In mid-March, the President released his FY2020 budget proposal. Traditionally, the White House budget has little relation to the ultimate budget since Congress actually creates the final iteration (assuming the government can pass a budget at all). This budget cuts funding for the NIH, Medicare, Medicaid, and most agencies not related to defense, border security, or the TSA. No matter what the final version looks like, the federal deficit will balloon as a result of last year’s tax cuts that were combined with relentless increases in entitlement program spending. The message for health care leaders is clear: Since we are responsible for an enormous percentage of committed federal and state spending, we will be in the cross-hairs of cost compression.
Dr. John I. Allen
As we enter the 2020 election cycle in earnest, politicians will argue about “Medicare for All” versus government overreach. We will wrestle with competing philosophies of States’ Rights versus Federalism. As physicians, we must advocate for a system of funds flow and regulatory power that we believe best serves our patients within a financially sustainable framework.
On to this month’s issue – there are two stories on early-age colon cancer. A page one story adds to our understanding of the molecular pathways involved (microsatellite instability) and tumor location. Another story points out that younger CRC patients often go undiagnosed or are misdiagnosed. The AGA has published important clinical guidance about pregnancy and IBD and switching from biologic medications to biosimilars. Finally, an enormously important study, published in The Lancet, confirmed that hepatitis C treatment with direct-acting antiviral medications reduces mortality and cancer risk – something we suspected but needed confirmed.
I hope to see everyone at DDW next month.
John I. Allen, MD, MBA, AGAF
Editor in Chief
