, you never doubt that you made a good decision,” said CHEST CEO, Robert A. Musacchio, PhD. “If we can show that to every member, the next 25 years of CHEST philanthropy are limitless.”

Helping connect donors to that experience is Meggie Cramer, the new Director of Philanthropy and Advancement , who has experience working directly with health care systems like Rush University Medical Center in Chicago and Hospital Sister Health System in Green Bay, Wisconsin.

“When you are giving to programs you are passionate about, you feel good about being a part of making a difference,” explained Cramer. “That’s my goal – to help our members find areas they care about and know their gift is part of creating real change.”

For frequently asked questions about the transition, please visit our website.

In an ideal world, change would be progressive, the direction would be clear, and adoption would be easy. We learned in these past few years that sometimes change cannot wait. The vulnerabilities of the health care system were laid bare by the pandemic, including vast disparities in treatment and the urgent need to grow our profession.

In the light of these truths, CHEST looked within and asked a difficult question: Are we doing everything we can? This question probably sounds very familiar – one you ask every day, one you know the importance of asking. It was time we asked it of ourselves.

Milestones are a good time to reevaluate

Philanthropy is not new to CHEST. We celebrated 25 years of the CHEST Foundation in Nashville during CHEST 2022. Stories about community and clinical research grants were circulated in website blogs, emails, and newsletters and on social media for years. Our committee member volunteers worked hard developing accurate and credible patient education content for the CHEST Foundation website. Because of our faithful donors, communities around the world had access to better medical care and healthier environments.

This is amazing work, but it was time to ask:

• What can CHEST provide that others cannot?
• Where are the gaps we can fill?
• What is our community passionate about changing?

Working collectively, CHEST and CHEST Foundation leadership, along with staff, rigorously reviewed the success of our past fundraising efforts, areas of commitment our donors had specified, and the direction of interest our membership was leading us toward – like social accountability, growth and diversification of our profession, grassroots community impact, and partnerships to expand our reach. The process took nearly a year to complete – but, in the realm of big changes, that’s equal to the time needed for one good, deep breath.

Focusing on significant change means narrowing our scope

Meeting these goals would mean changing how we worked and letting go of areas better served elsewhere. CHEST needed to:

1. Align philanthropy with our mission to elevate the value placed on giving, making it a core priority and responsibility of CHEST as an organization.

2. Consolidate philanthropy under CHEST to reduce administrative costs and create efficiencies, allowing more funds to go directly to our philanthropic efforts.

3. Establish clear and transparent areas of giving that resonate with our members as a way to grow our impact and make real change.

With the full support of the CHEST Board of Regents, the CHEST Foundation Board of Advisors – under the guidance of Advisory Chair, Robert De Marco, MD, FCCP, and CHEST Foundation President, Ian Nathanson, MD, FCCP – approved a merger of the CHEST Foundation with CHEST.

In order to increase our impact and create greater awareness of CHEST philanthropic efforts, the Board of Advisors got to work defining a giving strategy that would meet the philanthropic goals and priorities of the CHEST membership. Four areas were defined and are referred to as our philanthropic pillars: clinical research, community impact, support of the profession, and dedication to education.

These pillars were approved by the Board of Regents at their spring leadership meeting.
 

Giving goals without support are just dreams

This transition puts the responsibility for funding the giving pillars in the hands of CHEST. The first step is ensuring the members see the impact of their donations.

“When you see your donation in action, you never doubt that you made a good decision,” said CHEST CEO, Robert A. Musacchio, PhD. “If we can show that to every member, the next 25 years of CHEST philanthropy are limitless.”

Helping connect donors to that experience is Meggie Cramer, the new Director of Philanthropy and Advancement , who has experience working directly with health care systems like Rush University Medical Center in Chicago and Hospital Sister Health System in Green Bay, Wisconsin.

“When you are giving to programs you are passionate about, you feel good about being a part of making a difference,” explained Cramer. “That’s my goal – to help our members find areas they care about and know their gift is part of creating real change.”

For frequently asked questions about the transition, please visit our website.

In an ideal world, change would be progressive, the direction would be clear, and adoption would be easy. We learned in these past few years that sometimes change cannot wait. The vulnerabilities of the health care system were laid bare by the pandemic, including vast disparities in treatment and the urgent need to grow our profession.

In the light of these truths, CHEST looked within and asked a difficult question: Are we doing everything we can? This question probably sounds very familiar – one you ask every day, one you know the importance of asking. It was time we asked it of ourselves.

Milestones are a good time to reevaluate

Philanthropy is not new to CHEST. We celebrated 25 years of the CHEST Foundation in Nashville during CHEST 2022. Stories about community and clinical research grants were circulated in website blogs, emails, and newsletters and on social media for years. Our committee member volunteers worked hard developing accurate and credible patient education content for the CHEST Foundation website. Because of our faithful donors, communities around the world had access to better medical care and healthier environments.

This is amazing work, but it was time to ask:

• What can CHEST provide that others cannot?
• Where are the gaps we can fill?
• What is our community passionate about changing?

Working collectively, CHEST and CHEST Foundation leadership, along with staff, rigorously reviewed the success of our past fundraising efforts, areas of commitment our donors had specified, and the direction of interest our membership was leading us toward – like social accountability, growth and diversification of our profession, grassroots community impact, and partnerships to expand our reach. The process took nearly a year to complete – but, in the realm of big changes, that’s equal to the time needed for one good, deep breath.

Focusing on significant change means narrowing our scope

Meeting these goals would mean changing how we worked and letting go of areas better served elsewhere. CHEST needed to:

1. Align philanthropy with our mission to elevate the value placed on giving, making it a core priority and responsibility of CHEST as an organization.

2. Consolidate philanthropy under CHEST to reduce administrative costs and create efficiencies, allowing more funds to go directly to our philanthropic efforts.

3. Establish clear and transparent areas of giving that resonate with our members as a way to grow our impact and make real change.

With the full support of the CHEST Board of Regents, the CHEST Foundation Board of Advisors – under the guidance of Advisory Chair, Robert De Marco, MD, FCCP, and CHEST Foundation President, Ian Nathanson, MD, FCCP – approved a merger of the CHEST Foundation with CHEST.

In order to increase our impact and create greater awareness of CHEST philanthropic efforts, the Board of Advisors got to work defining a giving strategy that would meet the philanthropic goals and priorities of the CHEST membership. Four areas were defined and are referred to as our philanthropic pillars: clinical research, community impact, support of the profession, and dedication to education.

These pillars were approved by the Board of Regents at their spring leadership meeting.
 

Giving goals without support are just dreams

This transition puts the responsibility for funding the giving pillars in the hands of CHEST. The first step is ensuring the members see the impact of their donations.

“When you see your donation in action, you never doubt that you made a good decision,” said CHEST CEO, Robert A. Musacchio, PhD. “If we can show that to every member, the next 25 years of CHEST philanthropy are limitless.”

Helping connect donors to that experience is Meggie Cramer, the new Director of Philanthropy and Advancement , who has experience working directly with health care systems like Rush University Medical Center in Chicago and Hospital Sister Health System in Green Bay, Wisconsin.

“When you are giving to programs you are passionate about, you feel good about being a part of making a difference,” explained Cramer. “That’s my goal – to help our members find areas they care about and know their gift is part of creating real change.”

For frequently asked questions about the transition, please visit our website.

“Ew, gross.”

“Um, no way.”

“Of course not.”

Earlier this summer, I partnered with Dr. Melissa Keene, the medical director of a federally qualified health center in southwest Virginia, to talk about tobacco with middle school students. A few minutes after our arrival, it was clear to us that cigarettes weren’t cool anymore.

We asked hundreds of kids if they or their friends smoked cigarettes. The above quoted responses were repeated over and over.

Tobacco health advocates have spent decades working on public health messaging surrounding cigarette use, which is clearly working in this Virginian middle school.

But our patients, friends, and family who are already dependent on tobacco products still face addiction, morbidity, and premature mortality. And the ever-changing forms of tobacco delivery pose new challenges for our collective cessation efforts.

The Summer 2023 issue of CHEST Advocates features parents, lawyers, doctors, and nonprofit leaders who all share their inspiring stories of action in the fight against tobacco use.

Learn from tobacco experts, Dr. Susan Walley and Dr. Evan Stepp, about evidence-based approaches to tobacco cessation in young people –including why we should start having conversations by age 11 about smoking or vaping and why it’s important to inform youth about big tobacco marketing strategies.

Read an interview with Dr. Anne Melzer, who shares lessons from her career in tobacco advocacy centered in a US veteran population. Dr. Melzer suggests free resources that are available to all clinicians who sometimes struggle to help patients find the best way to quit.

Watch a video of Dr. Iyaad Hasan and Dr. Roy St. John, who run The Breathing Association, a nonprofit in Ohio serving individuals who are underinsured or uninsured. This organization offers a mobile medical unit that provides a free, evidenced-based program to help with smoking cessation via education, counseling, and personalized quit plans.

Learn from Natasha Phelps, JD, the Director of Equity-Centered Policies at The Center for Black Health & Equity. For more than 2 decades, this organization has focused on building community capacity to give local constituents the tools needed for sustainable health improvements, including tobacco cessation.

Hear from Dr. Panagiotis Behrakis, who – after decades of advocacy against tobacco use—the World Health Organization recognized in May for his Smoke Free Greece program. He explains why his work focuses on a two-pronged approach that places equal emphasis on both cessation and prevention.

Listen to a podcast featuring an amazing organization called Parents Against Vaping e-cigarettes, which started in response to a predatory marketing strategy by a tobacco company in a school system.

See how CHEST is fighting the battle against smoking and vaping, as told by Dr. Frank Leone, Chair of the Tobacco/Vaping Work Group for the CHEST Health Policy and Advocacy Committee. And, lastly, interact with a timeline of CHEST’s advocacy work in tobacco cessation and regulation through the decades.

As Dr. Melzer so eloquently stated in her interview featured in this issue, “tobacco cessation is a process that belongs to everybody, and, therefore, sometimes to nobody.” We hope this issue will inspire you to advocate for your patients and partner with your communities in our shared mission to improve education, awareness, and action against tobacco use.

“Ew, gross.”

“Um, no way.”

“Of course not.”

Earlier this summer, I partnered with Dr. Melissa Keene, the medical director of a federally qualified health center in southwest Virginia, to talk about tobacco with middle school students. A few minutes after our arrival, it was clear to us that cigarettes weren’t cool anymore.

We asked hundreds of kids if they or their friends smoked cigarettes. The above quoted responses were repeated over and over.

Tobacco health advocates have spent decades working on public health messaging surrounding cigarette use, which is clearly working in this Virginian middle school.

But our patients, friends, and family who are already dependent on tobacco products still face addiction, morbidity, and premature mortality. And the ever-changing forms of tobacco delivery pose new challenges for our collective cessation efforts.

The Summer 2023 issue of CHEST Advocates features parents, lawyers, doctors, and nonprofit leaders who all share their inspiring stories of action in the fight against tobacco use.

Learn from tobacco experts, Dr. Susan Walley and Dr. Evan Stepp, about evidence-based approaches to tobacco cessation in young people –including why we should start having conversations by age 11 about smoking or vaping and why it’s important to inform youth about big tobacco marketing strategies.

Read an interview with Dr. Anne Melzer, who shares lessons from her career in tobacco advocacy centered in a US veteran population. Dr. Melzer suggests free resources that are available to all clinicians who sometimes struggle to help patients find the best way to quit.

Watch a video of Dr. Iyaad Hasan and Dr. Roy St. John, who run The Breathing Association, a nonprofit in Ohio serving individuals who are underinsured or uninsured. This organization offers a mobile medical unit that provides a free, evidenced-based program to help with smoking cessation via education, counseling, and personalized quit plans.

Learn from Natasha Phelps, JD, the Director of Equity-Centered Policies at The Center for Black Health & Equity. For more than 2 decades, this organization has focused on building community capacity to give local constituents the tools needed for sustainable health improvements, including tobacco cessation.

Hear from Dr. Panagiotis Behrakis, who – after decades of advocacy against tobacco use—the World Health Organization recognized in May for his Smoke Free Greece program. He explains why his work focuses on a two-pronged approach that places equal emphasis on both cessation and prevention.

Listen to a podcast featuring an amazing organization called Parents Against Vaping e-cigarettes, which started in response to a predatory marketing strategy by a tobacco company in a school system.

See how CHEST is fighting the battle against smoking and vaping, as told by Dr. Frank Leone, Chair of the Tobacco/Vaping Work Group for the CHEST Health Policy and Advocacy Committee. And, lastly, interact with a timeline of CHEST’s advocacy work in tobacco cessation and regulation through the decades.

As Dr. Melzer so eloquently stated in her interview featured in this issue, “tobacco cessation is a process that belongs to everybody, and, therefore, sometimes to nobody.” We hope this issue will inspire you to advocate for your patients and partner with your communities in our shared mission to improve education, awareness, and action against tobacco use.

“Ew, gross.”

“Um, no way.”

“Of course not.”

Earlier this summer, I partnered with Dr. Melissa Keene, the medical director of a federally qualified health center in southwest Virginia, to talk about tobacco with middle school students. A few minutes after our arrival, it was clear to us that cigarettes weren’t cool anymore.

We asked hundreds of kids if they or their friends smoked cigarettes. The above quoted responses were repeated over and over.

Tobacco health advocates have spent decades working on public health messaging surrounding cigarette use, which is clearly working in this Virginian middle school.

But our patients, friends, and family who are already dependent on tobacco products still face addiction, morbidity, and premature mortality. And the ever-changing forms of tobacco delivery pose new challenges for our collective cessation efforts.

The Summer 2023 issue of CHEST Advocates features parents, lawyers, doctors, and nonprofit leaders who all share their inspiring stories of action in the fight against tobacco use.

Learn from tobacco experts, Dr. Susan Walley and Dr. Evan Stepp, about evidence-based approaches to tobacco cessation in young people –including why we should start having conversations by age 11 about smoking or vaping and why it’s important to inform youth about big tobacco marketing strategies.

Read an interview with Dr. Anne Melzer, who shares lessons from her career in tobacco advocacy centered in a US veteran population. Dr. Melzer suggests free resources that are available to all clinicians who sometimes struggle to help patients find the best way to quit.

Watch a video of Dr. Iyaad Hasan and Dr. Roy St. John, who run The Breathing Association, a nonprofit in Ohio serving individuals who are underinsured or uninsured. This organization offers a mobile medical unit that provides a free, evidenced-based program to help with smoking cessation via education, counseling, and personalized quit plans.

Learn from Natasha Phelps, JD, the Director of Equity-Centered Policies at The Center for Black Health & Equity. For more than 2 decades, this organization has focused on building community capacity to give local constituents the tools needed for sustainable health improvements, including tobacco cessation.

Hear from Dr. Panagiotis Behrakis, who – after decades of advocacy against tobacco use—the World Health Organization recognized in May for his Smoke Free Greece program. He explains why his work focuses on a two-pronged approach that places equal emphasis on both cessation and prevention.

Listen to a podcast featuring an amazing organization called Parents Against Vaping e-cigarettes, which started in response to a predatory marketing strategy by a tobacco company in a school system.

See how CHEST is fighting the battle against smoking and vaping, as told by Dr. Frank Leone, Chair of the Tobacco/Vaping Work Group for the CHEST Health Policy and Advocacy Committee. And, lastly, interact with a timeline of CHEST’s advocacy work in tobacco cessation and regulation through the decades.

As Dr. Melzer so eloquently stated in her interview featured in this issue, “tobacco cessation is a process that belongs to everybody, and, therefore, sometimes to nobody.” We hope this issue will inspire you to advocate for your patients and partner with your communities in our shared mission to improve education, awareness, and action against tobacco use.

As one of the most commonly reported bacterial infections, staying up to date on the latest in Clostridioides difficile is critical for providing the best possible care for your patients. AGA’s new on-demand program, “C. difficile: Preparing the Field for Change,” is a six-part podcast series that outlines effective approaches to patient-centered care that will transform your practice. 

Each 30-minute episode delves into a different topic – from microbiome therapy and FMT to documenting patient history – that will help you improve patient outcomes and reduce the risk of complications.

Tune in and subscribe to our channel Inside Scope wherever you listen to podcasts (Apple or Google). To claim CME credit for listening, visit AGA University (agau.gastro.org).

Episode breakdown

Risk factors
Dr. Paul Feuerstadt and Dr. Sahil Khanna cover risk factors for initial and recurrent C. difficile infection.

Microbiota changes
Dr. Paul Feuerstadt and Dr. Sahil Khanna describe the shifts in the microbiota with C. difficile infection.

Reconciling guideline differences for testing and treatment
Dr. Paul Feuerstadt and Dr. Sahil Khanna are joined by guest Dr. Colleen Kelly to discuss how to reconcile guideline differences for testing and treatment of C. difficile.

Case management and transitions of care
Dr. Paul Feuerstadt and Dr. Sahil Khanna are joined by guests Rebecca Perez and Cheri Lattimer to discuss case management and transitions of care in C. difficile infection.

Impact of rCDI on patients and their lives
Dr. Paul Feuerstadt and Dr. Sahil Khanna are joined by guests Dr. Kevin Garey and a patient to discuss the impact of recurrent CDI on patients and their lives. 

FMT and new microbiome therapies
Dr. Paul Feuerstadt and Dr. Sahil Khanna are joined by guest Dr. Jessica Allegretti to discuss FMT and new microbiome therapies.

This series is supported by educational grants from Aimmune Therapeutics, Seres Therapeutics, and Ferring Pharmaceuticals. 
 

As one of the most commonly reported bacterial infections, staying up to date on the latest in Clostridioides difficile is critical for providing the best possible care for your patients. AGA’s new on-demand program, “C. difficile: Preparing the Field for Change,” is a six-part podcast series that outlines effective approaches to patient-centered care that will transform your practice. 

Each 30-minute episode delves into a different topic – from microbiome therapy and FMT to documenting patient history – that will help you improve patient outcomes and reduce the risk of complications.

Tune in and subscribe to our channel Inside Scope wherever you listen to podcasts (Apple or Google). To claim CME credit for listening, visit AGA University (agau.gastro.org).

Episode breakdown

Risk factors
Dr. Paul Feuerstadt and Dr. Sahil Khanna cover risk factors for initial and recurrent C. difficile infection.

Microbiota changes
Dr. Paul Feuerstadt and Dr. Sahil Khanna describe the shifts in the microbiota with C. difficile infection.

Reconciling guideline differences for testing and treatment
Dr. Paul Feuerstadt and Dr. Sahil Khanna are joined by guest Dr. Colleen Kelly to discuss how to reconcile guideline differences for testing and treatment of C. difficile.

Case management and transitions of care
Dr. Paul Feuerstadt and Dr. Sahil Khanna are joined by guests Rebecca Perez and Cheri Lattimer to discuss case management and transitions of care in C. difficile infection.

Impact of rCDI on patients and their lives
Dr. Paul Feuerstadt and Dr. Sahil Khanna are joined by guests Dr. Kevin Garey and a patient to discuss the impact of recurrent CDI on patients and their lives. 

FMT and new microbiome therapies
Dr. Paul Feuerstadt and Dr. Sahil Khanna are joined by guest Dr. Jessica Allegretti to discuss FMT and new microbiome therapies.

This series is supported by educational grants from Aimmune Therapeutics, Seres Therapeutics, and Ferring Pharmaceuticals. 
 

As one of the most commonly reported bacterial infections, staying up to date on the latest in Clostridioides difficile is critical for providing the best possible care for your patients. AGA’s new on-demand program, “C. difficile: Preparing the Field for Change,” is a six-part podcast series that outlines effective approaches to patient-centered care that will transform your practice. 

Each 30-minute episode delves into a different topic – from microbiome therapy and FMT to documenting patient history – that will help you improve patient outcomes and reduce the risk of complications.

Tune in and subscribe to our channel Inside Scope wherever you listen to podcasts (Apple or Google). To claim CME credit for listening, visit AGA University (agau.gastro.org).

Episode breakdown

Risk factors
Dr. Paul Feuerstadt and Dr. Sahil Khanna cover risk factors for initial and recurrent C. difficile infection.

Microbiota changes
Dr. Paul Feuerstadt and Dr. Sahil Khanna describe the shifts in the microbiota with C. difficile infection.

Reconciling guideline differences for testing and treatment
Dr. Paul Feuerstadt and Dr. Sahil Khanna are joined by guest Dr. Colleen Kelly to discuss how to reconcile guideline differences for testing and treatment of C. difficile.

Case management and transitions of care
Dr. Paul Feuerstadt and Dr. Sahil Khanna are joined by guests Rebecca Perez and Cheri Lattimer to discuss case management and transitions of care in C. difficile infection.

Impact of rCDI on patients and their lives
Dr. Paul Feuerstadt and Dr. Sahil Khanna are joined by guests Dr. Kevin Garey and a patient to discuss the impact of recurrent CDI on patients and their lives. 

FMT and new microbiome therapies
Dr. Paul Feuerstadt and Dr. Sahil Khanna are joined by guest Dr. Jessica Allegretti to discuss FMT and new microbiome therapies.

This series is supported by educational grants from Aimmune Therapeutics, Seres Therapeutics, and Ferring Pharmaceuticals. 
 

Your patients may be confused by conflicting guidance about when to start getting screened for colorectal cancer (CRC). AGA stands firmly behind our Multi-Society Task Force on CRC recommendations, and those of the U.S. Preventive Services Taskforce, the American Cancer Society, and other national medical societies and advocacy organizations, that colorectal cancer screening for average risk individuals should start at age 45.

But what should you say to your patients who were already unaware or unsure about getting screened and are now confused by the media coverage?

View the talking points below to help your patients understand screening guidelines and why they need to get screened for colorectal cancer.

One outlier medical group says colorectal cancer screening can wait until age 50, but the consensus of the government and multiple expert groups, including the American Gastroenterological Association, is that getting screened starting at age 45 could save your life.

Colorectal cancer will be the leading cause of cancer-related death among 20- to 49-year-olds by 2030. Putting off screening until age 50 is a grave mistake.

Screening for colorectal cancer can help find polyps in your colon and rectum early, sometimes even before they become cancer. A polyp is a mushroom-like or flat growth on the inside wall of your colon or rectum. Polyps grow slowly over many years and not all turn into cancer. I can remove these growths, which might mean that I can help stop the cancer before it starts, remove tissue that shows cancer, or let us start treatment early if cancer has already started.

There are several tests for colorectal cancer screening, including colonoscopy, but there are also tests that are noninvasive, meaning they don’t need tools that enter your body. Let’s talk about each test and which one you feel most comfortable using.

For more resources to share with your patients, visit the AGA GI Patient Center.

Your patients may be confused by conflicting guidance about when to start getting screened for colorectal cancer (CRC). AGA stands firmly behind our Multi-Society Task Force on CRC recommendations, and those of the U.S. Preventive Services Taskforce, the American Cancer Society, and other national medical societies and advocacy organizations, that colorectal cancer screening for average risk individuals should start at age 45.

But what should you say to your patients who were already unaware or unsure about getting screened and are now confused by the media coverage?

View the talking points below to help your patients understand screening guidelines and why they need to get screened for colorectal cancer.

One outlier medical group says colorectal cancer screening can wait until age 50, but the consensus of the government and multiple expert groups, including the American Gastroenterological Association, is that getting screened starting at age 45 could save your life.

Colorectal cancer will be the leading cause of cancer-related death among 20- to 49-year-olds by 2030. Putting off screening until age 50 is a grave mistake.

Screening for colorectal cancer can help find polyps in your colon and rectum early, sometimes even before they become cancer. A polyp is a mushroom-like or flat growth on the inside wall of your colon or rectum. Polyps grow slowly over many years and not all turn into cancer. I can remove these growths, which might mean that I can help stop the cancer before it starts, remove tissue that shows cancer, or let us start treatment early if cancer has already started.

There are several tests for colorectal cancer screening, including colonoscopy, but there are also tests that are noninvasive, meaning they don’t need tools that enter your body. Let’s talk about each test and which one you feel most comfortable using.

For more resources to share with your patients, visit the AGA GI Patient Center.

Your patients may be confused by conflicting guidance about when to start getting screened for colorectal cancer (CRC). AGA stands firmly behind our Multi-Society Task Force on CRC recommendations, and those of the U.S. Preventive Services Taskforce, the American Cancer Society, and other national medical societies and advocacy organizations, that colorectal cancer screening for average risk individuals should start at age 45.

But what should you say to your patients who were already unaware or unsure about getting screened and are now confused by the media coverage?

View the talking points below to help your patients understand screening guidelines and why they need to get screened for colorectal cancer.

One outlier medical group says colorectal cancer screening can wait until age 50, but the consensus of the government and multiple expert groups, including the American Gastroenterological Association, is that getting screened starting at age 45 could save your life.

Colorectal cancer will be the leading cause of cancer-related death among 20- to 49-year-olds by 2030. Putting off screening until age 50 is a grave mistake.

Screening for colorectal cancer can help find polyps in your colon and rectum early, sometimes even before they become cancer. A polyp is a mushroom-like or flat growth on the inside wall of your colon or rectum. Polyps grow slowly over many years and not all turn into cancer. I can remove these growths, which might mean that I can help stop the cancer before it starts, remove tissue that shows cancer, or let us start treatment early if cancer has already started.

There are several tests for colorectal cancer screening, including colonoscopy, but there are also tests that are noninvasive, meaning they don’t need tools that enter your body. Let’s talk about each test and which one you feel most comfortable using.

For more resources to share with your patients, visit the AGA GI Patient Center.

Five patients and nearly 50 physician members of the American Gastroenterological Association recently traveled to Washington, D.C., to meet with lawmakers on Capitol Hill and urge them to advance legislation reforming prior authorization and other health insurance barriers.   

Courtesy AGA

In our first in-person Advocacy Day on Capitol Hill since 2019, AGA leaders and patient advocates from 22 total states met with House and Senate offices to educate members of Congress and their staff about policies affecting GI patient care such as prior authorization and step therapy. Federal research funding and Medicare reimbursement were also on the agenda.  

In the meetings, the patient shared their stories of living with various gastrointestinal diseases, including ulcerative colitis and Crohn’s disease, and the struggles they’ve gone through to get treatments approved by their insurers. AGA physicians shared the provider perspective of how policies like prior authorization negatively impact practices. According to a 2023 AGA member survey, 95% of respondents say that prior authorization restrictions have impacted patient access to clinically appropriate treatments and patient clinical outcomes and 84% described that the burden associated with prior authorization policies have increased “significantly” or “somewhat” over the last 5 years. AGA’s advocacy day came not long after UnitedHealthcare’s announcement of a new “Gold Card” prior authorization policy to be implemented in 2024, which will impact most colonoscopies and endoscopies for its 27 million commercial beneficiaries. The group expressed serious concerns about the proposed policy to lawmakers.    

Courtesy AGA

Five patients and nearly 50 physician members of the American Gastroenterological Association recently traveled to Washington, D.C., to meet with lawmakers on Capitol Hill and urge them to advance legislation reforming prior authorization and other health insurance barriers.   

Courtesy AGA

In our first in-person Advocacy Day on Capitol Hill since 2019, AGA leaders and patient advocates from 22 total states met with House and Senate offices to educate members of Congress and their staff about policies affecting GI patient care such as prior authorization and step therapy. Federal research funding and Medicare reimbursement were also on the agenda.  

In the meetings, the patient shared their stories of living with various gastrointestinal diseases, including ulcerative colitis and Crohn’s disease, and the struggles they’ve gone through to get treatments approved by their insurers. AGA physicians shared the provider perspective of how policies like prior authorization negatively impact practices. According to a 2023 AGA member survey, 95% of respondents say that prior authorization restrictions have impacted patient access to clinically appropriate treatments and patient clinical outcomes and 84% described that the burden associated with prior authorization policies have increased “significantly” or “somewhat” over the last 5 years. AGA’s advocacy day came not long after UnitedHealthcare’s announcement of a new “Gold Card” prior authorization policy to be implemented in 2024, which will impact most colonoscopies and endoscopies for its 27 million commercial beneficiaries. The group expressed serious concerns about the proposed policy to lawmakers.    

Courtesy AGA

Five patients and nearly 50 physician members of the American Gastroenterological Association recently traveled to Washington, D.C., to meet with lawmakers on Capitol Hill and urge them to advance legislation reforming prior authorization and other health insurance barriers.   

Courtesy AGA

In our first in-person Advocacy Day on Capitol Hill since 2019, AGA leaders and patient advocates from 22 total states met with House and Senate offices to educate members of Congress and their staff about policies affecting GI patient care such as prior authorization and step therapy. Federal research funding and Medicare reimbursement were also on the agenda.  

In the meetings, the patient shared their stories of living with various gastrointestinal diseases, including ulcerative colitis and Crohn’s disease, and the struggles they’ve gone through to get treatments approved by their insurers. AGA physicians shared the provider perspective of how policies like prior authorization negatively impact practices. According to a 2023 AGA member survey, 95% of respondents say that prior authorization restrictions have impacted patient access to clinically appropriate treatments and patient clinical outcomes and 84% described that the burden associated with prior authorization policies have increased “significantly” or “somewhat” over the last 5 years. AGA’s advocacy day came not long after UnitedHealthcare’s announcement of a new “Gold Card” prior authorization policy to be implemented in 2024, which will impact most colonoscopies and endoscopies for its 27 million commercial beneficiaries. The group expressed serious concerns about the proposed policy to lawmakers.    

Courtesy AGA

Except possibly for colorectal cancer screening with sigmoidoscopy, common cancer screening tests do not extend life, according to a new study published in JAMA Internal Medicine.

The study, which was a systematic review and meta-analysis of 18 long-term randomized clinical trials involving 2.1 million individuals, found that colorectal cancer screening with sigmoidoscopy prolonged lifetime by 110 days, while fecal testing and mammography screening did not prolong life. An extension of 37 days was noted for prostate cancer screening with prostate-specific antigen testing and 107 days with lung cancer screening using CT. The study involved more than 1 decade of follow-up reporting all-cause mortality of people who had undergone mammography screening for breast cancer; colonoscopy, sigmoidoscopy, or fecal occult blood testing for colorectal cancer; CT screening for lung cancer in smokers and former smokers; or prostate-specific antigen testing for prostate cancer.

AGA

The study received a fair amount of attention in the press, but the American Gastroenterological Association (AGA) believes the premise of the study is flawed because cancer screening is not intended to increase longevity, but it can prevent premature death.

“Cancer prevention and earlier stage diagnoses through colorectal cancer screening provides significant morbidity and cost benefits, even if all-cause mortality is not reduced,” said Lawrence Kim, MD, AGAF, AGA vice president.

The authors of the study, who were led by Michael Bretthauer, MD, PhD, of the Clinical Effectiveness Research Group, University of Oslo, are not suggesting that cancer screenings be abandoned. However, they do suggest that “organizations, institutions, and policy makers who promote cancer screening tests by their effect to save lives may find other ways of encouraging screening. It might be wise to reconsider priorities and dispassionately inform interested people about the absolute benefits, harms, and burden of screening tests that they consider undertaking.”

Except possibly for colorectal cancer screening with sigmoidoscopy, common cancer screening tests do not extend life, according to a new study published in JAMA Internal Medicine.

The study, which was a systematic review and meta-analysis of 18 long-term randomized clinical trials involving 2.1 million individuals, found that colorectal cancer screening with sigmoidoscopy prolonged lifetime by 110 days, while fecal testing and mammography screening did not prolong life. An extension of 37 days was noted for prostate cancer screening with prostate-specific antigen testing and 107 days with lung cancer screening using CT. The study involved more than 1 decade of follow-up reporting all-cause mortality of people who had undergone mammography screening for breast cancer; colonoscopy, sigmoidoscopy, or fecal occult blood testing for colorectal cancer; CT screening for lung cancer in smokers and former smokers; or prostate-specific antigen testing for prostate cancer.

AGA

The study received a fair amount of attention in the press, but the American Gastroenterological Association (AGA) believes the premise of the study is flawed because cancer screening is not intended to increase longevity, but it can prevent premature death.

“Cancer prevention and earlier stage diagnoses through colorectal cancer screening provides significant morbidity and cost benefits, even if all-cause mortality is not reduced,” said Lawrence Kim, MD, AGAF, AGA vice president.

The authors of the study, who were led by Michael Bretthauer, MD, PhD, of the Clinical Effectiveness Research Group, University of Oslo, are not suggesting that cancer screenings be abandoned. However, they do suggest that “organizations, institutions, and policy makers who promote cancer screening tests by their effect to save lives may find other ways of encouraging screening. It might be wise to reconsider priorities and dispassionately inform interested people about the absolute benefits, harms, and burden of screening tests that they consider undertaking.”

Except possibly for colorectal cancer screening with sigmoidoscopy, common cancer screening tests do not extend life, according to a new study published in JAMA Internal Medicine.

The study, which was a systematic review and meta-analysis of 18 long-term randomized clinical trials involving 2.1 million individuals, found that colorectal cancer screening with sigmoidoscopy prolonged lifetime by 110 days, while fecal testing and mammography screening did not prolong life. An extension of 37 days was noted for prostate cancer screening with prostate-specific antigen testing and 107 days with lung cancer screening using CT. The study involved more than 1 decade of follow-up reporting all-cause mortality of people who had undergone mammography screening for breast cancer; colonoscopy, sigmoidoscopy, or fecal occult blood testing for colorectal cancer; CT screening for lung cancer in smokers and former smokers; or prostate-specific antigen testing for prostate cancer.

AGA

The study received a fair amount of attention in the press, but the American Gastroenterological Association (AGA) believes the premise of the study is flawed because cancer screening is not intended to increase longevity, but it can prevent premature death.

“Cancer prevention and earlier stage diagnoses through colorectal cancer screening provides significant morbidity and cost benefits, even if all-cause mortality is not reduced,” said Lawrence Kim, MD, AGAF, AGA vice president.

The authors of the study, who were led by Michael Bretthauer, MD, PhD, of the Clinical Effectiveness Research Group, University of Oslo, are not suggesting that cancer screenings be abandoned. However, they do suggest that “organizations, institutions, and policy makers who promote cancer screening tests by their effect to save lives may find other ways of encouraging screening. It might be wise to reconsider priorities and dispassionately inform interested people about the absolute benefits, harms, and burden of screening tests that they consider undertaking.”