What Is the Coalition

• An organization comprising surgeons and advanced therapeutic gastrointerologist that perform the TIF (Transoral Incisionless Fundoplication) procedure.
• The user group sets the standards of care for patients undergoing transoral surgery and serves as a support resource for the reimbursement process.

Why Is the Coalition Necessary

• The coalition was created to address the growing concern of clinicians that insurers are severely limiting access of patients to transoral surgery and thereby limiting the advancement of surgery to improve surgical options for patients.
• In the near term the medical community needs an impartial body representing its interests to set the guidelines for the TIF procedure and establish in the minds of insurers as surgery similar in nature and results to fundoplication.
• Long term, the coalition will focus on working with insurers to advance other transoral procedures and set the pathway to approval for these procedures.

Coalition Setup

• Members of the coalition are all comers with an interest in performing transoral surgery and the TIF procedure in particular.
• Partial funding provided by an unrestricted educational grant from the industry.
• Partially funded by nominal membership dues.
• Real-time resources and data supported by a website.
• Long-term advocacy provided by the guidance and lobbying of the collective membership and industry with the insurers and procedure review committees.
• Coalition is open to all technologies capable of doing TIF2.