2011 Annual Report - AASLD

EFFECT
2011 proved to be another year of growth and activity for AASLD with regard
to public policy. As the involvement of the government has grown with regard
to medical practice and research, so too has AASLD’s involvement with the
government. As you will read below, whether it is on Capitol Hill, in the various
government agencies of interest and now even in the White House, AASLD has
been a significant and growing participant in the functioning of government.
Effect
There is little question that health care remains
a key issue for the American people. And, the
impact of liver disease on the health of Americans
has never been greater. Fortunately, the quality of
treatments has been improving every day. AASLD’s
mission in this area is to be sure that public policy
keeps pace with scientific advancements and
understanding.
The items highlighted below are just some of
those on which we have worked and have had a
significant impact.
World Hepatitis Day
July 28 was World Hepatitis Day and, for the first
time ever, the date was marked by an event at the
White House. Leaders from throughout the country
gathered to hear from national leaders in the field
of hepatitis research and treatment, including
AASLD President, Dr. Jake Liang, who addressed
the several hundred persons in attendance, as well
as the untold thousands more that were viewing the
event through a live streaming link-up.
The event followed on the heels of the issuance of
the Viral Hepatitis Action Plan by the Department of
Health and Human Services (HHS) — an HHS-wide
blueprint for comprehensive action by the federal
government, state public health departments and
the healthcare community. This report built on the
report done by AASLD and the Trust for America’s
Health in 2010 laying out steps that need to be
taken to address this public health crisis.
Liver Capitol Hill Day
AASLD sponsored its Third Annual Liver Capitol
Hill Day (LCHD) on April 6, 2011, bringing together
AASLD member-physicians, some of their patients,
and representatives of six patient advocacy
organizations in a day of meetings with Senate and
House members and staff, advocating for increased
research funding and better patient care.
That activity will be continued and expanded
on March 14, 2012, as AASLD members and our
partners from advocacy organizations return to
Capitol Hill for the Fourth Annual LCHD. AASLD
is committed to keeping liver disease on the
radar as Congress faces tough budget decisions.
A significant part of this mission to be to explain
the long-term cost avoidance associated with
diagnosing and treating all liver diseases —
including viral hepatitis — early. And that depends
on research.
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american association for the study of liver diseases