News from AGA

A new evidence-based review published in Gastroenterology helps you answer the question: Should my endoscopy center test asymptomatic patients for SARS-CoV-2 prior to endoscopy?

Key guidance for GIs

1. Endoscopy centers in areas with an intermediate prevalence of SARS-CoV-2 infection should consider testing patients for the virus before endoscopy. Several important factors contribute to this decision including testing feasibility, personal protective equipment (PPE) availability, and risk aversion threshold of endoscopists and staff.

2. Endoscopy centers in both low- and high-prevalence areas may not benefit from a pre-testing strategy.

• Rationale for low-prevalence areas: Diagnostic tests have a high proportion of false positives with significant downstream consequences, such as patient burden (quarantining and out of work for 14 days), unnecessarily delayed cases, and over-utilization of testing which may already be limited in availability. Therefore, PPE availability may drive decision-making for case triage instead. If PPE is not limited, then the majority of endoscopists and staff may reasonably select to use N95/N99 respirators or PAPRs.
• Rationale for high-prevalence areas: Highest available PPE (such as N95/N99 respirators or PAPRs) would be used universally, as available. Additionally, testing is often limited because of a high demand for a potential surge of cases.

AGA created an online tool to help endoscopy centers make decisions about their pre-endoscopy testing strategy. This tool combines local prevalence with diagnostic test performance data to calculate the proportion of true versus false positives and negatives to help endoscopy centers understand the downstream consequences of implementing a pre-procedure testing strategy.

To access the Rapid Review and online tool, visit www.gastro.org/COVID.

[email protected]

A new evidence-based review published in Gastroenterology helps you answer the question: Should my endoscopy center test asymptomatic patients for SARS-CoV-2 prior to endoscopy?

Key guidance for GIs

1. Endoscopy centers in areas with an intermediate prevalence of SARS-CoV-2 infection should consider testing patients for the virus before endoscopy. Several important factors contribute to this decision including testing feasibility, personal protective equipment (PPE) availability, and risk aversion threshold of endoscopists and staff.

2. Endoscopy centers in both low- and high-prevalence areas may not benefit from a pre-testing strategy.

• Rationale for low-prevalence areas: Diagnostic tests have a high proportion of false positives with significant downstream consequences, such as patient burden (quarantining and out of work for 14 days), unnecessarily delayed cases, and over-utilization of testing which may already be limited in availability. Therefore, PPE availability may drive decision-making for case triage instead. If PPE is not limited, then the majority of endoscopists and staff may reasonably select to use N95/N99 respirators or PAPRs.
• Rationale for high-prevalence areas: Highest available PPE (such as N95/N99 respirators or PAPRs) would be used universally, as available. Additionally, testing is often limited because of a high demand for a potential surge of cases.

AGA created an online tool to help endoscopy centers make decisions about their pre-endoscopy testing strategy. This tool combines local prevalence with diagnostic test performance data to calculate the proportion of true versus false positives and negatives to help endoscopy centers understand the downstream consequences of implementing a pre-procedure testing strategy.

To access the Rapid Review and online tool, visit www.gastro.org/COVID.

[email protected]

A new evidence-based review published in Gastroenterology helps you answer the question: Should my endoscopy center test asymptomatic patients for SARS-CoV-2 prior to endoscopy?

Key guidance for GIs

1. Endoscopy centers in areas with an intermediate prevalence of SARS-CoV-2 infection should consider testing patients for the virus before endoscopy. Several important factors contribute to this decision including testing feasibility, personal protective equipment (PPE) availability, and risk aversion threshold of endoscopists and staff.

2. Endoscopy centers in both low- and high-prevalence areas may not benefit from a pre-testing strategy.

• Rationale for low-prevalence areas: Diagnostic tests have a high proportion of false positives with significant downstream consequences, such as patient burden (quarantining and out of work for 14 days), unnecessarily delayed cases, and over-utilization of testing which may already be limited in availability. Therefore, PPE availability may drive decision-making for case triage instead. If PPE is not limited, then the majority of endoscopists and staff may reasonably select to use N95/N99 respirators or PAPRs.
• Rationale for high-prevalence areas: Highest available PPE (such as N95/N99 respirators or PAPRs) would be used universally, as available. Additionally, testing is often limited because of a high demand for a potential surge of cases.

AGA created an online tool to help endoscopy centers make decisions about their pre-endoscopy testing strategy. This tool combines local prevalence with diagnostic test performance data to calculate the proportion of true versus false positives and negatives to help endoscopy centers understand the downstream consequences of implementing a pre-procedure testing strategy.

To access the Rapid Review and online tool, visit www.gastro.org/COVID.

[email protected]

The AGA Equity Project advisory board has released a new commentary in Gastroenterology: “From Intention to Action: Operationalizing AGA Diversity Policy to Combat Racism and Health Disparities in Gastroenterology.”

The commentary provides a transparent self-examination of AGA’s recent racial and ethnic demographic data of its members, volunteer leaders, and staff compared with U.S. population data. It also assesses AGA’s previous initiatives focused on diversity, equity, and inclusion. It then looks ahead by detailing AGA’s plans to further operationalize the goals enumerated in the AGA Diversity Policy.

For more information, read the full commentary at www.gastro.org/diversitycommentary.

[email protected]

The AGA Equity Project advisory board has released a new commentary in Gastroenterology: “From Intention to Action: Operationalizing AGA Diversity Policy to Combat Racism and Health Disparities in Gastroenterology.”

The commentary provides a transparent self-examination of AGA’s recent racial and ethnic demographic data of its members, volunteer leaders, and staff compared with U.S. population data. It also assesses AGA’s previous initiatives focused on diversity, equity, and inclusion. It then looks ahead by detailing AGA’s plans to further operationalize the goals enumerated in the AGA Diversity Policy.

For more information, read the full commentary at www.gastro.org/diversitycommentary.

[email protected]

The AGA Equity Project advisory board has released a new commentary in Gastroenterology: “From Intention to Action: Operationalizing AGA Diversity Policy to Combat Racism and Health Disparities in Gastroenterology.”

The commentary provides a transparent self-examination of AGA’s recent racial and ethnic demographic data of its members, volunteer leaders, and staff compared with U.S. population data. It also assesses AGA’s previous initiatives focused on diversity, equity, and inclusion. It then looks ahead by detailing AGA’s plans to further operationalize the goals enumerated in the AGA Diversity Policy.

For more information, read the full commentary at www.gastro.org/diversitycommentary.

[email protected]

Join us for our new GI Forging Forward virtual symposia series, a practical educational training program covering timely topics for GIs through the lens of COVID-19. Experts in the field will present the latest COVID-19 findings, share proven strategies to communicate and manage disaster and crisis situations, and educate participants on evidence-based recommendations to meet today’s evolving needs. Upcoming topics will cover keeping you, your staff, and patients safe, new approaches and training in research, leading in times of crisis, and rapid-response guideline development.

Registration for this month’s virtual webinars are now open:

Demystifying publishing in AGA journals: Perspectives from our authors and editors: Sept. 3, 2020, 5:30 p.m. EDT

Flexing your communications skills during a time of crisis: Sept. 17, 2020, 5:30 p.m. EDT

For more information, visit www.gastro.org/GIForgingForward.

[email protected]

Join us for our new GI Forging Forward virtual symposia series, a practical educational training program covering timely topics for GIs through the lens of COVID-19. Experts in the field will present the latest COVID-19 findings, share proven strategies to communicate and manage disaster and crisis situations, and educate participants on evidence-based recommendations to meet today’s evolving needs. Upcoming topics will cover keeping you, your staff, and patients safe, new approaches and training in research, leading in times of crisis, and rapid-response guideline development.

Registration for this month’s virtual webinars are now open:

Demystifying publishing in AGA journals: Perspectives from our authors and editors: Sept. 3, 2020, 5:30 p.m. EDT

Flexing your communications skills during a time of crisis: Sept. 17, 2020, 5:30 p.m. EDT

For more information, visit www.gastro.org/GIForgingForward.

[email protected]

Join us for our new GI Forging Forward virtual symposia series, a practical educational training program covering timely topics for GIs through the lens of COVID-19. Experts in the field will present the latest COVID-19 findings, share proven strategies to communicate and manage disaster and crisis situations, and educate participants on evidence-based recommendations to meet today’s evolving needs. Upcoming topics will cover keeping you, your staff, and patients safe, new approaches and training in research, leading in times of crisis, and rapid-response guideline development.

Registration for this month’s virtual webinars are now open:

Demystifying publishing in AGA journals: Perspectives from our authors and editors: Sept. 3, 2020, 5:30 p.m. EDT

Flexing your communications skills during a time of crisis: Sept. 17, 2020, 5:30 p.m. EDT

For more information, visit www.gastro.org/GIForgingForward.

[email protected]

With a long-standing interest in diversity, recent events in the U.S. have intensified the AGA Governing Board’s interest to make a significant impact on the goals enumerated in our diversity policy.

Under the leadership of Dr. Sandra Quezada, AGA Diversity Committee chair, and Dr. Byron Cryer, director of the NIH-funded Fostering Opportunities Resulting in Workforce and Research Diversity (FORWARD Program), the AGA Equity Project task force will develop a multi-year strategic plan to achieve the following aims:

• A just world free of health disparities in digestive diseases and free of inequities in access and effective health care delivery.
• State-of-the-art and well-funded research that aligns with the realities of the current multicultural patient population and disease states to achieve health equity for all.
• A world where it is expected and normal that both members and society leadership structures are diverse, and people of color and women are included in organizational decision making.
• Recognition of accomplishments of diverse leaders. In addition, all leaders recognize, inspire, and cultivate the next generation of prominent, diverse leaders.
• An engaged AGA membership and staff educated about unconscious bias and committed to the eradication of racism and prejudice towards patients, colleagues, and communities.
• The existence of a diverse, culturally and socially aware, large and vocal early-career membership that leads the field toward achieving the vision.

The AGA Governing Board recognizes that meaningful change takes time and have committed to a multi-year effort spanning all aspects of our organization. Although our challenges are formidable, they are not insurmountable.
 

[email protected]

With a long-standing interest in diversity, recent events in the U.S. have intensified the AGA Governing Board’s interest to make a significant impact on the goals enumerated in our diversity policy.

Under the leadership of Dr. Sandra Quezada, AGA Diversity Committee chair, and Dr. Byron Cryer, director of the NIH-funded Fostering Opportunities Resulting in Workforce and Research Diversity (FORWARD Program), the AGA Equity Project task force will develop a multi-year strategic plan to achieve the following aims:

• A just world free of health disparities in digestive diseases and free of inequities in access and effective health care delivery.
• State-of-the-art and well-funded research that aligns with the realities of the current multicultural patient population and disease states to achieve health equity for all.
• A world where it is expected and normal that both members and society leadership structures are diverse, and people of color and women are included in organizational decision making.
• Recognition of accomplishments of diverse leaders. In addition, all leaders recognize, inspire, and cultivate the next generation of prominent, diverse leaders.
• An engaged AGA membership and staff educated about unconscious bias and committed to the eradication of racism and prejudice towards patients, colleagues, and communities.
• The existence of a diverse, culturally and socially aware, large and vocal early-career membership that leads the field toward achieving the vision.

The AGA Governing Board recognizes that meaningful change takes time and have committed to a multi-year effort spanning all aspects of our organization. Although our challenges are formidable, they are not insurmountable.
 

[email protected]

With a long-standing interest in diversity, recent events in the U.S. have intensified the AGA Governing Board’s interest to make a significant impact on the goals enumerated in our diversity policy.

Under the leadership of Dr. Sandra Quezada, AGA Diversity Committee chair, and Dr. Byron Cryer, director of the NIH-funded Fostering Opportunities Resulting in Workforce and Research Diversity (FORWARD Program), the AGA Equity Project task force will develop a multi-year strategic plan to achieve the following aims:

• A just world free of health disparities in digestive diseases and free of inequities in access and effective health care delivery.
• State-of-the-art and well-funded research that aligns with the realities of the current multicultural patient population and disease states to achieve health equity for all.
• A world where it is expected and normal that both members and society leadership structures are diverse, and people of color and women are included in organizational decision making.
• Recognition of accomplishments of diverse leaders. In addition, all leaders recognize, inspire, and cultivate the next generation of prominent, diverse leaders.
• An engaged AGA membership and staff educated about unconscious bias and committed to the eradication of racism and prejudice towards patients, colleagues, and communities.
• The existence of a diverse, culturally and socially aware, large and vocal early-career membership that leads the field toward achieving the vision.

The AGA Governing Board recognizes that meaningful change takes time and have committed to a multi-year effort spanning all aspects of our organization. Although our challenges are formidable, they are not insurmountable.
 

[email protected]

Physicians with difficult patient scenarios regularly bring their questions to the AGA Community (https://community.gastro.org) to seek advice from colleagues about therapy and disease management options, best practices, and diagnoses. The upgraded networking platform now features a newsfeed for difficult patient scenarios and regularly scheduled Roundtable discussions with experts in the field.

In case you missed it, here are some clinical discussions and Roundtables in the newsfeed this month:

• Patient case: Elevated aminotransferases of unknown origin. (https://community.gastro.org/posts/21890)

• Patient case: Functional bowel obstruction. (https://community.gastro.org/posts/21888)

• Patient case: Autoimmune hepatitis with chronic hepatitis C. (https://community.gastro.org/posts/21880)

• Patient case: Immunosuppression in IBD (https://community.gastro.org/posts/21860)

• Is COVID-19 reinfection fact or fiction? (https://community.gastro.org/posts/21824)

• Experience with HALO procedures in ambulatory surgery centers. (https://community.gastro.org/posts/21812)

Roundtables (https://community.gastro.org/discussions/)

• GI COVID-19 Connection: Work-life balance in the COVID era.

• Trainee & early career networking connection.

View all upcoming Roundtables in the community at https://community.gastro.org/discussions.

Physicians with difficult patient scenarios regularly bring their questions to the AGA Community (https://community.gastro.org) to seek advice from colleagues about therapy and disease management options, best practices, and diagnoses. The upgraded networking platform now features a newsfeed for difficult patient scenarios and regularly scheduled Roundtable discussions with experts in the field.

In case you missed it, here are some clinical discussions and Roundtables in the newsfeed this month:

• Patient case: Elevated aminotransferases of unknown origin. (https://community.gastro.org/posts/21890)

• Patient case: Functional bowel obstruction. (https://community.gastro.org/posts/21888)

• Patient case: Autoimmune hepatitis with chronic hepatitis C. (https://community.gastro.org/posts/21880)

• Patient case: Immunosuppression in IBD (https://community.gastro.org/posts/21860)

• Is COVID-19 reinfection fact or fiction? (https://community.gastro.org/posts/21824)

• Experience with HALO procedures in ambulatory surgery centers. (https://community.gastro.org/posts/21812)

Roundtables (https://community.gastro.org/discussions/)

• GI COVID-19 Connection: Work-life balance in the COVID era.

• Trainee & early career networking connection.

View all upcoming Roundtables in the community at https://community.gastro.org/discussions.

Physicians with difficult patient scenarios regularly bring their questions to the AGA Community (https://community.gastro.org) to seek advice from colleagues about therapy and disease management options, best practices, and diagnoses. The upgraded networking platform now features a newsfeed for difficult patient scenarios and regularly scheduled Roundtable discussions with experts in the field.

In case you missed it, here are some clinical discussions and Roundtables in the newsfeed this month:

• Patient case: Elevated aminotransferases of unknown origin. (https://community.gastro.org/posts/21890)

• Patient case: Functional bowel obstruction. (https://community.gastro.org/posts/21888)

• Patient case: Autoimmune hepatitis with chronic hepatitis C. (https://community.gastro.org/posts/21880)

• Patient case: Immunosuppression in IBD (https://community.gastro.org/posts/21860)

• Is COVID-19 reinfection fact or fiction? (https://community.gastro.org/posts/21824)

• Experience with HALO procedures in ambulatory surgery centers. (https://community.gastro.org/posts/21812)

Roundtables (https://community.gastro.org/discussions/)

• GI COVID-19 Connection: Work-life balance in the COVID era.

• Trainee & early career networking connection.

View all upcoming Roundtables in the community at https://community.gastro.org/discussions.

Dear colleagues,

I have the privilege and honor to serve as AGA president as of June 1, 2020. When we look back at the first half of 2020, we will remember the COVID-19 pandemic and the unimaginable loss of life, morbidity, and economic impact it had. We will also remember the grief and anger that have characterized the recent weeks. I hope that the second half of 2020 will be a time that reshapes us for the better and allows us to seize the opportunity to make meaningful changes, in addition to recovering from the impact of the pandemic. The ongoing protests for the past 16 days against police brutality finally have our country recognizing front-and-center injustices facing African Americans.

While recognition of an injustice is a start, it is essentially meaningless unless action is taken to ensure equity in all facets of society. Of particular interest to AGA is access to health care without bias, addressing racial disparities in health care, diversity within the practice of GI, and supporting the careers of diverse researchers. AGA has a diversity policy and a solid history of programs supporting minority physicians and researchers. We know that’s not enough and AGA, with our dedicated committees, staff, and leadership, will continue to implement and assess plans for meaningful improvements. Watch for more on this topic in the future.

In addition, AGA took a pledge with our GI sister organizations to “continue to advocate for diversity in our staff and governance, grant awards to research health care disparities, ensure quality care for all, and work tirelessly to reduce inequalities in health care delivery and access.” We plan to honor this pledge with our own efforts and by making a concerted effort to work with AASLD, ACG, ASGE, DHPA, and other societies, colleagues, and friends.

The COVID-19 pandemic has been a major challenge for our practices and to our research community. To all AGA members, please know that we have your back with a stream of practice guidance, business support, advocacy, and funding. You can find these resources collected at www.gastro.org/COVID.

My special thanks to the following AGA members, among several AGA staff and expert participants, for making these resources possible and highly engaging:

• Maria Abreu, who oversees our weekly COVID Connection webinar.
• Shahnaz Sultan and Joseph Lim whose Guidelines and Clinical Practice Update committees have generated evidence-based practice guidance at an incredible pace.
• Vivek Kaul and Vijay Shah who lead regular townhall webinars with division chiefs to share how GI divisions are pivoting to address the numerous current challenges.
• Rhonda Souza, chair of AGA Council, which is already thinking about how to make DDW 2021 a success.

Throughout my time as AGA president, I plan to communicate with you on a regular basis and welcome your input and suggestions. Watch the AGA Community for updates and announcements. Every other month, I plan to host a Townhall with the AGA President webinar on Zoom, where we can gather to hear from AGA leaders and staff on their work. My first webinar is planned for July 10, 2020, at 11 a.m. United States Eastern time. Watch for more info to come.

My goals are to build on what past president Hashem El-Serag has initiated and to work closely with John Inadomi (president-elect), John Carethers (vice president), the AGA Governing Board, committees, and staff. Along these lines, we will work tirelessly to support AGA domestic and international members and the gastroenterology community needs, be it patient care and those who provide the care, basic and clinical scientific discovery, education and training, advocacy, and ABIM recertification. I look forward to working with you and for you throughout the year.

Sincerely,
Bishr Omary, MD, PhD, AGAF
AGA Institute President

Dear colleagues,

I have the privilege and honor to serve as AGA president as of June 1, 2020. When we look back at the first half of 2020, we will remember the COVID-19 pandemic and the unimaginable loss of life, morbidity, and economic impact it had. We will also remember the grief and anger that have characterized the recent weeks. I hope that the second half of 2020 will be a time that reshapes us for the better and allows us to seize the opportunity to make meaningful changes, in addition to recovering from the impact of the pandemic. The ongoing protests for the past 16 days against police brutality finally have our country recognizing front-and-center injustices facing African Americans.

While recognition of an injustice is a start, it is essentially meaningless unless action is taken to ensure equity in all facets of society. Of particular interest to AGA is access to health care without bias, addressing racial disparities in health care, diversity within the practice of GI, and supporting the careers of diverse researchers. AGA has a diversity policy and a solid history of programs supporting minority physicians and researchers. We know that’s not enough and AGA, with our dedicated committees, staff, and leadership, will continue to implement and assess plans for meaningful improvements. Watch for more on this topic in the future.

In addition, AGA took a pledge with our GI sister organizations to “continue to advocate for diversity in our staff and governance, grant awards to research health care disparities, ensure quality care for all, and work tirelessly to reduce inequalities in health care delivery and access.” We plan to honor this pledge with our own efforts and by making a concerted effort to work with AASLD, ACG, ASGE, DHPA, and other societies, colleagues, and friends.

The COVID-19 pandemic has been a major challenge for our practices and to our research community. To all AGA members, please know that we have your back with a stream of practice guidance, business support, advocacy, and funding. You can find these resources collected at www.gastro.org/COVID.

My special thanks to the following AGA members, among several AGA staff and expert participants, for making these resources possible and highly engaging:

• Maria Abreu, who oversees our weekly COVID Connection webinar.
• Shahnaz Sultan and Joseph Lim whose Guidelines and Clinical Practice Update committees have generated evidence-based practice guidance at an incredible pace.
• Vivek Kaul and Vijay Shah who lead regular townhall webinars with division chiefs to share how GI divisions are pivoting to address the numerous current challenges.
• Rhonda Souza, chair of AGA Council, which is already thinking about how to make DDW 2021 a success.

Throughout my time as AGA president, I plan to communicate with you on a regular basis and welcome your input and suggestions. Watch the AGA Community for updates and announcements. Every other month, I plan to host a Townhall with the AGA President webinar on Zoom, where we can gather to hear from AGA leaders and staff on their work. My first webinar is planned for July 10, 2020, at 11 a.m. United States Eastern time. Watch for more info to come.

My goals are to build on what past president Hashem El-Serag has initiated and to work closely with John Inadomi (president-elect), John Carethers (vice president), the AGA Governing Board, committees, and staff. Along these lines, we will work tirelessly to support AGA domestic and international members and the gastroenterology community needs, be it patient care and those who provide the care, basic and clinical scientific discovery, education and training, advocacy, and ABIM recertification. I look forward to working with you and for you throughout the year.

Sincerely,
Bishr Omary, MD, PhD, AGAF
AGA Institute President

Dear colleagues,

I have the privilege and honor to serve as AGA president as of June 1, 2020. When we look back at the first half of 2020, we will remember the COVID-19 pandemic and the unimaginable loss of life, morbidity, and economic impact it had. We will also remember the grief and anger that have characterized the recent weeks. I hope that the second half of 2020 will be a time that reshapes us for the better and allows us to seize the opportunity to make meaningful changes, in addition to recovering from the impact of the pandemic. The ongoing protests for the past 16 days against police brutality finally have our country recognizing front-and-center injustices facing African Americans.

While recognition of an injustice is a start, it is essentially meaningless unless action is taken to ensure equity in all facets of society. Of particular interest to AGA is access to health care without bias, addressing racial disparities in health care, diversity within the practice of GI, and supporting the careers of diverse researchers. AGA has a diversity policy and a solid history of programs supporting minority physicians and researchers. We know that’s not enough and AGA, with our dedicated committees, staff, and leadership, will continue to implement and assess plans for meaningful improvements. Watch for more on this topic in the future.

In addition, AGA took a pledge with our GI sister organizations to “continue to advocate for diversity in our staff and governance, grant awards to research health care disparities, ensure quality care for all, and work tirelessly to reduce inequalities in health care delivery and access.” We plan to honor this pledge with our own efforts and by making a concerted effort to work with AASLD, ACG, ASGE, DHPA, and other societies, colleagues, and friends.

The COVID-19 pandemic has been a major challenge for our practices and to our research community. To all AGA members, please know that we have your back with a stream of practice guidance, business support, advocacy, and funding. You can find these resources collected at www.gastro.org/COVID.

My special thanks to the following AGA members, among several AGA staff and expert participants, for making these resources possible and highly engaging:

• Maria Abreu, who oversees our weekly COVID Connection webinar.
• Shahnaz Sultan and Joseph Lim whose Guidelines and Clinical Practice Update committees have generated evidence-based practice guidance at an incredible pace.
• Vivek Kaul and Vijay Shah who lead regular townhall webinars with division chiefs to share how GI divisions are pivoting to address the numerous current challenges.
• Rhonda Souza, chair of AGA Council, which is already thinking about how to make DDW 2021 a success.

Throughout my time as AGA president, I plan to communicate with you on a regular basis and welcome your input and suggestions. Watch the AGA Community for updates and announcements. Every other month, I plan to host a Townhall with the AGA President webinar on Zoom, where we can gather to hear from AGA leaders and staff on their work. My first webinar is planned for July 10, 2020, at 11 a.m. United States Eastern time. Watch for more info to come.

My goals are to build on what past president Hashem El-Serag has initiated and to work closely with John Inadomi (president-elect), John Carethers (vice president), the AGA Governing Board, committees, and staff. Along these lines, we will work tirelessly to support AGA domestic and international members and the gastroenterology community needs, be it patient care and those who provide the care, basic and clinical scientific discovery, education and training, advocacy, and ABIM recertification. I look forward to working with you and for you throughout the year.

Sincerely,
Bishr Omary, MD, PhD, AGAF
AGA Institute President

The AGA Community (https://community.gastro.org) received a makeover – the upgraded networking platform now features a newsfeed for difficult patient scenarios and regularly scheduled Roundtable discussions with experts in the field. In case you missed it, here are the most popular clinical discussions happening in the newsfeed:

• UC patient with new diagnosis of breast cancer (https://community.gastro.org/posts/20142)
• COVID testing before elective procedures (https://community.gastro.org/posts/21106)
• Remdesivir and hepatic failure (https://community.gastro.org/posts/21130)
• Doses of antibiotics for IBS-D patient (https://community.gastro.org/posts/19749)
• Vedolizumab and sinus migraines (https://community.gastro.org/posts/20204)

Follow and ask experts your questions in Roundtable:

• Resumption of elective endoscopy during COVID-19
• COVID-19 and GI: Caring for IBD
• Q&A with EoE guideline authors
• Q&A with the U.S. Multi-Society Task Force on Colorectal Cancer: follow-up after normal colonoscopy and polypectomy

View all upcoming Roundtables in the community at https://community.gastro.org/discussions.

The AGA Community (https://community.gastro.org) received a makeover – the upgraded networking platform now features a newsfeed for difficult patient scenarios and regularly scheduled Roundtable discussions with experts in the field. In case you missed it, here are the most popular clinical discussions happening in the newsfeed:

• UC patient with new diagnosis of breast cancer (https://community.gastro.org/posts/20142)
• COVID testing before elective procedures (https://community.gastro.org/posts/21106)
• Remdesivir and hepatic failure (https://community.gastro.org/posts/21130)
• Doses of antibiotics for IBS-D patient (https://community.gastro.org/posts/19749)
• Vedolizumab and sinus migraines (https://community.gastro.org/posts/20204)

Follow and ask experts your questions in Roundtable:

• Resumption of elective endoscopy during COVID-19
• COVID-19 and GI: Caring for IBD
• Q&A with EoE guideline authors
• Q&A with the U.S. Multi-Society Task Force on Colorectal Cancer: follow-up after normal colonoscopy and polypectomy

View all upcoming Roundtables in the community at https://community.gastro.org/discussions.

The AGA Community (https://community.gastro.org) received a makeover – the upgraded networking platform now features a newsfeed for difficult patient scenarios and regularly scheduled Roundtable discussions with experts in the field. In case you missed it, here are the most popular clinical discussions happening in the newsfeed:

• UC patient with new diagnosis of breast cancer (https://community.gastro.org/posts/20142)
• COVID testing before elective procedures (https://community.gastro.org/posts/21106)
• Remdesivir and hepatic failure (https://community.gastro.org/posts/21130)
• Doses of antibiotics for IBS-D patient (https://community.gastro.org/posts/19749)
• Vedolizumab and sinus migraines (https://community.gastro.org/posts/20204)

Follow and ask experts your questions in Roundtable:

• Resumption of elective endoscopy during COVID-19
• COVID-19 and GI: Caring for IBD
• Q&A with EoE guideline authors
• Q&A with the U.S. Multi-Society Task Force on Colorectal Cancer: follow-up after normal colonoscopy and polypectomy

View all upcoming Roundtables in the community at https://community.gastro.org/discussions.

This article is brought you by AGA PAC, a voluntary, non-partisan political organization affiliated with and supported by AGA and the only political action committee supported by a national gastroenterology society. Its mission is to give gastroenterologists a greater presence on Capitol Hill and a more effective voice in policy discussions.

The 116th Congress is well represented by the physician community, featuring a total of 17 physicians: 3 in the U.S. Senate and 14 in the House of Representatives. One of the physicians in the House, Rep. Roger Marshall, MD, R-KS, is an OBGYN by trade who is currently serving his second term in Congress. First elected in 2016, he arrived in Washington as one of only two physicians in his freshman class. He actively engaged in health care policy from the very beginning, working across party lines on a range of health care issues facing Capitol Hill. Upon entering Congress, he proactively reached out to AGA as well as other specialty physician organizations to learn our priority issues and expressed his desire to serve as a champion of the physician community.

In addition to the two committees he sits on, Dr. Marshall also serves as the chairman of the health task force for the Republican Study Committee. Additionally, Dr. Marshall is a member of the GOP Doctors Caucus, a coalition of 21 Republican medical providers with a mission statement “to utilize medical expertise to develop patient-centered health care reforms focused on quality, access, affordability, portability, and choice.” The GOP Doctors Caucus was instrumental in pushing for a permanent repeal of the sustainable growth rate (SGR) and helped to coalesce bipartisan, bicameral support for repeal legislation in the 113th Congress. The GOP Doctors Caucus continues to be active in the current Congress, advocating for policies that strengthen both the patient and provider communities.

As a member of the GOP Doctors Caucus and as a physician held in high regard by his House colleagues, Dr. Marshall is uniquely situated to advance agendas and legislative priorities that promote sound health care policy. He willingly works across the aisle with his Democratic counterparts on legislation of importance to the physician and patient community. Dr. Marshall recently worked with one of his Democratic, physician colleagues, Rep. Ami Bera, MD, D-CA, on the Improving Seniors Timely Access to Care Act, legislation addressing prior authorization burdens in Medicare Advantage plans. Dr. Marshall has vocalized the importance of physicians getting involved in the political process and to that effect, spoke to AGA members at AGA’s annual Advocacy Day about his experience as a physician running for Congress and the importance of physician advocacy.

Dr. Marshall is running for the open Senate seat in Kansas. Given that Dr. Marshall has reiterated his desire to continue to work with the physician community to ensure access to care for our patients, AGA looks forward to supporting Dr. Marshall’s Senate candidacy and continuing to work with him and his office on issues and initiatives to advance the science and practice of gastroenterology.

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This article is brought you by AGA PAC, a voluntary, non-partisan political organization affiliated with and supported by AGA and the only political action committee supported by a national gastroenterology society. Its mission is to give gastroenterologists a greater presence on Capitol Hill and a more effective voice in policy discussions.

The 116th Congress is well represented by the physician community, featuring a total of 17 physicians: 3 in the U.S. Senate and 14 in the House of Representatives. One of the physicians in the House, Rep. Roger Marshall, MD, R-KS, is an OBGYN by trade who is currently serving his second term in Congress. First elected in 2016, he arrived in Washington as one of only two physicians in his freshman class. He actively engaged in health care policy from the very beginning, working across party lines on a range of health care issues facing Capitol Hill. Upon entering Congress, he proactively reached out to AGA as well as other specialty physician organizations to learn our priority issues and expressed his desire to serve as a champion of the physician community.

In addition to the two committees he sits on, Dr. Marshall also serves as the chairman of the health task force for the Republican Study Committee. Additionally, Dr. Marshall is a member of the GOP Doctors Caucus, a coalition of 21 Republican medical providers with a mission statement “to utilize medical expertise to develop patient-centered health care reforms focused on quality, access, affordability, portability, and choice.” The GOP Doctors Caucus was instrumental in pushing for a permanent repeal of the sustainable growth rate (SGR) and helped to coalesce bipartisan, bicameral support for repeal legislation in the 113th Congress. The GOP Doctors Caucus continues to be active in the current Congress, advocating for policies that strengthen both the patient and provider communities.

As a member of the GOP Doctors Caucus and as a physician held in high regard by his House colleagues, Dr. Marshall is uniquely situated to advance agendas and legislative priorities that promote sound health care policy. He willingly works across the aisle with his Democratic counterparts on legislation of importance to the physician and patient community. Dr. Marshall recently worked with one of his Democratic, physician colleagues, Rep. Ami Bera, MD, D-CA, on the Improving Seniors Timely Access to Care Act, legislation addressing prior authorization burdens in Medicare Advantage plans. Dr. Marshall has vocalized the importance of physicians getting involved in the political process and to that effect, spoke to AGA members at AGA’s annual Advocacy Day about his experience as a physician running for Congress and the importance of physician advocacy.

Dr. Marshall is running for the open Senate seat in Kansas. Given that Dr. Marshall has reiterated his desire to continue to work with the physician community to ensure access to care for our patients, AGA looks forward to supporting Dr. Marshall’s Senate candidacy and continuing to work with him and his office on issues and initiatives to advance the science and practice of gastroenterology.

[email protected]

This article is brought you by AGA PAC, a voluntary, non-partisan political organization affiliated with and supported by AGA and the only political action committee supported by a national gastroenterology society. Its mission is to give gastroenterologists a greater presence on Capitol Hill and a more effective voice in policy discussions.

The 116th Congress is well represented by the physician community, featuring a total of 17 physicians: 3 in the U.S. Senate and 14 in the House of Representatives. One of the physicians in the House, Rep. Roger Marshall, MD, R-KS, is an OBGYN by trade who is currently serving his second term in Congress. First elected in 2016, he arrived in Washington as one of only two physicians in his freshman class. He actively engaged in health care policy from the very beginning, working across party lines on a range of health care issues facing Capitol Hill. Upon entering Congress, he proactively reached out to AGA as well as other specialty physician organizations to learn our priority issues and expressed his desire to serve as a champion of the physician community.

In addition to the two committees he sits on, Dr. Marshall also serves as the chairman of the health task force for the Republican Study Committee. Additionally, Dr. Marshall is a member of the GOP Doctors Caucus, a coalition of 21 Republican medical providers with a mission statement “to utilize medical expertise to develop patient-centered health care reforms focused on quality, access, affordability, portability, and choice.” The GOP Doctors Caucus was instrumental in pushing for a permanent repeal of the sustainable growth rate (SGR) and helped to coalesce bipartisan, bicameral support for repeal legislation in the 113th Congress. The GOP Doctors Caucus continues to be active in the current Congress, advocating for policies that strengthen both the patient and provider communities.

As a member of the GOP Doctors Caucus and as a physician held in high regard by his House colleagues, Dr. Marshall is uniquely situated to advance agendas and legislative priorities that promote sound health care policy. He willingly works across the aisle with his Democratic counterparts on legislation of importance to the physician and patient community. Dr. Marshall recently worked with one of his Democratic, physician colleagues, Rep. Ami Bera, MD, D-CA, on the Improving Seniors Timely Access to Care Act, legislation addressing prior authorization burdens in Medicare Advantage plans. Dr. Marshall has vocalized the importance of physicians getting involved in the political process and to that effect, spoke to AGA members at AGA’s annual Advocacy Day about his experience as a physician running for Congress and the importance of physician advocacy.

Dr. Marshall is running for the open Senate seat in Kansas. Given that Dr. Marshall has reiterated his desire to continue to work with the physician community to ensure access to care for our patients, AGA looks forward to supporting Dr. Marshall’s Senate candidacy and continuing to work with him and his office on issues and initiatives to advance the science and practice of gastroenterology.

[email protected]

AGA just released GI Distance Learning, agau.gastro.org/diweb/catalog/q/GI-Distance-Learning, a new initiative providing AGA trainee members and medical residents a complementary set of curated education and career development resources available online. A part of AGA University, GI Distance Learning enables you to enhance your knowledge in a number of GI-related topics at your own pace from the comfort of home.

Through GI Distance Learning, you will have free access until Aug. 1 to the 800+ questions and answers included in the DDSEP^® 9 Question Bank. Assess your knowledge, identify gaps in learning, and stay current on the latest advances in GI and liver disease.

To access the Question Bank free of charge:

• Visit AGA University and sign in to your AGA account.
• Go to the DDSEP 9 Question Bank.
• Add the Question Bank to your Cart and Checkout.
• Type DDSEP9Distance in the Discount Code box.
• Apply the discount and submit your order.
• Use the My Courses link to access the Question Bank.

During the COVID-19 pandemic, many of us are struggling with the new normal and changes in our daily routines. Resiliency, emotional intelligence, and strategies for combatting burnout become increasingly important. The following on-demand resources from GI Distance Learning can help.

• Resilient Leadership
• Emotional Intelligence
• Strategies to Combat Burnout in GI and Maintaining Work/Life Balance

Continue to check back regularly at AGA University as we will continue to add resources to GI Distance Learning in the coming weeks.

[email protected]

AGA just released GI Distance Learning, agau.gastro.org/diweb/catalog/q/GI-Distance-Learning, a new initiative providing AGA trainee members and medical residents a complementary set of curated education and career development resources available online. A part of AGA University, GI Distance Learning enables you to enhance your knowledge in a number of GI-related topics at your own pace from the comfort of home.

Through GI Distance Learning, you will have free access until Aug. 1 to the 800+ questions and answers included in the DDSEP^® 9 Question Bank. Assess your knowledge, identify gaps in learning, and stay current on the latest advances in GI and liver disease.

To access the Question Bank free of charge:

• Visit AGA University and sign in to your AGA account.
• Go to the DDSEP 9 Question Bank.
• Add the Question Bank to your Cart and Checkout.
• Type DDSEP9Distance in the Discount Code box.
• Apply the discount and submit your order.
• Use the My Courses link to access the Question Bank.

During the COVID-19 pandemic, many of us are struggling with the new normal and changes in our daily routines. Resiliency, emotional intelligence, and strategies for combatting burnout become increasingly important. The following on-demand resources from GI Distance Learning can help.

• Resilient Leadership
• Emotional Intelligence
• Strategies to Combat Burnout in GI and Maintaining Work/Life Balance

Continue to check back regularly at AGA University as we will continue to add resources to GI Distance Learning in the coming weeks.

[email protected]

AGA just released GI Distance Learning, agau.gastro.org/diweb/catalog/q/GI-Distance-Learning, a new initiative providing AGA trainee members and medical residents a complementary set of curated education and career development resources available online. A part of AGA University, GI Distance Learning enables you to enhance your knowledge in a number of GI-related topics at your own pace from the comfort of home.

Through GI Distance Learning, you will have free access until Aug. 1 to the 800+ questions and answers included in the DDSEP^® 9 Question Bank. Assess your knowledge, identify gaps in learning, and stay current on the latest advances in GI and liver disease.

To access the Question Bank free of charge:

• Visit AGA University and sign in to your AGA account.
• Go to the DDSEP 9 Question Bank.
• Add the Question Bank to your Cart and Checkout.
• Type DDSEP9Distance in the Discount Code box.
• Apply the discount and submit your order.
• Use the My Courses link to access the Question Bank.

During the COVID-19 pandemic, many of us are struggling with the new normal and changes in our daily routines. Resiliency, emotional intelligence, and strategies for combatting burnout become increasingly important. The following on-demand resources from GI Distance Learning can help.

• Resilient Leadership
• Emotional Intelligence
• Strategies to Combat Burnout in GI and Maintaining Work/Life Balance

Continue to check back regularly at AGA University as we will continue to add resources to GI Distance Learning in the coming weeks.

[email protected]

Since the beginning of the pandemic, AGA has objected to the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services’ (CMS) low reimbursement rate for evaluation and management (E/M) services provided by telephone. Today, CMS fixed the problem. Retroactive to March 1, 2020, CMS will pay E/M services provided by telephone at the same rate as in-person, office/outpatient E/M services.

Thanks to everyone who helped us push CMS to address this issue. AGA worked together in coalition with other specialties and Congress on resolving this problem from the start of the pandemic.

Here are more details:

• Medicare’s updated guidance to physicians states, “Medicare payment for the telephone evaluation and management visits (CPT codes 99441-99443) is equivalent to the Medicare payment for office/outpatient visits with established patients effective March 1, 2020.
• The CMS press release outlined the new rates for telephone E/M:
• CMS is also increasing payments for these telephone visits to match payments for similar office and outpatient visits. This would increase payments for these services from a range of about $14-$41 to about $46-$110. The payments are retroactive to March 1, 2020.

We are pleased CMS listened to our message and has addressed this issue. Join the discussion on the AGA Community.

[email protected]

Since the beginning of the pandemic, AGA has objected to the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services’ (CMS) low reimbursement rate for evaluation and management (E/M) services provided by telephone. Today, CMS fixed the problem. Retroactive to March 1, 2020, CMS will pay E/M services provided by telephone at the same rate as in-person, office/outpatient E/M services.

Thanks to everyone who helped us push CMS to address this issue. AGA worked together in coalition with other specialties and Congress on resolving this problem from the start of the pandemic.

Here are more details:

• Medicare’s updated guidance to physicians states, “Medicare payment for the telephone evaluation and management visits (CPT codes 99441-99443) is equivalent to the Medicare payment for office/outpatient visits with established patients effective March 1, 2020.
• The CMS press release outlined the new rates for telephone E/M:
• CMS is also increasing payments for these telephone visits to match payments for similar office and outpatient visits. This would increase payments for these services from a range of about $14-$41 to about $46-$110. The payments are retroactive to March 1, 2020.

We are pleased CMS listened to our message and has addressed this issue. Join the discussion on the AGA Community.

[email protected]

Since the beginning of the pandemic, AGA has objected to the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services’ (CMS) low reimbursement rate for evaluation and management (E/M) services provided by telephone. Today, CMS fixed the problem. Retroactive to March 1, 2020, CMS will pay E/M services provided by telephone at the same rate as in-person, office/outpatient E/M services.

Thanks to everyone who helped us push CMS to address this issue. AGA worked together in coalition with other specialties and Congress on resolving this problem from the start of the pandemic.

Here are more details:

• Medicare’s updated guidance to physicians states, “Medicare payment for the telephone evaluation and management visits (CPT codes 99441-99443) is equivalent to the Medicare payment for office/outpatient visits with established patients effective March 1, 2020.
• The CMS press release outlined the new rates for telephone E/M:
• CMS is also increasing payments for these telephone visits to match payments for similar office and outpatient visits. This would increase payments for these services from a range of about $14-$41 to about $46-$110. The payments are retroactive to March 1, 2020.

We are pleased CMS listened to our message and has addressed this issue. Join the discussion on the AGA Community.

[email protected]