ACG's FDA Related Matters Committee: Developing Guidance Tailored for GI's and GI Clinicians!

From ACG FDA Related Matters Committee Chair Stephen Hanauer, MD, FACG

The inner workings of the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) can seem elusive from the realities of the day-to-day clinical practice. For the FDA to accomplish its mission, they have exclusive access to comprehensive and historical clinical trial data and a wealth of outcomes data. These data include the largest claims dataset covering over 227 million Americans, including patient-level data. Staying up-to-date with FDA communications is important as gastroenterologists and our patients look for guidance in areas of rapid innovation such as biosimilars, fecal microbiota for transplantation, and endoscopic bariatric treatments.

From Eric D. Shah, MD (pictured), Dawn B. Beaulieu, MD, Bruce Yacyshyn, MD, FACG, and the FDA Related Matters Committee

The inner workings of the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) can seem elusive from the realities of the day-to-day clinical practice. For the FDA to accomplish its mission, they have exclusive access to comprehensive and historical clinical trial data and a wealth of outcomes data. These data include the largest claims dataset covering over 227 million Americans, including patient-level data. Staying up-to-date with FDA communications is important as gastroenterologists and their patients look for guidance in areas of rapid innovation such as biosimilars, fecal microbiota for transplantation, and endoscopic bariatric treatments.

Click here for a summary of useful datasets and resources published on the FDA website which can enable gastroenterologists to stay current with regulatory guidance and access valuable FDA resources.

ACG's Practice Management Committee: Developing Guidance for Your GI Practices!

From ACG Practice Management Committee Chair Louis Wilson, MD, FACG

The ACG Practice Management Committee brings practicing colleagues together to explore solutions to overcome management challenges, to improve operations, enhance productivity, and support physician leadership.

ACG’s Practice Management 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.

Interested in setting up an ambulatory infusion center in your practice? Click here to learn more. What about adding anesthesia as an ancillary service?Should you add a diagnostic lab to your practice?

How do you market your GI practice in the digital era? Click here to read more. How can you hire and retain the best staff? Want to improve patient flow efficiency? What about improving patient portal engagement in your practice?

These topics and many important practice management issues will be covered during ACG’s “Roadmap for a Successful Community or Academic GI Practice” Course. Don’t miss out!

The ACG Practice Management Committee is proud to introduce a new podcast offering deeper insights into one of the latest Practice Management Toolbox articles on Professional Service Agreements with a Hospital System.

Podcast – Alignment but NOT Employment: Professional Service Agreements with a Hospital System

Listen as Dr. Louis J. Wilson, Chair of ACG's Practice Management Committee, goes deeper into the topic with authors Stephen T. Amann, MD, FACG, of Digestive Health Specialists, Tupelo, MS and James C. DiLorenzo, MD, New York Associates at Montefiore and New York GI Center, LLC.

You can also read the article!

ACG's Legislative Action Center: Be An Advocate for your Patients and GI Colleagues!

From ACG Legislative and Public Policy Council Chair, Whitfield L. Knapple, MD, FACG

What are some important bills impacting GI in Congress? In your state? How can you easily voice your support?  You do not need to be in Washington D.C. or in your state’s capitol building to be active.

ACG's Legislative Action Center is your indispensable one-stop resource to review and advocate for various federal and state bills impacting our profession, practice, and patients.

Thank you ACG members! H.R. 1570 Has Reached Over 320 cosponsors: The Removing Barriers to Colorectal Cancer Screening Act of 2019 (H.R. 1570) has recently achieved an important milestone of having over 290 cosponsors in the U.S. House of Representatives--and currently has 320--which means it will now be added to the Calendar. Let’s continue this momentum and urge Democratic House Leadership to take up this important bill immediately.

Tell Congress to pass the Safe Step Act (S. 2546 and H.R. 2279): The Step Step Act requires certain health insurers to provide exceptions for any step therapy protocols.

ACG is active on surprise medical billing. The College recently joined the AMA and other medical associations in urging the House and Senate to refine their surprise billing proposals to ensure fair and equitable resolutions.

Tell Congress to support for the Treat and Reduce Obesity Act of 2019 (S.595, H.R.1530). This bill provides for the coordination of programs to prevent and treat obesity.

Remember to Contact Your ACG Governor on Important State and Local Issues Impacting You and Your Practice!

From Neil Stollman, MD, FACG and Patrick Young, MD, FACG, Chair and Vice Chair of the ACG Board of Governors:

ACG Board of Governors Chair Neil Stollman, MD, FACG

ACG Board of Governors Vice Chair Patrick Young, MD, FACG

What are some important bills in your state? Who is my ACG Governor? Check out ACG’s State Legislative Action Center here.

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.