Legislative Agenda
Digestive health advocates meet with Senator Herb Kohl (D-WI)
during IFFGD sponsored Capitol Hill visits.
IFFGD and digestive health advocates work tirelessly to educate elected officials about functional GI and motility disorders, raise awareness of the condition on Capitol Hill, and encourage lawmakers to support critical research and patient care initiatives.
Medical Research
Irritable Bowel Syndrome and Functional GI Disorders Research and Treatment Act
This important legislation would expand and bolster the research portfolios for IBS and other functional GI disorders at the National Institutes of Health (NIH). In addition, the Act calls for developing centers to conduct research and train health care providers on the condition, and facilitate improved public awareness and professional understanding. IFFGD and digestive health advocates are currently seeking original cosponsors in both the House and Senate to introduce this legislation.
Funding for the National Institutes of Health
On an annual basis, IFFGD and digestive health advocates urge members of Congress to provide the National Institutes of Health; the National Institute of Diabetes, and Digestive, and Kidney Diseases; and its Division of Digestive Diseases and Nutrition with meaningful funding increases. Increased budget authority means the federally supported functional GI and motility disorder research portfolios can continue to expand and advance cutting-edge science.
Awareness and Education
Irritable Bowel Syndrome Awareness Month Congressional Resolution
April is IBS Awareness Month across America and especially on Capitol Hill. Both the House and the Senate can introduce Congressional Resolutions supporting IBS Awareness Month and its goals. Making sure your members of Congress cosponsor this legislation ensures that they are familiar with the IBS patient community and its needs.
Patient Care
Funding for the Food and Drug Administration, and Continued Development of New Treatments
Each year, IFFGD and digestive health advocates urge Members of Congress to provide the Food and Drug Administration with meaningful funding increases. Bolstering the FDA’s budget ensures that the Agency has the resources necessary to approve new functional GI and motility disorders treatment options and appropriately monitor those that are currently on the market. In addition, we continue to urge the FDA to issue a guidance document on the development of IBS treatments so that pharmaceutical companies reinvest in this area and begin to develop innovative treatment options.
Medicare Physician Reimbursement
Each year, Medicare uses a mandated formula known as the Sustainable Growth Rate (SGR) system to adjust the rate at which physicians are reimbursed for the services they provide to Medicare program beneficiaries. In recent years, the SGR has calculated significant reductions to the physician reimbursement rate and Congress has been forced to intervene legislatively through short-term patches to avert the scheduled cuts. If these cuts were to take effect, many physicians would be unable or unwilling to see Medicare patients and access to quality care would be hampered for many individuals with functional GI and motility disorders. IFFGD has been urging Congress to work with the Center for Medicare and Medicaid Services to identify a long-term solution to this persistent problem.