Global Liver Institute Applauds the Introduction of the NASH Care Act of 2020
(Washington, D.C., November 16, 2020) – Sharing an intrinsic link with diabetes, obesity, metabolic syndrome, chronic kidney disease and cardiovascular disease (CVD), Nonalcoholic Steatohepatitis (NASH) impacts anywhere from 148 million to 444 million people worldwide. Even with this harsh reality, there continues to be a lack of U.S. Federal response strategy to this life threatening widespread liver disease.
Today we applaud the introduction of the “Nonalcoholic Steatohepatitis (NASH) Care Act of 2020,” H.R. 8658 by Congressman Dan Crenshaw (R-TX) and Congressman Raul Ruiz (D-CA). This bill would establish a national strategy for preventing, diagnosing, and treating NASH.
It would develop a national prevention program for the most at risk patients, along with a national surveillance program, and recommendations for the field. It would also fund education and awareness initiatives, and a National Academies of Sciences study on education and policy needs for NASH. Finally, similar to the LIVER Act of 2019, it would elevate liver disease research and initiatives within the National Institutes of Health (NIH) by renaming the National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases (NIDDK) to include liver, and creating a division of liver diseases.
Over the years, whether it is through the NASH Council or through specific initiatives like International NASH Day and the upcoming U.S. NASH Action Plan, Global Liver Institute and many in the NASH community have advocated for a greater national priority on NASH. We could not be more appreciative that both Reps. Crenshaw and Ruiz heard our collective message, and introduced this critical piece of legislation as a “first step” in response to the rising concerns of NASH.
This moment marks a monumental milestone for NASH, and liver health policy. However, this does not mean our work is done. This first step will positively bring national attention to NASH, but we will need to work collaboratively to reintroduce the bill in the 117th Congress starting in 2021, to build support in Congress and the liver community overall, and to advance this piece of legislation so that it can become law.
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About Global Liver Institute
Global Liver Institute (GLI) is a 501(c)(3) tax-exempt not-for-profit organization, headquartered in Washington, D.C., United States, with offices in the U.S. and Europe. GLI's vision is for liver health to take its place on the global public health agenda commensurate with its prevalence and impact. GLI's mission is to improve the lives of individuals and families impacted by liver disease through promoting innovation, encouraging collaboration, and supporting the scaling of optimal approaches to help eradicate liver diseases. Follow us on Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, and LinkedIn.
For more information contact:
Andrew Scott
Global Liver Institute
ascott@globalliver.org