Virtually every day that Congress is in session, AGA representatives are on Capitol Hill advocating for initiatives to advance the science and practice of gastroenterology. We’re taking a stand on the top issues facing GIs, including reforming the Medicare payment system, easing the regulatory burden, increasing NIH funding, and eliminating colonoscopy cost sharing.
In 2012, AGA:
• Members made hundreds of calls to legislators urging them to prevent cuts in Medicare reimbursement.
Alicia Ault/IMNG Medical Media
• Held 94 meetings with legislators urging them to repeal the broken Medicare payment system and transition physicians into a new system that provides stability and equity, and reward physicians for improved quality.
• Spent 40 hours meeting with regulatory agencies, including MedPAC, CMS, USPSTF, HHS, and ONC, to discuss Medicare payment reform, quality programs, health IT, and the value-based payment modifier.
• Commented on 14 proposed regulations.
And since AGA PAC’s inception, we have raised $500,000. One hundred percent of contributions to AGA PAC go directly to candidate support; no monies are used for overhead costs.
For more stats and details on how the AGA is working for you in Washington, view the full AGA Action Report online at www.gastro.org/advocacy-regulation/take-action/AGA_Action_Report_2012.pdf.
AGA Institute Council Announces Committee Members
The AGA Institute Council is proud to announce the results of the 2013 section elections. With congratulations, we welcome the new section vice-chairs and nominating committee members into service for the AGA Institute Council.
Esophageal, Gastric and Duodenal Disorders
Nominating Committee
C. Prakash Gyawali, MD, MRCP, AGAF
Jean Marie Houghton, MD
Joel E. Richter, MD, FASGE
Marcelo F. Vela, MD
Growth, Development and Child Health
Vice-Chair Noah F. Shroyer, PhD
Nominating Committee
Valeria C. Cohran, MD
Edwin Fulco De Zoeten, MD, PhD
Sohail Z. Husain, MD
Sandra C. Kim, MD
Hormones, Transmitters, Growth Factors and Their Receptors
Vice-Chair Charalabos Pothoulakis, MD
Nominating Committee
Anthony J.M. Bauer, PhD
Roberto De Giorgio, MD, PhD
B. Mark Evers, MD
Yana Zavros, PhD
Liver and Biliary
Vice-Chair Jayant A. Talwalkar, MD, MPH
Nominating Committee
Andrew Muir, MD, MHS
Charmaine A. Stewart, MD
Kymberly Watt, MD
Rebecca G. Wells, MD
Neurogastroenterology and Motility
Vice-Chair Satish S.C. Rao, MD, PhD, AGAF
Nominating Committee
Beverly Greenwood-Van Meerveld, PhD, AGAF
Braden Kuo, MD
Reza Shaker, MD
William J. Snape, Jr., MD
Nutrition and Obesity
Vice-Chair Dennis D. Black, MD
Nominating Committee
Sheila Eileen Crowe, MD, AGAF
John C. Fang, MD
Samuel Klein, MD
Stephen J.D. O’Keefe, MD, PhD
Volunteer to be an AGA Alternate CPT or RUC Advisor
AGA is requesting applications from interested members for two prestigious volunteer positions:
• Alternate advisor to the AMA’s Current Procedural Terminology (CPT®) process
• Alternate advisor to the AMA’s Relative Value Update Committee (RUC)
The alternate advisors would work with either the CPT or RUC advisor and society staff to assist with AGA’s efforts in developing recommendations. These volunteer positions would require:
• Monthly calls.
• Frequent e-mail communication.
• Development of written materials.
• Collaborative discussions and work with ASGE, ACG, and other societies, as appropriate.
• Attendance at meetings three times per year. Travel is reimbursed by AGA.
You can learn more about the CPT or RUC positions via the AMA website at www.ama-assn.org. Please apply to either position by submitting your CV and a one-page statement of interest to Tricia Bardon, director of practice management and reimbursement at tbardon@gastro.org. Your submission will be reviewed by the AGA Institute Practice Management and Economic Committee and you may be contacted to interview for this volunteer position. All applications are due at 5:00 p.m. ET, Aug. 1, 2013.
