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What the election results mean for GI

The majorities in both chambers are razor thin. We are pushing to prevent Medicare cuts and reform prior auth.
US Capitol
US Capitol

In the Senate, Democrats clinched the majority with 50 seats. Only one race, Georgia, is still undecided where a December runoff is planned. This race will not flip the majority since Vice President Kamala Harris casts tie-breaking votes as the President of the Senate.   

Republicans recaptured control of the House after reaching 218 seats; enough to take control but the sweeping flip “red wave” did not occur as predicted. Republicans currently hold 220 seats to 213 Democratic seats, while two seats remain undecided.  Margins in both chambers are slim, reflecting the division in the country. 

What does this mean? 

The majorities in both chambers are razor thin and compromises will need to be made to pass funding bills and other priorities.   

AGA will continue to prioritize our bipartisan efforts with congressional champions on both sides of the aisle, including Reps. Ami Bera (D-CA), Larry Bucshon (R-IN) and Sens. Sherrod Brown (D-OH) and Bill Cassidy (R-LA). For the remainder of this Congress, we will fight to:  

  • Encourage the Senate to take a vote on the House-passed prior authorization reform bill. 
  • Support robust federal research funding for gastroenterology.  
  • Reduce dangerous cuts in the Medicare Physician Fee Schedule, scheduled to take effect Jan. 1, 2023. 

GI’s voice in the elections

No matter which party controls each chamber, we can declare the 2022 elections a success for GI. AGA’s bipartisan political action committee, AGA PAC, prioritized support for physician candidates and members serving on key health committees and all eight physician PAC-supported candidates won their races.  

AGA PAC would like to thank our donors for their support, which enabled us to donate $114,000 to the congressional campaigns of friends of GI this election cycle, all of whom were approved by the AGA PAC Board of Advisors. Learn more about AGA PAC’s impact on the 2022 elections and AGA PAC-supported candidates. 

AGA PAC will continue to engage with the current Congress to get our priorities across the finish line by the end of the year, and we look forward to educating the new Congress about issues impacting our patients and profession. 

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