On March 5th-6th, ASBM Chairman Ralph McKibbin, MD, FACP, FACG, AGAF participated in the 33rd annual Digestive Disease National Coalition public policy forum in Washington, DC March 5th and 6th.

The advocacy conference brought together patient advocates, health care providers, and industry representatives from the major national voluntary and professional societies concerned with digestive diseases. This year’s theme was “Improving Patient Care.”

Live panelists included Dr. Stephen James, Director, Division of Digestive Diseases and Nutrition at the National Institute for Diabetes, Digestive and Kidney Diseases and Brenda Rodriguez, Senior Engagement Officer at the Patient-Centered Outcomes Research Institute. Both highlighted the need for focusing on patient outcomes in this age of rising inflation and medication costs.

ASBM Chairman Ralph McKibbin MD; DDNC President Carrol Koscheski; and Brad Conway, VP of Legislative Affairs and Advocacy for the American College of Gastroenterology were among the physicians who met with lawmakers on PBM reform and other issues.

Dr. McKibbin, along with DDNC leadership, met with Representative Buddy Carter of Georgia – a champion for pharmacy benefit manager (PBM) reform – to discuss the need legislation in this area. Rep. Carter is a pharmacist who ran a chain of local pharmacies prior to becoming a congressional representative and is well informed on the issues. He has produced an educational booklet on the subject entitled “Pulling Back the Curtain on PBMs: A Path Towards Affordable Prescription Drugs”.