Make Your Voice Heard!A Beginner’s Guide to Communicating With the People Who Impact Your Practice
February 27, 2014
What is Advocacy?
• The act of pleading, supporting, or recommending. (dictionary.com)
• Apolitical process by an individual or group which aims to influence public policy and resource allocation decisions within political, economic, social systems, and institutions. (wikipedia.org)
What Should You Advocate For?
What is affecting your practice?
SGR Repeal (“Doc Fix”)
Telemedicine
ICD-10 Repeal/Delay
Trauma Care
Newborn Screenings
Long Term Care Insurance
Places to Advocate
City Councils
State Legislatures
Congress
Federal Government
U. S. Congress
Congressional Healthcare Committees
U.S. HouseAppropriationsWays and MeansEnergy and Commerce –http://energycommerce.house.gov/
U.S. SenateAppropriationsFinance
HELP -http://www.help.senate.gov/
Know the Healthcare Professionals in the House
NURSES IN THE HOUSE
Diane Black R TN
Karen Bass D CA
Ann Buerkle R NY
Lois Capps R CA
Renee Ellmers D NC
Berniece Johnson D TX
Carolyn McCarthy D NY
Know the Healthcare Professionals in the House
PHYSICIANS IN THE HOUSE
Donna Christensen D VI Emergency Med.
Ami Bera D CA Internal Medicine
Jim McDermott D WA Psychiatry
Charles Boustany R LA Cardiothoracic Surg.
Paul Broun R GA Family Practice
Larry Buschon R IN Thoracic Surgery
Michael Burgess R TX OB/GYN
Bill Cassidy R LA Gastroenterology
Know the Healthcare Professionals in the House
PHYSICIANS IN THE HOUSE
Dan Benishek R MI General Surgery
Scott Desjarlais R TN Family Practice
John Fleming R LA Family Practice
Phil Gingrey R GA OB/GYN
Andy Harris R MD Anesthesiology
Nan Hayworth R NY Ophthalmology
Joe Heck R NV Emergency Med.
Tom Price R GA Orthopedic Surg.
Phil Roe R TN OB/GYN
Know the Healthcare Professionals in the Senate
Tom Coburn, MDFamily Practice(R-OK) John Barrasso, MD
Orthopedic Surgeon(R-WY) Rand
Paul, MD Ophthalmologist(R-KY)
Anatomy of aCongressionalOffice
Chief of Staff Legislative Director Legislative Assistants Legislative Correspondents Communication Director Staff Assistants
Anatomy of a Congressional Committee
Each committee has different staff position titles. Most common titles for all committees are: Staff Director, Legislative Director, Chief Counsel, Communications Director, Clerk, Director of IT
Example - U.S. Senate HELP Committee
Staff Director for Health
Director of Health Policy
Health Counsel
Professional Staff
Research Assistant
Staff Assistant
Key Staffers – People to Advocate
In the Congressional OfficeLegislative Assistants – draft small bills, resolutions, amendments. Have ear of the person (representative or senator) they work for.
In the Congressional CommitteeResearch Assistant/ Professional Staff - draft legislation, amendments. Have ear of the Committee members.
The Advocacy Process
1. Identify your issue
2. Research your issue -does it have any current pending legislation associated with it?
3. Contact Congress
Committee websites-Energy and Commerce –
http://energycommerce.house.gov/
-HELP -http://www.help.senate.gov/
Professional organizations-AMA, MGMA, ACHE-Professional Societies
Congress.gov
Identifying Issues
The Advocacy Process – Research
The Advocacy Process – Research
The Advocacy Process – Research
The Advocacy Process – Contacting Congress
http://www.opencongress.org/people/zipcodelookup
Step 1- Write letter and an e-mail to your congressman/senator. Wait 1-2 weeks for a response.
Step 2- Call the office of your congressman/senator. The person who answers is a staff assistant. Tell the staff assistant you wish for congressman/senator to support or not support a certain piece of legislation.
The Advocacy Process –Contacting Congress
Step 3- Ask to have the voicemail of the legislative assistant who handles health policy. Be polite! When legislative assistant replies back to you, ask to set up a time to further speak with them.
Step 4- When meeting with legislative assistant, get very specific about your issue.
The Advocacy Process –Contacting Congress
Step 5- If there is legislation regarding your issue, encourage legislative assistant to have congressman/senator support it. If no legislation, encourage legislative assistant to have congressman/senator introduce legislation on your issue.
Step 6- Thank legislative assistant for their time. Hand write or e-mail a thank you letter.
Successful Advocacy Example
QUESTIONS?
For More Information:
Mary Pat Whaley, FACMPE, CPC
Manage My Practice
http://www.managemypractice.com
Email: [email protected]
(919) 370.0504
Matthew D. Taber, MS
Medical Access Corporation of America
http://www.medicalaccessusa.com/
E-mail: [email protected]
(615) 669.8347
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