DIGESTIVE DISEASE RESEARCH

1. DDNC aggressively supports funding for the National Institutes of Health, particularly the National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases (NIDDK). DDNC supports an increased focus on digestive disease research at NIDDK.
2. DDNC supports funding for digestive disease research at other agencies of the National Institutes of Health, including the National Cancer Institute, the National Institute of Allergy & Infectious Diseases, the National Institute of Mental Health, and the Office of Research on Minority Health.
3. DDNC encourages the development of clinical research and outcomes assessment projects at the Agency for Health Care Reseach and Quality (AHRQ) and other agencies that will facilitate better patient care for those suffering from digestive diseases.
4. DDNC supports the continued enhancement of the Department of Veteran's Affairs Medical Research program.
5. DDNC works with the pharmaceutical and device industry to stimulate growth in digestive disease research/patient care and, in addition, to advocate changes in federal regulatory policies that will improve the health of patients with digestive diseases.

DIGESTIVE DISEASE EDUCATION

1. DDNC advocates the continued expansion of the National Digestive Diseases Information Clearinghouse (NIDDK), serves as a member of the clearinghouse advisory board, and shares printed material with NDDIC for dissemination to patients and professionals.
2. DDNC encourages federal and private sector support for the training of professionals in the fields of gastroenterology and hepatology research and patient care through the Medicare Graduate Medical Education program, NIH training fellowships, and other programs.
3. DDNC provides educational materials to the public and refers inquiries to lay and professional organizations.
4. DDNC holds an annual public policy forum and frequently conducts other advocacy activities to educate patients, health care professionals and lawmakers regarding the work of the DDNC and current public policy issues related to digestive diseases.

PATIENT CARE, ACCESS AND FINANCING

1. DDNC strongly supported the establishment of a Medicare benefit for periodic colorectal cancer screening as part of the Balanced Budget Act of 1997. In the past two years, DDNC worked with key members of Congress to establish and expand the National Colorectal Cancer Roundtable at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. The Roundtable's mission is to increase public awareness of colorectal cancer and the importance of early detection. Finally, DDNC and other interested organizations worked with First Lady Hillary Rodham Clinton in 1998 to raise awareness of colorectal cancer through public service announcements and an official event at the White House, both featuring the first lady.
2. DDNC supports both public and private sector efforts to insure adequate patient access to specialty care for the management of complicated digestive diseases. DDNC also supports the concept of GI physicians being designated as principal care physicians.
3. DDNC endorses the "Principals of Patients Rights and Responsibilities" as developed by the organizations of the National Health Council and encourages federal health care programs and private sector health insurance plans to adopt these guiding principals. DDNC particularly supports policies which end discrimination against patients with pre-existing conditions.
4. DDNC supports legislation to eliminate lifetime benefit caps in health insurance policies.
5. DDNC supports appropriate reimbursement for health care professionals and suppliers.

ADDITIONAL PUBLIC POLICY PRIORITIES OF THE DDNC

1. DDNC supports the establishment, implementation, and funding of comprehensive nationwide newborn, infant, and adolescent hepatitis B immunization campaigns coordinated by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the National Institutes of Health.
2. DDNC supports increased funding for epidemiology, clinical and outcomes research, and basic research on viral hepatitis through the National Institutes of Health, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, and the Agency for Health Care Reseach and Quality.
3. DDNC supports initiatives which insure that the Food and Drug Administration, American Red Cross, and American Association of Blood Banks policies do not unfairly discriminate against blood obtained from hemochromatosis patients.
4. DDNC supports the establishment of a dialogue between professional GI physicians and GI nursing societies with respect to increasing patient access to high quality, cost-effective, flexible sigmoidoscopy exams for the purpose of colorectal cancer screening performed by specialist nurses. This statement should in no way be interpreted as an endorsement of nurse performed flexible sigmoidoscopy procedures, but simply a recommendation for discussion on the matter.