ACG Governors will be in Washington D.C. on Capitol Hill next week advocating for ACG members and GI patients. The 2017 Fly-In will consist of two themes: improving preventive services and health insurance protections for patients, and reducing the administrative and regulatory burdens borne by practicing gastroenterologists. The timing is also a great opportunity to engage with members of Congress and their staff, as House and Senate Republicans plan the next steps for any Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (ACA) repeal and/or replace. Democrats, emboldened by the House Republicans’ recent failure to come to any consensus for a ACA repeal and replace package, have already stated they are willing to work with the Republicans and the Trump Administration to improve the ACA, but any talk of “repeal” is a nonstarter.
ACG Members: Are there any specific state and local issues that your state’s Washington D.C. delegation should know about? Contact your ACG Governor and let them convey these issues to your Representatives and Senators. This is a great opportunity to educate Congress and staff.
The ACG Board of Governors is one of the most unique aspects of the American College of Gastroenterology. Governors are ACG Fellows that are elected from the membership of a particular state or region. There are currently 76 Governors across seven different regions in the U.S. and abroad. The Board of Governors acts as a two-way conduit between College leadership and the membership at-large. This helps the College make certain it is meeting the evolving needs of the membership. Contact your ACG Governor today.
Costas Kefalas, MD, MMM, FACG
Chair, ACG Board of Governors