On Wednesday, Jan. 21, 2009, the AGA Public Affairs & Advocacy Committee hosted Insiders' Perspectives of the Health-Care Agenda in the New Administration, a one-hour teleconference for AGA members about how policies being proposed by the new administration and Congress may affect the practice of medicine, gastroenterology and your patients.

The call was moderated by Ronald P. Fogel, MD, AGAF, chair, Public Affairs and Advocacy Committee. Presenters included John I. Allen, MD, MBA, AGAF, chair, AGA Institute Clinical Practice & Quality Management Committee, Ralph A. Giannella, MD, AGAF, chair, AGA PAC Board of Advisors, Vicki Hart, president, Hart Health Strategies, and Kathleen Teixeira, senior director of government affairs for the AGA.

Capitol Hill insider Vicki Hart provided an overview of the new congressional environment and the status of health-care reform. She highlighted what gastroenterologists can expect during the Obama administration, how the health-care reform process may unfold this year and the need to address the 22 percent cut in Medicare reimbursement that physicians will face in 2010. She also highlighted the new major health-care players in Congress.

Dr. Allen discussed quality measurement and the development process and highlighted AGA initiatives to help clinicians participate in this new environment. He explained the EMR initiative and the three endoscopy measures that were approved by AQA in 2008.

Ms. Teixeira spoke of AGA's efforts to expand colorectal cancer screening and our support for the Colorectal Cancer Early Detection, Prevention and Treatment Act, our efforts to ensure adequate payment for ASCs, and AGA's efforts to fix the deductible waiver for CRC screenings.

Dr. Giannella offered an overview of AGA PAC's progress and some of its' 2008 successes.

A recording of the call is availalbe for downlaod from the advocacy section on the AGA Web site.