Advancing Cardiology’s Agenda in State Capitols Saiza Elayda, JD Senior Specialist, State Advocacy...

Advancing Cardiology’s Agenda in State Capitols

Saiza Elayda, JDSenior Specialist, State Advocacy & Grassroots Outreach

September 9, 2012ACC Board of Governors Meeting

State Governments in 2013• All 50 States, DC, and Puerto Rico will hold

legislative sessions in 2013• Major health care issues for 2013 sessions:

– Managing the rising cost of health care for state residents

– Controlling Medicaid spending– Preparing for state exchanges and other state

level health care reforms– Managing drug shortages and misuse of

pharmaceuticals– Tort Reform

Other Issues in 2013

•Deficit reduction

•Criminal justice reform

•Job creation and growth

•Education reform

•Creating new revenue streams

•Pension reform

State Advocacy Staff’s Primary Focus:Support Chapters Interactions with State Governments• Analyze and report on legislation and

regulations;• Work directly with Chapters to formulate state

advocacy strategies; and • Engage allies to advance or oppose proposals

of interests to cardiology.

Chapter State Advocacy Tools

• Chapter Advocacy Committee/Council

• Grassroots Base

• Policy Advisors and Grasstops Network

• Strategic Allies

State Advocacy Services:Meetings and Resources

• Cardiovascular Care Tours• Chapter Lobby Days• State Legislator Meetings• State Agency Panels & Work Group

Nominations• Case Spotlight• BOG Updates

Strategic Support:To Build, We Must Ask

• Who are our allies?• How do we improve Chapter relationships with

state medical societies? • How can we engage patients?• How can we get our members appointed to

health care related panels?

Strategic Support: Public Health

• Chapters cannot advance daily challenges if they are silent on public health issues, such as smoking cessation, childhood obesity, and newborn screening for CCHD.

• How can Chapters lead on these issues?

Strategic Support: Additional Resources• Case studies

– Learning from Chapter successes• Quality

– Incorporating AUC, evidence-based guidelines, and registries in state policy

• Unified messaging– Engaging all members of the cardiac care

team to deliver a unified grassroots message

Other Issues to Consider

• Social media

– Can social media help at the state level?

• Contract lobbyist

– Should a Chapter hire a contract lobbyist?

State Advocacy Contact Information

Frank Edward Ryan, JD

fryan@acc.org

James Boxall, PhD

jboxall@acc.org

Saiza Elayda, JD

selayda@acc.org