Action in the U.S. House and Senate Regarding Sequestration Cuts

From ACG Legislative and Public Policy Council Chair, James C. Hobley, MD, MSc, FACG

The U.S. House of Representatives on Friday passed legislation that delays the looming 2% Medicare reimbursement cuts until January 2022.  Absent Congressional action, this cut will occur on April 1 due to "sequestration" rules. ACG has joined a coalition of medical specialty societies urging Congress to address these looming and unwarranted cuts. On the other side of the Capitol Building, Sens. Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH) and Susan Collins (R-ME) introduced their own bill to suspend these Medicare sequestration cuts for the duration of the federally declared public health emergency. ACG continues to work with policymakers to avert these Medicare cuts.

Thank you ACG members for your advocacy efforts!

ACG State Action Center – We Need Your Advocacy Voice!

The ACG Board of Governors continue to be active at the state and local level. Please find below some recent examples of ACG Governors advocating on your behalf, from coast to coast. Use the ACG State Action Center and buttons below to lend us your advocacy voice!

From ACG Northern California Governor Ronald K. Hsu, MD, FACG, Southern California A Governor V. Raman Muthusamy, MD, MAS, FACG and Southern California B Governor Walter J. Coyle, MD, FACG

Attention California ACG members: Legislation was recently introduced to remove the surprise billing that occurs when a polyp is removed during a screening colonoscopy. The bill also waives the cost-sharing for the necessary diagnostic colonoscopy subsequent to a positive colorectal cancer test. Tell your state representatives to support this important bill!


From ACG Rhode Island Governor Alyn L. Adrain, MD, FACG

Attention Rhode Island ACG members: Similar to the bills introduced in California, legislation was introduced in RI that removes the surprise billing that occurs when a polyp is removed during a screening colonoscopy. These bills will also waive cost-sharing for the necessary diagnostic colonoscopy subsequent to a positive colorectal cancer test. Tell your state Representatives and Senators to support these important bills!


Step therapy continues to be an important issue in Rhode Island. Two companion bills were recently introduced in the State House and Senate that aim to place guardrails and restrictions on the step therapy process in the state to further assist patients. Tell your state Representatives and Senators to support these important bills!


Remember to contact your ACG Governor on important state and local issues impacting you and your practice.

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 77 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.

ACG Updates Medicare Quality Reporting and Reimbursement Guidance

From ACG Practice Management Committee Chair Stephen T. Amann, MD, FACG

ACG has recently updated the College’s “Making $ense of MACRA” guidance and joint-GI society Medicare reimbursement charts. ACG’s goals are to distill the complex information into simple and practical guidance for ACG members and the busy GI clinician.


What is the Practice Management Toolbox?

The Toolbox is a series of short articles, written by practicing gastroenterologists, that provide members with easily accessible information to improve their practices. Each article covers an issue important to private practice gastroenterologists and physician-lead clinical practices. They include a brief introduction, a topic overview, specific suggestions, helpful examples and a list of resources or references. Each month a new edition of the Toolbox will be released and will then remain available here along with all previous editions. The Practice Management Committee is confident this series will a provide valuable resource for members striving to optimize their practices.