Greetings!

Congress is working hard as they begin this 117th session. Now is an important time to resume advocacy efforts and develop a relationship with your legislative offices. Join IFFGD and advocates from across the country in two upcoming virtual advocacy events. Advocating alongside like-minded individuals for a common goal increases the impact of your efforts. 

During March 21-26, 2021, IFFGD will host the our 2021 Virtual Advocacy Event which includes a multiday program educating and empowering advocates. In addition, the Digestive Disease National Coalition (DDNC) will host a Public Policy Forum on March 5-10, 2021. The coalition, chaired by IFFGD President, Ceciel Rooker, consists of patient and physician organizations as well as stakeholders who work together to improve digestive health.


In this issue:

  • Advocate Spotlight - John is an active advocate who shares information on his experiences with advocacy on and off of Capitol Hill.

  • How a Bill Becomes a Law - Learn more about the process required for a bill to become Public Law.

  • Step Therapy - This practice by health insurance companies can be detrimental to patient care, making it a vitally important advocacy priority.

  • Genetic and Rare Diseases Information Center - This important resource within the NIH provides information and resources for those impacted by genetic and rare diseases.


Be active. Be heard. Make a difference.

Join us the week of March 21st, 2021 Register now.

This virtual event will take place March 5th - 10th, 2021.

John is a highly active patient and advocate. He is impacted by multiple conditions, including pancreatitis, GERD, gastroparesis, and nonalcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH). Like many chronic GI patients, John's life has been heavily impacted by his diagnosis. Although his patient journey has been difficult, he found a passion and calling in advocacy.

John's story provides great insight into various types of advocacy that are important to ensure patient voices are heard and considered. In addition to advocating on Capitol Hill, learn about advocating with Federal agencies and within hospitals.

Find his and other advocate stories here. If you would like to share your advocacy experiences, please email advocacy@iffgd.org.
Register now for a week of advocacy March 21 - 26, 2021!

This year we are beginning the 117th Congress with a multiday advocacy program. Join us for the event to learn more about advocating to Congress. This year, the education program provides information on various support options, including support groups, available to the digestive health community.

There will be a Sunday education program to kick-off the week. This program will include three sections:
  • Finding Help Through Support Groups on Facebook: Learn more about what to look for in a Facebook support group to help narrow down your search.
  • In-person and Online Support Groups: These discussion will highlight the unique benefits that in-person and online support groups can provide for the community.
  • Developing a Comprehensive Support System: Building a well-rounded support system is important to ensure the best quality of care for all GI patients. These video discussions will educate viewers on types of support that are not always considered. 

Monday, March 22nd and Tuesday, March 23rd will consist of shorter evening programs:
  • Advocacy Education: Learn more about Congress, why advocacy is so important, how to contact and follow-up with Congress, as well as IFFGD’s legislative priorities for the GI community. 
  • Governmental Support: Topics include opportunities for youth involvement and education on safely and efficiently traveling with GI conditions. Viewers will also learn more about current resources from the VA and the work being done to improve future resources.

If you have any questions, please email advocacy@iffgd.org

Keeping informed on the federal budget process is important for all of us as constituents. IFFGD works diligently to stay versed on the appropriations process each year. We will keep you updated as the appropriations process continues for fiscal year (FY) 2021. Each FY runs from October 1st through September 30th of the following year.

February 5, 2021 - Congressional committees of jurisdiction will work during the next several weeks to develop legislative provisions to bring to floor consideration starting in late February. This is occurring in hopes of advancing President Biden's American Rescue Plan COVID-19 relief package.

January 22, 2021 - An official budget proposal from the Biden administration for Fiscal Year 2022 may be released in February or March 2021.

January 20, 2021 - The Biden administration and Democrats in the House and Senate are focused on pushing forward the Biden Emergency COVID Relief Package Proposal, titled the American Rescue Plan. It is possible the legislation could be passed in several pieces.

Find more information on these budget and appropriation updates here.
The Senate and House of Representatives within Congress work together in the law-making process. Senators and Representatives create legislation, also called bills, to propose new ideas. The goal of creating bills is so that they will one day be passed into law. The process that legislation must go through can be very time consuming. Learn more about the steps taken for a bill to become a law.
  1. Develop an Idea.
  2. Write a Bill.
  3. Discuss the Bill in Committee.
  4. Debate on the Floor of the Senate or House of Representatives.
  5. Send the Bill to the President for a signature.

Policies and priorities related to healthcare, research, treatment, guidelines, and much more are continually changing. We will provide monthly updates on items relevant to the GI community.

February 5, 2021 - President Biden's administration said it would delay, for one year, a rule that would prevent drug makers and pharmacy benefit managers from negotiating rebates on prescription drugs.
This pushes intended implementation until 2023.

January 28, 2021 - President Biden issued an executive order this week to establish a special enrollment period for the Affordable Care Act (ACA) health insurance exchanges from February 15th through May 15th, 2021. This also intends to expand Medicaid enrollment and direct federal agencies to examine existing policies that restrict access to quality, affordable health care.

January 22, 2021 - 330 organizations endorsed legislation introduced by Rep. Nanette Barragán (D-CA), the Improving Social Determinants of Health (SDOH) Act of 2021, which would create a Program at CDC. The legislation would empower public health departments and community organizations to develop programs that improve health and health equity.

January 15, 2021 - The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services announced a final rule designed to reduce the burden on providers and patients seeking swifter access to prior authorization information to speed up decisions about their care.

Find more information on these health policy updates here.
Step therapy is a common occurrence in health care. This practice can be a significant hurdle for both healthcare providers and patients. This is also known as fail first, a practice used by health insurance companies that requires patients to try and fail on one or more medications before the insurer will cover the medication originally prescribed by the patient’s healthcare provider.

This is a tool used by health insurance companies in an attempt to limit costs. The practice negatively impacts many patients. Legislation is to be soon introduced in the 117th Congress to limit these practices. Learn more about this topic here.
The Genetic and Rare Diseases Information Center (GARD) is a program within the National Institutes of Health (NIH). GARD provides information and resources for those impacted by genetic and rare diseases. GARD works to provide open access to information that is reliable, current, and understandable.

Rare disease information can be searched by disease category, such as Digestive Diseases, or alphabetically by disease name. GARD also provides information on drugs approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for specific rare diseases.
International Foundation for Gastrointestinal Disorders (IFFGD)
414-964-1799 | iffgd@iffgd.org | www.iffgd.org
IFFGD is a nonprofit organization.
We rely on donor support to fund research and to provide reliable information and support to those affected by chronic gastrointestinal disorders