What's up in Washington that will affect your practice

Win for IBD patient care: BCBS rescinds policy to restrict IBD medications

Sen. Cassidy selected to chair HELP Committee

2024 election round up

Republicans regained control of the White House and Senate, while also maintaining a very thin majority in the House of Representatives. They will need to work across the aisle to get legislation passed in the 119th Congress.  

AGA is committed to working with our congressional champions to advance our priorities that will further patient care and give decision-making power back to physicians.

What’s next for the lame duck session post-election? 

Congress has a number of issues to address before the end of the 118th Congress, including: 

• Federal funding: The current continuing resolution (CR) set to expire on Dec. 20. Congress needs to pass another CR or fund the federal government to prevent a shutdown.  
• Telehealth: Medicare coverage of telehealth flexibilities is set to expire at the end of 2024 unless Congress passes an extension.  
• Medicare reimbursement: GI payments are set to be cut by at least 2.8% on Jan. 1, 2025, unless Congress intervenes.  

AGA will monitor these issues as the lame duck continues.  

Drs. Gruss & Perera represent AGA at the House of Delegates interim meeting

This month, American Medical Association (AMA) held its Interim Meeting. The policymaking body represents the interests of physicians and establishes health, medical, professional, and governance policies.  

AGA Government Affairs Committee members Claudia Gruss, MD, and Lilani Perera, MD, served as AGA’s delegates and informed the work of the HOD as they passed resolutions on the following topics, plus many more:  

• Boost aging patients’ meaningful access to health tech 
• Make sure doctors can intervene on AI-influenced health decisions 
• Make sure health plans pay for care after prior authorization approval 

A special thank you to Dr. Gruss for leading the Digestive Disease Section Council (DDSC) of over 30 delegates, representing six GI-related specialty societies and state gastroenterologists, plus colon, rectal and bariatric surgeon delegates as they worked to focus the HOD on GI-related issues. Under her leadership, the DDSC has expanded its membership and influence at HOD.  

Grassroots Spotlight

Help stop Medicare payment cuts!

Gastroenterology Medicare payments are set to be cut by at least 2.8% on Jan. 1, 2025, unless Congress intervenes.    

We are committed to pushing Congress to address Medicare payment reimbursement but need you to lend your voice. Join us in urging your Member of Congress to act now to prevent harmful cuts that could reduce Medicare patients’ access to specialty care.  

PAC Corner

AGA welcomes new health professionals in 119th Congress

AGA PAC looks forward to working with Dr. Conaway and the other newly elected healthcare professionals in the 119th Congress! 

Regulatory Updates

CMS 2025 Payment Rules Finalize Physician Payment Cuts for Medicare 

The final 2025 Medicare Physician Fee Schedule and the Hospital Outpatient Prospective Payment System (OPPS)/Ambulatory Surgical Center (ASC) rules were released on Nov. 1.

GI faces a 2.8% cut to physician payments, barring Congressional action, while hospital and ASC payments will increase 2.9%.  

The final rules largely reflect CMS’ proposals from July.

• COVID-19 telehealth flexibilities will end at the end of CY 2024.  
• CMS did not accept new telemedicine office visit codes.
• Expanded colorectal cancer (CRC) screening.

Post of the month

Hill Meetings