Many Americans may be aware of certain liver diseases, such as Hepatitis C and B, illnesses that impact over 3.2 million Americans. Far fewer, however, have heard of metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease (MASLD), previously referred to as nonalcoholic fatty liver disease, a growing public health issue that affects 80-100 million people in the U.S.. Pyxis Partners works with the American Liver Foundation (ALF) to educate policymakers in Washington about this condition.

Pyxis Partners developed and implemented a strategy to raise awareness of MASLD with Members of Congress. A key part of that strategy included securing support from Congress for a comprehensive study to examine the prevalence, incidence, and cost of MASLD across the country.

Pyxis identified key champions in Congress and through a series of meetings on Capitol Hill, was able to connect ALF’s leadership with Congressional staff to discuss MASLD. Pyxis Partners also worked with ALF to help identify and train advocates who could share their stories as individuals living with MASLD or caretakers of someone with MASLD to emphasize the importance of Congressional attention to this issue. Having the advocates join us in these meetings provided a real face to the issue and helped emphasize the need for Congressional action.

This outreach led to Senator Cassidy (R-LA) championing a nationwide study conducted by the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality that will assess the prevalence of MASLD. The first-ever national study was authorized as part of the final Fiscal Year 2024 Labor-HHS Appropriations bill that Pyxis Partners and ALF advocated for together.

These advocacy measures will help ensure MASLD is taken seriously as a public health issue and more resources are devoted to understanding this condition, raising public awareness, and improving access to preventive measures. The work conducted by Pyxis Partners provides a greater sense of hope for those affected by MASLD and by advocating for this study, we helped make it possible for researchers to assess the true prevalence of MASLD and address barriers to preventing, diagnosing, and treating the disease.

Interested in working with us? To learn more about our Health Policy work, and to see what Pyxis Partners can do for you, please contact Bobby Clark at bclark@pyxispartners.co.