It’s critical to bring the voice of gastroenterology to Capitol Hill to make a real difference in legislation that affects patient care. That’s why we gathered our leaders from across the United States in Washington, D.C., to meet with congressional offices during our annual Advocacy Day last week.
GIs from California to Massachusetts and many states in between met with House and Senate offices to educate members of Congress and their staff members about the most critical policy issues impacting you and your patients.
Our members and patient advocates were more than 100 people strong on Capitol Hill – our biggest turnout yet for Advocacy Day!
In total, 28 states were represented and we attended more than 100 meetings in 64 different districts, which was a mix of both Republican and Democrat offices.
Members were grouped by their state of residence and had the opportunity to collaborate with fellow GIs on how to best convey the importance of issues like prior authorization, step therapy, Medicare reimbursement and digestive disease research funding to their lawmakers’ offices.
For the second year in a row, we were fortunate to be joined by GI patient advocates as well.
Michelle Pickens, Kelly Dwyer, Latonia Ward, Amber Tresca, Demi D. Ricario, Grady Stewart, Joshua Denton and Mara Shapiro shared personal stories about the challenges they encountered in the health care system, and the negative effects to their wellbeing and quality of life due to red tape caused by prior authorization and step therapy.
The in-person advocacy of our members and patient advocates makes a difference.
In one of AGA President Dr. Maria Abreu’s meetings, the congressional staffer remembered that he met with her, Dr. Mel Wilcox and a patient advocate during last year’s Advocacy Day and recounted the impact of their conversation about delays to timely access to care for IBD medication.
Numerous GIs had similar experiences on Advocacy Day and recounted the benefits of being able to walk into House and Senate offices and educate congressional offices on the issues they’re experiencing in their clinic or lab.
Being able to start these conversations about health care and GI and build these relationships showcases the value of Advocacy Day and how AGA works with members to make it easy to advocate for the issues important to them.
We were able to have a full day of constructive meetings with lawmakers and their staff thanks to members and patient advocates. Thank you for being engaged and using your voices to protect GI patient care!
Total targets covered during Advocacy Day
Check out a photo and social media recap of the day below.
#TeamTexas is ready to advocate for our patients @AmerGastroAssn #AdvocacyDay❕@tareksawas @BCryer @MimiTanMD #LukeEngelkin @UTSWGI https://t.co/VDVZ19Y6Jr
— Jeremy Louissaint (@jlouissaint89) September 26, 2024
Great time and alot of inspiration reppinng #Minnesota at the #AGAAdvocacy day @AmerGastroAssn
— Mohammad Bilal, MD (@BilalMohammadMD) September 27, 2024
🙏 to continue the fight against
✳️ Prior auth
✳️ STEP therapy
✳️ Cut in physician reimbursements@ShaziaMSiddique @ibddocmaria @KathleenTeixei2 @RotonyaC https://t.co/g1A7smxXpP
Terrific day on The Hill advocating for GI health: reduce prior auths, increase research funding, allow GIs to care for their patients without admin barriers. Ohio contingent could not have been more eloquent! @AmerGastroAssn @CleClinicMD @biancaislam @Jarshah4@MRegueiroMD pic.twitter.com/28NatKvQVe
— Michelle Kim (@MichelleKimMD) September 27, 2024
What an amazing opportunity to be able to advocate today on Capitol Hill with the #AGA. Just finished discussing #priorauth #steptherapy #Medicarepaymentreform and #NIH #NIDDK funding, go team Georgia/Louisiana! #AGAadvocacy pic.twitter.com/dLAl7CDxu0
— JMario_MD (@JmarioMd) September 26, 2024
So much positive momentum at #AGAadvocacy day making the voices of doctors and patients heard. Thank you to the best partners @jessicawduncan @crohnicallymom. @AmerGastroAssn pic.twitter.com/wz39X9By6H
— Elisa Boden, MD (@ElisaBodenIBDMD) September 26, 2024
Fortunate to live in a country where we can advocate for what we feel is important.
— Fola May, MD PhD (@drfolamay) September 26, 2024
On The Hill today asking congress to support long-term, sustainable research funding for digestive diseases.
California contingency representing!
🇺🇸 ❤️🤍💙#AGAAdvocacy @AmerGastroAssn pic.twitter.com/M2B0YkwafJ
successful day on The Hill speaking to congress about ⬇️ #priorauth burdens, #steptherapy reform, ⬆️ #research funding. Go #Ohio team @Jarshah4 @MichelleKimMD & Dr. Sheryl Pfeil. Special shoutout to Washington’s @IssakaMD & Pres @ibddocmaria #AGAAdvocacy Day@AmerGastroAssn pic.twitter.com/Kee1S2fNTP
— Bianca Islam, MD, PhD, MSc (she/her) (@biancaislam) September 27, 2024
#AGAAdvocacy Day: Team #Massachusetts
— Loren G. Rabinowitz, MD (@DrLorenGR) September 28, 2024
💠#priorauth and #steptherapy 🪜reform
💠Medicare 👩⚕️👨⚕️ reimbursement 📈
💠 ⬆️research funding @AmerGastroAssn @ibddocmaria @GutsyGirlMD @BIDMC_GI @BIDMChealth @TuftsMedicalCtr pic.twitter.com/cfAY324ksv
#AGAadvocacy Day! pic.twitter.com/7g9XCB5nrO
— Kathy Del-dorko (@DelgiornoKathy) September 26, 2024
Yesterday was #AGAAdvocacy Day! 12 hours on Capitol Hill with the amazing Team Virginia! I was there to push for regulatory reform to benefit patients like myself who have suffered under predatory health ins. policies like Step Therapy and delayed and denied Prior Authorizations. pic.twitter.com/1uke7LbktD
— Kelly Dwyer (@keepingmyshitTG) September 27, 2024
