Legislative Issues

At the beginning of each year, AGA leaders convene in a Public Policy Summit to identify key issues of concern to gastroenterologists in the legislative and regulatory arenas and to develop an advocacy blueprint to guide its advocacy activities. The comprehensive agenda that emerges from the summit includes issues of concern to clinicians and scientific investigators as well as professional issues that affect all gastroenterologists.

Below is a summary of key AGA Public Policy Issues.

Health-Care Reform Debate

The AGA is actively involved in the health-care reform debate, vigorously advocating for gastroenterology. 

Reimbursement Information and Advocacy

The AGA endorses a Medicare Physician Payment Formula that ensures equitable and stable reimbursement. 

Protecting Medicare Beneficiary Access To High Quality Specialist Services

AGA, as a member of the Alliance of Specialty Medicine, supports physician payment reform, maintaining access to specialty care, developing evidence-based and clinically relevant quality measures, the development of an electronic health information network, and responsible comparative effectiveness research. 

Advocating for ASC Payments

AGA, along with ASGE and ACG advocate that ASC payments should be at 75 percent of hospital outpatient department (HOPD) rates. 

CRC Screening and Treatment for the Uninsured

The AGA supports the Colorectal Cancer Early Detection, Prevention and Treatment Act (H.R. 1738), and believes it will not only prevent more cases of colorectal cancer, but also lead to cost-savings for Medicare and our health care system. 

Federal Funding of Research

AGA supports a 13.5 percent funding increase in FY 2011.

Patient-Centered Medical Home: The Future of Health-Care Delivery?

In an era in which "higher quality at lower cost" has become the mantra, there was an appeal to the PCMH concept, leading the AGA to convene, deliberate and make recommendations on the appropriate role of gastroenterology under such a health-care delivery system. 

The Plight of the MD Investigator

Does the U.S. have enough physician-scientists to maintain scientific leadership? 

Medical Liability Reform

AGA endorses medical liability reform to avert health-care crisis.