News from AGA

We are proud to announce the 2024 recipients of our annual recognition prizes, given in honor of outstanding contributions and achievements in gastroenterology and hepatology.

Congratulations to Bishr Omary, MD, PhD, for receiving AGA’s highest honor, the Julius Friedenwald Medal.

Dr. Omary

Presented annually since 1941, this award recognizes a physician for lifelong contributions to the field of gastroenterology.

AGA

2024 recognition prize recipients:

• Julius Friedenwald Medal: Bishr Omary, MD, PhD
• William Beaumont Prize: Hashem B. El-Serag, MD, MPH
• Distinguished Achievement Award in Basic Science: Jerrold R. Turner, MD, PhD, AGAF
• Distinguished Service Award in Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion: Sophie Balzora, MD
• Distinguished Clinician Award in Private Practice: Scott Ketover, MD, AGAF, FASGE
• Distinguished Clinician Award in Academic Practice: Shiv Kumar Sarin, MD
• Distinguished Educator Award: David Katzka, MD, AGAF
• Distinguished Mentor Award: John Pandolfino, MD
• Young Investigator Award in Clinical Science: Mingyang Song, ScD

We are proud to announce the 2024 recipients of our annual recognition prizes, given in honor of outstanding contributions and achievements in gastroenterology and hepatology.

Congratulations to Bishr Omary, MD, PhD, for receiving AGA’s highest honor, the Julius Friedenwald Medal.

Dr. Omary

Presented annually since 1941, this award recognizes a physician for lifelong contributions to the field of gastroenterology.

AGA

2024 recognition prize recipients:

• Julius Friedenwald Medal: Bishr Omary, MD, PhD
• William Beaumont Prize: Hashem B. El-Serag, MD, MPH
• Distinguished Achievement Award in Basic Science: Jerrold R. Turner, MD, PhD, AGAF
• Distinguished Service Award in Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion: Sophie Balzora, MD
• Distinguished Clinician Award in Private Practice: Scott Ketover, MD, AGAF, FASGE
• Distinguished Clinician Award in Academic Practice: Shiv Kumar Sarin, MD
• Distinguished Educator Award: David Katzka, MD, AGAF
• Distinguished Mentor Award: John Pandolfino, MD
• Young Investigator Award in Clinical Science: Mingyang Song, ScD

We are proud to announce the 2024 recipients of our annual recognition prizes, given in honor of outstanding contributions and achievements in gastroenterology and hepatology.

Congratulations to Bishr Omary, MD, PhD, for receiving AGA’s highest honor, the Julius Friedenwald Medal.

Dr. Omary

Presented annually since 1941, this award recognizes a physician for lifelong contributions to the field of gastroenterology.

AGA

2024 recognition prize recipients:

• Julius Friedenwald Medal: Bishr Omary, MD, PhD
• William Beaumont Prize: Hashem B. El-Serag, MD, MPH
• Distinguished Achievement Award in Basic Science: Jerrold R. Turner, MD, PhD, AGAF
• Distinguished Service Award in Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion: Sophie Balzora, MD
• Distinguished Clinician Award in Private Practice: Scott Ketover, MD, AGAF, FASGE
• Distinguished Clinician Award in Academic Practice: Shiv Kumar Sarin, MD
• Distinguished Educator Award: David Katzka, MD, AGAF
• Distinguished Mentor Award: John Pandolfino, MD
• Young Investigator Award in Clinical Science: Mingyang Song, ScD

Talented young investigators are walking away from gastroenterology and hepatology research frustrated by a lack of support. For the last decades, Congress has slashed research funding and even greater cuts are on the horizon. Investigators in the early stages of their careers are particularly hard hit. Without help from other funding sources, young investigators struggle to continue their research, build their research portfolio, and obtain federal funding.

Decades of research have revolutionized the care of many digestive disease patients. These patients, as well as everyone in the gastroenterology and hepatology fields — clinicians and researchers alike — have benefited from the discoveries of dedicated investigators, past and present.

Right now, creative young researchers are poised to make groundbreaking discoveries that will shape the future of gastroenterology and hepatology. Unfortunately, declining government funding for biomedical research puts this potential in jeopardy. We’re at risk of losing an entire generation of researchers.

To fill this gap, the AGA Research Foundation invites you to support its mission by making a donation. Funds raised through the AGA Research Foundation will support the pipeline of new investigators’ research careers, allowing them to make discoveries that could ultimately improve patient care and even cure diseases.

“I donated to the AGA Research Foundation to ensure the vitality of our specialty, and to fund the research of future generations of gastroenterologists. Funding from organizations like the AGA Research Foundation is crucial for young scientists and gastroenterologists to launch their careers,” states Michael Camilleri, MD, AGAF, AGA Research Foundation Chair.

By joining others in supporting the AGA Research Foundation, you will ensure that young researchers have opportunities to continue their life-saving work. Learn more or make a contribution at www.foundation.gastro.org.

Talented young investigators are walking away from gastroenterology and hepatology research frustrated by a lack of support. For the last decades, Congress has slashed research funding and even greater cuts are on the horizon. Investigators in the early stages of their careers are particularly hard hit. Without help from other funding sources, young investigators struggle to continue their research, build their research portfolio, and obtain federal funding.

Decades of research have revolutionized the care of many digestive disease patients. These patients, as well as everyone in the gastroenterology and hepatology fields — clinicians and researchers alike — have benefited from the discoveries of dedicated investigators, past and present.

Right now, creative young researchers are poised to make groundbreaking discoveries that will shape the future of gastroenterology and hepatology. Unfortunately, declining government funding for biomedical research puts this potential in jeopardy. We’re at risk of losing an entire generation of researchers.

To fill this gap, the AGA Research Foundation invites you to support its mission by making a donation. Funds raised through the AGA Research Foundation will support the pipeline of new investigators’ research careers, allowing them to make discoveries that could ultimately improve patient care and even cure diseases.

“I donated to the AGA Research Foundation to ensure the vitality of our specialty, and to fund the research of future generations of gastroenterologists. Funding from organizations like the AGA Research Foundation is crucial for young scientists and gastroenterologists to launch their careers,” states Michael Camilleri, MD, AGAF, AGA Research Foundation Chair.

By joining others in supporting the AGA Research Foundation, you will ensure that young researchers have opportunities to continue their life-saving work. Learn more or make a contribution at www.foundation.gastro.org.

Talented young investigators are walking away from gastroenterology and hepatology research frustrated by a lack of support. For the last decades, Congress has slashed research funding and even greater cuts are on the horizon. Investigators in the early stages of their careers are particularly hard hit. Without help from other funding sources, young investigators struggle to continue their research, build their research portfolio, and obtain federal funding.

Decades of research have revolutionized the care of many digestive disease patients. These patients, as well as everyone in the gastroenterology and hepatology fields — clinicians and researchers alike — have benefited from the discoveries of dedicated investigators, past and present.

Right now, creative young researchers are poised to make groundbreaking discoveries that will shape the future of gastroenterology and hepatology. Unfortunately, declining government funding for biomedical research puts this potential in jeopardy. We’re at risk of losing an entire generation of researchers.

To fill this gap, the AGA Research Foundation invites you to support its mission by making a donation. Funds raised through the AGA Research Foundation will support the pipeline of new investigators’ research careers, allowing them to make discoveries that could ultimately improve patient care and even cure diseases.

“I donated to the AGA Research Foundation to ensure the vitality of our specialty, and to fund the research of future generations of gastroenterologists. Funding from organizations like the AGA Research Foundation is crucial for young scientists and gastroenterologists to launch their careers,” states Michael Camilleri, MD, AGAF, AGA Research Foundation Chair.

By joining others in supporting the AGA Research Foundation, you will ensure that young researchers have opportunities to continue their life-saving work. Learn more or make a contribution at www.foundation.gastro.org.

Have you ever wished you could access all of our Crohn’s disease resources in one place? We’ve compiled our Crohn’s disease clinical guidance, continuing education resources, patient education, and FAQs into one convenient toolkit.

Toolkit includes clinical guidance on:

• Role of biomarkers for the management of Crohn’s disease
• Medical management of moderate to severe luminal and perianal fistulizing Crohn’s disease
• Diet and nutritional therapies in patients with IBD

Check it out at www.gastro.org/toolkit.

Have you ever wished you could access all of our Crohn’s disease resources in one place? We’ve compiled our Crohn’s disease clinical guidance, continuing education resources, patient education, and FAQs into one convenient toolkit.

Toolkit includes clinical guidance on:

• Role of biomarkers for the management of Crohn’s disease
• Medical management of moderate to severe luminal and perianal fistulizing Crohn’s disease
• Diet and nutritional therapies in patients with IBD

Check it out at www.gastro.org/toolkit.

Have you ever wished you could access all of our Crohn’s disease resources in one place? We’ve compiled our Crohn’s disease clinical guidance, continuing education resources, patient education, and FAQs into one convenient toolkit.

Toolkit includes clinical guidance on:

• Role of biomarkers for the management of Crohn’s disease
• Medical management of moderate to severe luminal and perianal fistulizing Crohn’s disease
• Diet and nutritional therapies in patients with IBD

Check it out at www.gastro.org/toolkit.

The AGA Research Foundation, the charitable arm of the American Gastroenterological Association (AGA), plays an important role in medical research by providing grants to young scientists at a critical time in their career. The AGA Research Foundation’s mission is to raise funds to support young researchers in gastroenterology and hepatology.

The research program of the AGA has had an important impact on digestive disease research for the last 30 years. Ninety percent of investigators who received an AGA Research Scholar Award over the past 10 years have stayed in gastroenterology and hepatology research.

AGA grants have led to discoveries, including new approaches to down-regulate intestinal inflammation, a test for genetic predisposition to colon cancer, and autoimmune liver disease treatments. The importance of these awards is evidenced by the fact that virtually every major advance leading to the understanding, prevention, treatment, and cure of digestive diseases has been made in the research laboratory of a talented young investigator.

At a time when funds from the National Institutes of Health and other traditional sources of support are in decline, the AGA Research Foundation is committed and ready to support young investigators and fund discoveries that will continue to improve GI practice and better patient care.

The AGA Research Foundation provides a key source of funding at a critical juncture in a young researcher’s career. By joining AGA members and donors in donating to the AGA Research Foundation, you will ensure that researchers have opportunities to continue their life-saving work.

The AGA Research Foundation, the charitable arm of the American Gastroenterological Association (AGA), plays an important role in medical research by providing grants to young scientists at a critical time in their career. The AGA Research Foundation’s mission is to raise funds to support young researchers in gastroenterology and hepatology.

The research program of the AGA has had an important impact on digestive disease research for the last 30 years. Ninety percent of investigators who received an AGA Research Scholar Award over the past 10 years have stayed in gastroenterology and hepatology research.

AGA grants have led to discoveries, including new approaches to down-regulate intestinal inflammation, a test for genetic predisposition to colon cancer, and autoimmune liver disease treatments. The importance of these awards is evidenced by the fact that virtually every major advance leading to the understanding, prevention, treatment, and cure of digestive diseases has been made in the research laboratory of a talented young investigator.

At a time when funds from the National Institutes of Health and other traditional sources of support are in decline, the AGA Research Foundation is committed and ready to support young investigators and fund discoveries that will continue to improve GI practice and better patient care.

The AGA Research Foundation provides a key source of funding at a critical juncture in a young researcher’s career. By joining AGA members and donors in donating to the AGA Research Foundation, you will ensure that researchers have opportunities to continue their life-saving work.

The AGA Research Foundation, the charitable arm of the American Gastroenterological Association (AGA), plays an important role in medical research by providing grants to young scientists at a critical time in their career. The AGA Research Foundation’s mission is to raise funds to support young researchers in gastroenterology and hepatology.

The research program of the AGA has had an important impact on digestive disease research for the last 30 years. Ninety percent of investigators who received an AGA Research Scholar Award over the past 10 years have stayed in gastroenterology and hepatology research.

AGA grants have led to discoveries, including new approaches to down-regulate intestinal inflammation, a test for genetic predisposition to colon cancer, and autoimmune liver disease treatments. The importance of these awards is evidenced by the fact that virtually every major advance leading to the understanding, prevention, treatment, and cure of digestive diseases has been made in the research laboratory of a talented young investigator.

At a time when funds from the National Institutes of Health and other traditional sources of support are in decline, the AGA Research Foundation is committed and ready to support young investigators and fund discoveries that will continue to improve GI practice and better patient care.

The AGA Research Foundation provides a key source of funding at a critical juncture in a young researcher’s career. By joining AGA members and donors in donating to the AGA Research Foundation, you will ensure that researchers have opportunities to continue their life-saving work.

We are looking forward to seeing you in our hometown for Digestive Disease Week® (DDW) 2024!

As you plan your schedule, here’s a listing of AGA’s free networking events. For more details and featured programming, visit www.gastro.org/DDW.

American Gastroenterological Association

Meetups at AGA Central (L Street Bridge)

Network with like-minded attendees, build your #AGAGastroSquad and enjoy refreshments at our meetups.

Saturday, May 18

• 3 p.m.: Advocacy champions meetup – A “thank you” for everyone who supported our grassroots advocacy efforts this year!

Sunday, May 19

• 11 a.m.: NPPA meetup
• 1 p.m.: Dietitian meetup
• 3 p.m.: IBD meetup – Happy World IBD Day!

Monday, May 20

• 11 a.m.: Trainee meetup – Mingle with AGA journal editors!
• 1 p.m.: Psychologists meetup
• 3 p.m.: Clinician meetup

Tuesday, May 21

• 11 a.m.: Innovator meetup

RSVP and add to your calendar: www.signupgenius.com/go/10C0E4EA4AE2DA2F5C43-48529281-agacentral#/

Additional events for trainees

We have more opportunities for you to network at DDW! The following events all take place on Sunday, May 19.

• 10 a.m.: Live recording: Small Talk, Big Topics – Mingle with fellow trainees and early career GIs during a live recording of AGA’s podcast. Our hosts will interview fellowship program director Dr. Janice Jou.

[Location: AGA Central (L Street Bridge)]

• 1 p.m.: Meet-the-Experts: AGA Leadership – Held in the DDW Trainee and Early Career Lounge, these sessions are an opportunity for early career attendees to get tips from those further along in their career.

[Location: DDW Trainee and Early Career Lounge]

• 2 p.m.: AGA/DHPA Networking Hour – Join us for an hour of guided networking and 4-way Jeopardy!

[Location: DDW Trainee and Early Career Lounge]

We are looking forward to seeing you in our hometown for Digestive Disease Week® (DDW) 2024!

As you plan your schedule, here’s a listing of AGA’s free networking events. For more details and featured programming, visit www.gastro.org/DDW.

American Gastroenterological Association

Meetups at AGA Central (L Street Bridge)

Network with like-minded attendees, build your #AGAGastroSquad and enjoy refreshments at our meetups.

Saturday, May 18

• 3 p.m.: Advocacy champions meetup – A “thank you” for everyone who supported our grassroots advocacy efforts this year!

Sunday, May 19

• 11 a.m.: NPPA meetup
• 1 p.m.: Dietitian meetup
• 3 p.m.: IBD meetup – Happy World IBD Day!

Monday, May 20

• 11 a.m.: Trainee meetup – Mingle with AGA journal editors!
• 1 p.m.: Psychologists meetup
• 3 p.m.: Clinician meetup

Tuesday, May 21

• 11 a.m.: Innovator meetup

RSVP and add to your calendar: www.signupgenius.com/go/10C0E4EA4AE2DA2F5C43-48529281-agacentral#/

Additional events for trainees

We have more opportunities for you to network at DDW! The following events all take place on Sunday, May 19.

• 10 a.m.: Live recording: Small Talk, Big Topics – Mingle with fellow trainees and early career GIs during a live recording of AGA’s podcast. Our hosts will interview fellowship program director Dr. Janice Jou.

[Location: AGA Central (L Street Bridge)]

• 1 p.m.: Meet-the-Experts: AGA Leadership – Held in the DDW Trainee and Early Career Lounge, these sessions are an opportunity for early career attendees to get tips from those further along in their career.

[Location: DDW Trainee and Early Career Lounge]

• 2 p.m.: AGA/DHPA Networking Hour – Join us for an hour of guided networking and 4-way Jeopardy!

[Location: DDW Trainee and Early Career Lounge]

We are looking forward to seeing you in our hometown for Digestive Disease Week® (DDW) 2024!

As you plan your schedule, here’s a listing of AGA’s free networking events. For more details and featured programming, visit www.gastro.org/DDW.

American Gastroenterological Association

Meetups at AGA Central (L Street Bridge)

Network with like-minded attendees, build your #AGAGastroSquad and enjoy refreshments at our meetups.

Saturday, May 18

• 3 p.m.: Advocacy champions meetup – A “thank you” for everyone who supported our grassroots advocacy efforts this year!

Sunday, May 19

• 11 a.m.: NPPA meetup
• 1 p.m.: Dietitian meetup
• 3 p.m.: IBD meetup – Happy World IBD Day!

Monday, May 20

• 11 a.m.: Trainee meetup – Mingle with AGA journal editors!
• 1 p.m.: Psychologists meetup
• 3 p.m.: Clinician meetup

Tuesday, May 21

• 11 a.m.: Innovator meetup

RSVP and add to your calendar: www.signupgenius.com/go/10C0E4EA4AE2DA2F5C43-48529281-agacentral#/

Additional events for trainees

We have more opportunities for you to network at DDW! The following events all take place on Sunday, May 19.

• 10 a.m.: Live recording: Small Talk, Big Topics – Mingle with fellow trainees and early career GIs during a live recording of AGA’s podcast. Our hosts will interview fellowship program director Dr. Janice Jou.

[Location: AGA Central (L Street Bridge)]

• 1 p.m.: Meet-the-Experts: AGA Leadership – Held in the DDW Trainee and Early Career Lounge, these sessions are an opportunity for early career attendees to get tips from those further along in their career.

[Location: DDW Trainee and Early Career Lounge]

• 2 p.m.: AGA/DHPA Networking Hour – Join us for an hour of guided networking and 4-way Jeopardy!

[Location: DDW Trainee and Early Career Lounge]

Rep. Yadira Caraveo, MD (D-CO), recently introduced the Colorectal Cancer Early Detection Act along with Reps. Donald Payne Jr. (D-NJ), Haley Stevens (D-MI), and Terri Sewell (D-AL).

The Colorectal Cancer Early Detection Act would award grants to states to promote colorectal cancer prevention and early detection efforts to individuals under age 45.

• Screen increased risk and high-risk individuals under age 45 for colorectal cancer.
• Provide appropriate referrals for medical treatment.
• Develop and carry out a public education and awareness campaign for the detection and control of CRC.
• Improve the education and training of health providers in detecting and controlling CRC.
• Establish mechanisms through which states can monitor the quality of CRC screening procedures.
• Develop strategies to assess family history and genetic predispositions to CRC.
• Design patient and clinician decision support tools for CRC.
• Conduct surveillance to determine other risk factors for CRC in this population.

“Colorectal cancer is the second-leading cause of cancer death in the US and is increasing at an alarming rate in younger people. AGA celebrates Rep. Caraveo’s work to address this trend through education and awareness” said Barbara Jung, MD, AGA President.

We look forward to working with our congressional champions to increase screening rates and reverse the trend of early onset colorectal cancer!

Rep. Yadira Caraveo, MD (D-CO), recently introduced the Colorectal Cancer Early Detection Act along with Reps. Donald Payne Jr. (D-NJ), Haley Stevens (D-MI), and Terri Sewell (D-AL).

The Colorectal Cancer Early Detection Act would award grants to states to promote colorectal cancer prevention and early detection efforts to individuals under age 45.

• Screen increased risk and high-risk individuals under age 45 for colorectal cancer.
• Provide appropriate referrals for medical treatment.
• Develop and carry out a public education and awareness campaign for the detection and control of CRC.
• Improve the education and training of health providers in detecting and controlling CRC.
• Establish mechanisms through which states can monitor the quality of CRC screening procedures.
• Develop strategies to assess family history and genetic predispositions to CRC.
• Design patient and clinician decision support tools for CRC.
• Conduct surveillance to determine other risk factors for CRC in this population.

“Colorectal cancer is the second-leading cause of cancer death in the US and is increasing at an alarming rate in younger people. AGA celebrates Rep. Caraveo’s work to address this trend through education and awareness” said Barbara Jung, MD, AGA President.

We look forward to working with our congressional champions to increase screening rates and reverse the trend of early onset colorectal cancer!

Rep. Yadira Caraveo, MD (D-CO), recently introduced the Colorectal Cancer Early Detection Act along with Reps. Donald Payne Jr. (D-NJ), Haley Stevens (D-MI), and Terri Sewell (D-AL).

The Colorectal Cancer Early Detection Act would award grants to states to promote colorectal cancer prevention and early detection efforts to individuals under age 45.

• Screen increased risk and high-risk individuals under age 45 for colorectal cancer.
• Provide appropriate referrals for medical treatment.
• Develop and carry out a public education and awareness campaign for the detection and control of CRC.
• Improve the education and training of health providers in detecting and controlling CRC.
• Establish mechanisms through which states can monitor the quality of CRC screening procedures.
• Develop strategies to assess family history and genetic predispositions to CRC.
• Design patient and clinician decision support tools for CRC.
• Conduct surveillance to determine other risk factors for CRC in this population.

“Colorectal cancer is the second-leading cause of cancer death in the US and is increasing at an alarming rate in younger people. AGA celebrates Rep. Caraveo’s work to address this trend through education and awareness” said Barbara Jung, MD, AGA President.

We look forward to working with our congressional champions to increase screening rates and reverse the trend of early onset colorectal cancer!

A new AGA white paper, published in Clinical Gastroenterology and Hepatology, highlights barriers to care and calls for collaboration among our healthcare community, insurers, pharmaceutical companies, and legislators to improve and optimize care for more than 3 million Americans living with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD).

Over the last two decades, there has been a revolution in therapeutics fueled by exciting research and development that continues to expand the treatment options for IBD, offering tools for better disease control. However, the most effective therapies are cost prohibitive and have largely become inaccessible due to insurer-mandated barriers to care, such as prior authorization and step therapy.

AGA has created a plan that addresses these barriers and proposes tangible solutions to provide patients with high quality, high value care.

1. The lived experiences and valuable insights from both patients and expert clinicians should be reflected in the data and research represented in the field.

2. AGA recognizes the powerful benefit of individually tailoring IBD therapy based on risk, comorbidities and response, and encourages all stakeholders to do the same.

3. As a field, we need to move beyond insurer-mandated step therapy and fail first policies.

4. AGA urges insurers to cover all necessary disease activity and drug level monitoring, which will ensure patients are able to achieve treat-to-target-driven outcomes.

5. Streamlined and expedited expert reviews should be guaranteed to all providers when they are mandated by an insurer.

6. To ensure transparency and accountability, AGA wants to require that payors publish their denial and appeals data.

7. AGA believes that holistic patient-centered multidisciplinary care, including psychosocial and dietary support, should be covered by insurance. Having access to such care contributes to improved patient resilience and well-being, which will lead to decreased health care utilization and better health outcomes.

8. AGA supports the creation and continuation of a variety of patient education programs to improve health literacy and awareness of complex health care systems.

9. AGA is committed to improving patients’ access to expert specialized clinical IBD care. This includes flexible delivery models to ensure that underserved populations are being reached. In addition, AGA supports training and educating specialty providers across the spectrum of medical care (advanced practice providers, nurse educators, etc.) to increase the number of qualified IBD providers.

10. Piloting innovative shared incentive partnerships between high value subspecialty care practices and payors will be a new shared goal.

11. AGA wants to engage pharmaceutical partners in developing equitable programs to address prohibitive drug costs while also expanding patient access and support.

12. AGA plans to continue to advocate for legislation to make access to therapy equitable for Medicare and Medicaid patients.

“Unaffordable drug costs, step therapy, and other insurer-mandated barriers are fixable problems,” said M. Anthony Sofia, MD, a coauthor of the AGA white paper and an IBD specialist at Oregon Health and Science University, Portland.

Oregon Health and Science University

“Every day, we see people that have been harmed by delayed and inadequate care. Solving these barriers would lift an unimaginable weight off our patient’s shoulders and allow them to lead healthier lives. We must work together to collaborate on solutions to strengthen and advance the care for all people with IBD.”

View the full white paper here.

A new AGA white paper, published in Clinical Gastroenterology and Hepatology, highlights barriers to care and calls for collaboration among our healthcare community, insurers, pharmaceutical companies, and legislators to improve and optimize care for more than 3 million Americans living with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD).

Over the last two decades, there has been a revolution in therapeutics fueled by exciting research and development that continues to expand the treatment options for IBD, offering tools for better disease control. However, the most effective therapies are cost prohibitive and have largely become inaccessible due to insurer-mandated barriers to care, such as prior authorization and step therapy.

AGA has created a plan that addresses these barriers and proposes tangible solutions to provide patients with high quality, high value care.

1. The lived experiences and valuable insights from both patients and expert clinicians should be reflected in the data and research represented in the field.

2. AGA recognizes the powerful benefit of individually tailoring IBD therapy based on risk, comorbidities and response, and encourages all stakeholders to do the same.

3. As a field, we need to move beyond insurer-mandated step therapy and fail first policies.

4. AGA urges insurers to cover all necessary disease activity and drug level monitoring, which will ensure patients are able to achieve treat-to-target-driven outcomes.

5. Streamlined and expedited expert reviews should be guaranteed to all providers when they are mandated by an insurer.

6. To ensure transparency and accountability, AGA wants to require that payors publish their denial and appeals data.

7. AGA believes that holistic patient-centered multidisciplinary care, including psychosocial and dietary support, should be covered by insurance. Having access to such care contributes to improved patient resilience and well-being, which will lead to decreased health care utilization and better health outcomes.

8. AGA supports the creation and continuation of a variety of patient education programs to improve health literacy and awareness of complex health care systems.

9. AGA is committed to improving patients’ access to expert specialized clinical IBD care. This includes flexible delivery models to ensure that underserved populations are being reached. In addition, AGA supports training and educating specialty providers across the spectrum of medical care (advanced practice providers, nurse educators, etc.) to increase the number of qualified IBD providers.

10. Piloting innovative shared incentive partnerships between high value subspecialty care practices and payors will be a new shared goal.

11. AGA wants to engage pharmaceutical partners in developing equitable programs to address prohibitive drug costs while also expanding patient access and support.

12. AGA plans to continue to advocate for legislation to make access to therapy equitable for Medicare and Medicaid patients.

“Unaffordable drug costs, step therapy, and other insurer-mandated barriers are fixable problems,” said M. Anthony Sofia, MD, a coauthor of the AGA white paper and an IBD specialist at Oregon Health and Science University, Portland.

Oregon Health and Science University

“Every day, we see people that have been harmed by delayed and inadequate care. Solving these barriers would lift an unimaginable weight off our patient’s shoulders and allow them to lead healthier lives. We must work together to collaborate on solutions to strengthen and advance the care for all people with IBD.”

View the full white paper here.

A new AGA white paper, published in Clinical Gastroenterology and Hepatology, highlights barriers to care and calls for collaboration among our healthcare community, insurers, pharmaceutical companies, and legislators to improve and optimize care for more than 3 million Americans living with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD).

Over the last two decades, there has been a revolution in therapeutics fueled by exciting research and development that continues to expand the treatment options for IBD, offering tools for better disease control. However, the most effective therapies are cost prohibitive and have largely become inaccessible due to insurer-mandated barriers to care, such as prior authorization and step therapy.

AGA has created a plan that addresses these barriers and proposes tangible solutions to provide patients with high quality, high value care.

1. The lived experiences and valuable insights from both patients and expert clinicians should be reflected in the data and research represented in the field.

2. AGA recognizes the powerful benefit of individually tailoring IBD therapy based on risk, comorbidities and response, and encourages all stakeholders to do the same.

3. As a field, we need to move beyond insurer-mandated step therapy and fail first policies.

4. AGA urges insurers to cover all necessary disease activity and drug level monitoring, which will ensure patients are able to achieve treat-to-target-driven outcomes.

5. Streamlined and expedited expert reviews should be guaranteed to all providers when they are mandated by an insurer.

6. To ensure transparency and accountability, AGA wants to require that payors publish their denial and appeals data.

7. AGA believes that holistic patient-centered multidisciplinary care, including psychosocial and dietary support, should be covered by insurance. Having access to such care contributes to improved patient resilience and well-being, which will lead to decreased health care utilization and better health outcomes.

8. AGA supports the creation and continuation of a variety of patient education programs to improve health literacy and awareness of complex health care systems.

9. AGA is committed to improving patients’ access to expert specialized clinical IBD care. This includes flexible delivery models to ensure that underserved populations are being reached. In addition, AGA supports training and educating specialty providers across the spectrum of medical care (advanced practice providers, nurse educators, etc.) to increase the number of qualified IBD providers.

10. Piloting innovative shared incentive partnerships between high value subspecialty care practices and payors will be a new shared goal.

11. AGA wants to engage pharmaceutical partners in developing equitable programs to address prohibitive drug costs while also expanding patient access and support.

12. AGA plans to continue to advocate for legislation to make access to therapy equitable for Medicare and Medicaid patients.

“Unaffordable drug costs, step therapy, and other insurer-mandated barriers are fixable problems,” said M. Anthony Sofia, MD, a coauthor of the AGA white paper and an IBD specialist at Oregon Health and Science University, Portland.

Oregon Health and Science University

“Every day, we see people that have been harmed by delayed and inadequate care. Solving these barriers would lift an unimaginable weight off our patient’s shoulders and allow them to lead healthier lives. We must work together to collaborate on solutions to strengthen and advance the care for all people with IBD.”

View the full white paper here.

Did you know you can honor a family member, friend, or colleague whose life has been touched by GI research through a gift to the AGA Research Foundation? Your gift will honor a loved one or yourself and support the AGA Research Awards Program, while giving you a tax benefit.

• Giving now or later. Any charitable gift can be made in honor or memory of someone.
• A gift today. An outright gift will help fund the AGA Research Awards Program. Your gift will assist in furthering basic digestive disease research which can ultimately advance research into all digestive diseases. The financial benefits include an income tax deduction and possible elimination of capital gains tax. A cash gift of $5,000 or more qualifies for membership in the AGA Supporter Circle.
• A gift through your will or living trust. You can include a bequest in your will or living trust stating that a specific asset, certain dollar amount, or more commonly a percentage of your estate will pass to the AGA Research Foundation in honor of your loved one. A gift in your will of $50,000 or more qualifies for membership in the AGA Legacy Society, which recognizes the foundation’s most generous individual donors.
• Named commentary section funds. You can support a commentary section in a specific AGA journal to honor or memorialize a loved one. This can be established with a gift of $100,000 over the course of 5 years or through an estate gift. The AGA Institute Publications Committee will work with you to provide name recognition for the commentary section in a specific AGA journal for five years. All content and editing will be conducted by the editorial board of the journal.

Your Next Step

An honorary gift is a wonderful way to acknowledge someone’s vision for the future. To learn more about ways to recognize your honoree, visit our website at www.foundation.gastro.org.

Did you know you can honor a family member, friend, or colleague whose life has been touched by GI research through a gift to the AGA Research Foundation? Your gift will honor a loved one or yourself and support the AGA Research Awards Program, while giving you a tax benefit.

• Giving now or later. Any charitable gift can be made in honor or memory of someone.
• A gift today. An outright gift will help fund the AGA Research Awards Program. Your gift will assist in furthering basic digestive disease research which can ultimately advance research into all digestive diseases. The financial benefits include an income tax deduction and possible elimination of capital gains tax. A cash gift of $5,000 or more qualifies for membership in the AGA Supporter Circle.
• A gift through your will or living trust. You can include a bequest in your will or living trust stating that a specific asset, certain dollar amount, or more commonly a percentage of your estate will pass to the AGA Research Foundation in honor of your loved one. A gift in your will of $50,000 or more qualifies for membership in the AGA Legacy Society, which recognizes the foundation’s most generous individual donors.
• Named commentary section funds. You can support a commentary section in a specific AGA journal to honor or memorialize a loved one. This can be established with a gift of $100,000 over the course of 5 years or through an estate gift. The AGA Institute Publications Committee will work with you to provide name recognition for the commentary section in a specific AGA journal for five years. All content and editing will be conducted by the editorial board of the journal.

Your Next Step

An honorary gift is a wonderful way to acknowledge someone’s vision for the future. To learn more about ways to recognize your honoree, visit our website at www.foundation.gastro.org.

Did you know you can honor a family member, friend, or colleague whose life has been touched by GI research through a gift to the AGA Research Foundation? Your gift will honor a loved one or yourself and support the AGA Research Awards Program, while giving you a tax benefit.

• Giving now or later. Any charitable gift can be made in honor or memory of someone.
• A gift today. An outright gift will help fund the AGA Research Awards Program. Your gift will assist in furthering basic digestive disease research which can ultimately advance research into all digestive diseases. The financial benefits include an income tax deduction and possible elimination of capital gains tax. A cash gift of $5,000 or more qualifies for membership in the AGA Supporter Circle.
• A gift through your will or living trust. You can include a bequest in your will or living trust stating that a specific asset, certain dollar amount, or more commonly a percentage of your estate will pass to the AGA Research Foundation in honor of your loved one. A gift in your will of $50,000 or more qualifies for membership in the AGA Legacy Society, which recognizes the foundation’s most generous individual donors.
• Named commentary section funds. You can support a commentary section in a specific AGA journal to honor or memorialize a loved one. This can be established with a gift of $100,000 over the course of 5 years or through an estate gift. The AGA Institute Publications Committee will work with you to provide name recognition for the commentary section in a specific AGA journal for five years. All content and editing will be conducted by the editorial board of the journal.

Your Next Step

An honorary gift is a wonderful way to acknowledge someone’s vision for the future. To learn more about ways to recognize your honoree, visit our website at www.foundation.gastro.org.

The AGA Tech Summit is building on the success of past summits and moving in a new direction. The reimagined summit will accelerate innovation by bringing together MedTech startups, innovators, investors and leaders in the field.

“It’s a new world out there. The Tech Summit now reflects the new direction AGA is taking in innovation,” said Lawrence R. Kosinski, MD, AGA at-large councilor for development and growth. “We want to help GI innovators successfully navigate the innovation lifecycle from start to finish and bring new technologies to market.”

The Tech Summit will take place April 11-12 in Chicago at MATTER, located at the Merchandise Mart. MATTER supports healthcare startups at all stages of growth and brings together industry executives, entrepreneurs, and investors to accelerate innovation, advance care and improve lives.

Highlights of the Tech Summit include:

• Keynote addresses from leaders in the field of GI innovation.
• Panel discussions with VC strategists.
• The Shark Tank Pitch Competition featuring emerging GI technologies.
• Multiple opportunities to network innovators, investors and leaders in the field.
• One-on-one consultations with VCs.

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The AGA Tech Summit is building on the success of past summits and moving in a new direction. The reimagined summit will accelerate innovation by bringing together MedTech startups, innovators, investors and leaders in the field.

“It’s a new world out there. The Tech Summit now reflects the new direction AGA is taking in innovation,” said Lawrence R. Kosinski, MD, AGA at-large councilor for development and growth. “We want to help GI innovators successfully navigate the innovation lifecycle from start to finish and bring new technologies to market.”

The Tech Summit will take place April 11-12 in Chicago at MATTER, located at the Merchandise Mart. MATTER supports healthcare startups at all stages of growth and brings together industry executives, entrepreneurs, and investors to accelerate innovation, advance care and improve lives.

Highlights of the Tech Summit include:

• Keynote addresses from leaders in the field of GI innovation.
• Panel discussions with VC strategists.
• The Shark Tank Pitch Competition featuring emerging GI technologies.
• Multiple opportunities to network innovators, investors and leaders in the field.
• One-on-one consultations with VCs.

.

The AGA Tech Summit is building on the success of past summits and moving in a new direction. The reimagined summit will accelerate innovation by bringing together MedTech startups, innovators, investors and leaders in the field.

“It’s a new world out there. The Tech Summit now reflects the new direction AGA is taking in innovation,” said Lawrence R. Kosinski, MD, AGA at-large councilor for development and growth. “We want to help GI innovators successfully navigate the innovation lifecycle from start to finish and bring new technologies to market.”

The Tech Summit will take place April 11-12 in Chicago at MATTER, located at the Merchandise Mart. MATTER supports healthcare startups at all stages of growth and brings together industry executives, entrepreneurs, and investors to accelerate innovation, advance care and improve lives.

Highlights of the Tech Summit include:

• Keynote addresses from leaders in the field of GI innovation.
• Panel discussions with VC strategists.
• The Shark Tank Pitch Competition featuring emerging GI technologies.
• Multiple opportunities to network innovators, investors and leaders in the field.
• One-on-one consultations with VCs.

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In a significant victory for patients and healthcare providers, Blue Cross Blue Shield of Massachusetts (BCBSMA) has officially postponed its restrictive anesthesia policy until further notice. The change is retroactive to Jan. 1, 2024, so no claims will be rejected for payment.

The decision follows intense advocacy efforts by a coalition that included AGA, the American Society of Anesthesiologists (ASA), and the American College of Surgeons (ACS), with the Massachusetts Gastroenterology Association demonstrating exceptional leadership and the Massachusetts Society of Anesthesiologists (MSA) persevering throughout the process. The BCBSMA heeded the coalition’s warnings about the potential impact on cancer screening access and patient choice in GI care.

Physician leaders representing the societies played a crucial role in meetings with BCBSMA, contributing to this positive outcome. Member engagement, including contacting legislators, media outreach, and participation in the #Noto154 campaign, had a substantial impact.

BCBSMA informed the societies that all claims will be paid; however, documentation will still be required for patients presenting with ASA 1 and ASA 2. Providers may download a list of commonly used diagnosis codes documented with the administration of propofol. The AGA encourages members to still be mindful that BCBSMA will be monitoring the use of these codes for propofol administration. Members can see BCBSMA policy 154 for the complete list of diagnosis codes that support use of MAC. The societies have requested that BCBSMA provide education to providers on this requirement.

The AGA intends to closely monitor developments to ensure similar policies are not introduced nationally.

In a significant victory for patients and healthcare providers, Blue Cross Blue Shield of Massachusetts (BCBSMA) has officially postponed its restrictive anesthesia policy until further notice. The change is retroactive to Jan. 1, 2024, so no claims will be rejected for payment.

The decision follows intense advocacy efforts by a coalition that included AGA, the American Society of Anesthesiologists (ASA), and the American College of Surgeons (ACS), with the Massachusetts Gastroenterology Association demonstrating exceptional leadership and the Massachusetts Society of Anesthesiologists (MSA) persevering throughout the process. The BCBSMA heeded the coalition’s warnings about the potential impact on cancer screening access and patient choice in GI care.

Physician leaders representing the societies played a crucial role in meetings with BCBSMA, contributing to this positive outcome. Member engagement, including contacting legislators, media outreach, and participation in the #Noto154 campaign, had a substantial impact.

BCBSMA informed the societies that all claims will be paid; however, documentation will still be required for patients presenting with ASA 1 and ASA 2. Providers may download a list of commonly used diagnosis codes documented with the administration of propofol. The AGA encourages members to still be mindful that BCBSMA will be monitoring the use of these codes for propofol administration. Members can see BCBSMA policy 154 for the complete list of diagnosis codes that support use of MAC. The societies have requested that BCBSMA provide education to providers on this requirement.

The AGA intends to closely monitor developments to ensure similar policies are not introduced nationally.

In a significant victory for patients and healthcare providers, Blue Cross Blue Shield of Massachusetts (BCBSMA) has officially postponed its restrictive anesthesia policy until further notice. The change is retroactive to Jan. 1, 2024, so no claims will be rejected for payment.

The decision follows intense advocacy efforts by a coalition that included AGA, the American Society of Anesthesiologists (ASA), and the American College of Surgeons (ACS), with the Massachusetts Gastroenterology Association demonstrating exceptional leadership and the Massachusetts Society of Anesthesiologists (MSA) persevering throughout the process. The BCBSMA heeded the coalition’s warnings about the potential impact on cancer screening access and patient choice in GI care.

Physician leaders representing the societies played a crucial role in meetings with BCBSMA, contributing to this positive outcome. Member engagement, including contacting legislators, media outreach, and participation in the #Noto154 campaign, had a substantial impact.

BCBSMA informed the societies that all claims will be paid; however, documentation will still be required for patients presenting with ASA 1 and ASA 2. Providers may download a list of commonly used diagnosis codes documented with the administration of propofol. The AGA encourages members to still be mindful that BCBSMA will be monitoring the use of these codes for propofol administration. Members can see BCBSMA policy 154 for the complete list of diagnosis codes that support use of MAC. The societies have requested that BCBSMA provide education to providers on this requirement.

The AGA intends to closely monitor developments to ensure similar policies are not introduced nationally.