The American Gastroenterological Association's Political Action Committee recognized Sen. Bill Cassidy, R-La., and Rep. Mike Thompson, D-Calif., for their efforts to advance important legislation.
Here's what you should know:
1. Mr. Cassidy was essential in passing legislation that reformed the sustainable growth rate formula and transitioned physicians to adopt value-based payment measures. He also helped develop a pathway for the creation of specialty physician-focused payment models.
2. AGA also recognized Mr. Cassidy's efforts to champion transparency concerning GI coding. As a result of those efforts, CMS revised how it announces changes related to its fee schedule and began soliciting stakeholders to participate in the revision process.
3. Mr. Thompson is a sponsor of the Removing Barriers to Colorectal Cancer Screening Act. The bill aims to close a loophole that requires patients to pay a copay if a screening colonoscopy turns into a therapeutic colonoscopy.
4. Mr. Thompson also supports increasing funding to the National Institutes of Health.
5. The legislators were recognized at Digestive Disease Week, June 2 to June 5 in Washington, D.C.