AGA publishes white paper on the future of IBD care in the United States (News-Medical.Net)

Current Challenges:

• AGA identifies barriers to IBD care, including insurer-mandated restrictions and prohibitive drug costs, affecting millions of Americans with IBD.

Barriers to Care:

1. Restricted access to treatment
2. Prohibitive drug costs
3. Forced non-medical switching
4. Coverage gaps in disease monitoring
5. Inadequate coverage for multidisciplinary care
6. Limited access to IBD specialists
7. Intersectional identities leading to inequality

AGA’s 12-Point Plan:

1. Incorporating patient and clinician insights into research.
2. Tailoring therapy based on individual factors.
3. Moving beyond insurer-mandated step therapy.
4. Ensuring coverage for disease monitoring.
5. Guaranteeing expedited expert reviews.
6. Requiring insurers to publish denial data.
7. Advocating for holistic multidisciplinary care coverage.
8. Supporting patient education programs.
9. Improving access to specialized IBD care.
10. Piloting shared incentive partnerships.
11. Collaborating with pharmaceutical partners.
12. Advocating for equitable access to therapy under Medicare and Medicaid.

Publication and Collaboration:

• White paper published in Clinical Gastroenterology and Hepatology.
• AGA welcomes collaboration with interested groups to advance IBD care.

Contact Information:

• Kathleen Teixeira, AGA Vice President, Public Policy and Advocacy, at kteixeira@gastro.org.