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 related to digestive diseases and increasing public awareness with respect to the many diseases of the digestive system. The DDNC was founded in 1978 and is based in Washington D.C.
The DDNC will work cooperatively to improve access to and the quality of digestive disease health care in order to promote the best possible medical outcome and quality of life for current and future patients with digestive diseases.
The DDNC's 2008 key priorities include research, patient care, prevention and public awareness, and liver disease:
Research
- A 6.5% funding increase for the National Institutes of Health (NIH), as well as a proportional increase for the National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases (NIDDK).
- A funding level of $555 million for the VA Medical and Prosthetic Research Program, an increase of $75 million.
- The activities of the National Commission on Digestive Diseases, as well as Congressional and NIH implementation of the Commission's recommendations.
- NIDDK's efforts to develop an irritable bowel syndrome strategic plan.
- The Inflammatory Bowel Disease Research Enhancement Act (S.1398/H.R.1113).
- The implementation of recommendations from the recent NIH State-of-the-Science Conference on the prevention of fecal and urinary incontinence in adults.
Patient Care
- A funding level of $2.1 billion for the Food and Drug Administration in FY 2009, an increase of $375 million, not including user fees.
- The Colon Cancer Screen for Life Act (S.1164/H.R.1926) and the Colorectal Cancer Screening and Detection Coverage Act (H.R.3060).
- The Enhancing Drug Safety and Innovation Act (S.484/H.R.1561).
- The Medicare Home Infusion Therapy Coverage Act (S.870/H.R.2567).
- The Patients' Bill of Rights (H.R.979).
- Senate action to pass the Genetic Information Nondiscrimination Act (S.358/H.R.493).
- Congressional action addressing CMS reductions to the payment system for Gastrointestinal Ambulatory Surgery Centers.
Prevention and Public Awareness
- Congressional action to increase funding for the CDC's Colorectal Cancer Screening and Prevention Program.
- Public awareness campaigns about the impact of gastrointestinal motility disorders.
- Congressional action to increase funding for awareness as it relates to diseases of the pancreas and for Celiac disease.
- The Celiac Disease Awareness Campaign.
- S.Res.314, which recognized September 13th, 2007 as National Celiac Disease Awareness Day.
- H.Res.257, which recognizes November as Pancreatic Cancer Awareness Month.
Liver Disease
- $50 million for the CDC's Division of Viral Hepatitis.
- Efforts to enhance the resources available to the hepatitis C state coordinators.
- The Hepatitis C Epidemic Control and Prevention Act (S.1445/H.R.2552) and the National Hepatitis B Act (H.R.3944).
- The NIDDK funded study on Viral Resistance to Anti-Viral Therapy of Chronic Hepatitis C.
- The Minority Health Improvement and Health Disparity Elimination Act (S.1576/H.R.3333).
- Hepatitis preventative education and primary prevention activities.
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