The Digestive Disease National Coalition (DDNC) is an advocacy organization comprised of the major national voluntary and professional societies concerned with digestive diseases. The DDNC focuses on improving public policy and increasing public awareness with respect to diseases of the digestive system. Our mission is to work cooperatively to improve access to and the quality of digestive disease health care to promote the best possible medical outcome and quality of life for current and future patients.
Fiscal Year (FY) 2026 Funding Recommendations
Please provide the largest possible increases for the following agencies and programs of interest to the community:
The National Institutes of Health
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
The VA Medical and Prosthetic Research Program and Gulf War Illness Research activities.
The Department of Defense Congressionally Directed Medical Research Program, including the Peer-Reviewed Cancer Research Program and Peer-Reviewed Medical Research Program with continued support for the following “eligible” conditions, Pancreatic Cancer, Colorectal Cancer, Liver Cancer, and Stomach Cancer; Gulf War Illness, Food Allergies, Hepatitis B, Inflammatory Bowel Diseases, and Pancreatitis.
Legislative and Public Policy Priorities
DDNC urges legislators and federal officials to pass legislation and implement policies that benefit patient access to care by strengthening the patient-provider decision-making relationship, limiting patient out-of-pocket spending, and curbing the ability of third-party payers to shift overly burdensome costs onto patients through utilization management tactics such as prior authorization, step therapy, co-pay accumulators, and non-medical switching.
DDNC Whitepaper on Cost Shifting DDNC Copay Accumulators Patient Resource
Safe Step Act– This bipartisan bill would establish common sense guidelines for appealing step therapy protocols under ERISA health plans. DDNC urges legislators to pass the Safe Step Act in the 119th Congress. Safe Step Act Fact Sheet and Summary. Step therapy is one of many “utilization management” or “cost-shifting” tactics employed by third parties to shift costs away from themselves and to the patient, which delays appropriate treatment, increases patient out-of-pocket costs, and drives a wedge between a patient and their health care provider’s decision-making.
HELP Copays Act (S.864)– The bipartisan HELP Copays Act requires health plans to count the value of copay assistance toward patient cost-sharing requirements.
Treat and Reduce Obesity Act– The bipartisan “TROA” allows coverage under Medicare's prescription drug benefit of drugs used for the treatment of obesity or for weight loss management for individuals who are overweight while improving access to behavioral therapy.
Medical Nutrition Therapy Act – The bipartisan “MNTA” extends dietitian access and coverage to individuals with other diseases and conditions, including obesity, eating disorders, cancer, and HIV/AIDS; such services may also be referred by a physician assistant, nurse practitioner, clinical nurse specialist, or (for eating disorders) a clinical psychologist. Further information on coverage and access issues for the community can be found here.
The Liver Illness Visibility, Education, and Research – This bill would amend the Public Health Service Act to support liver illness visibility, education, and research. Additional investment in research will benefit individuals affected by advanced fibrosis and non-alcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH).
The Food Labeling Modernization Act – This legislation would strengthen requirements related to nutrient information on food labels, and require food allergens, such as gluten and medicines derived from gluten-based products, to be clearly labeled.
Ensure that Medicare, Medicaid, and private insurers provide proper coverage of prescribed ostomy prosthetic supplies such as fistula supplies and other medical supplies.
Enhance the GI physician and Wound Ostomy Continence nurse workforce. Resource: White Paper that validates WOC nurse specialty.
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