1 1-800-DIABETES American Diabetes Association 2010 Legislative Priorities

1 www.diabetes.org/advocacy 1-800-DIABETES

American Diabetes Association2010 Legislative Priorities


General Advocacy Goals

• Increase federal and state funding for diabetes prevention, treatment and research

• Prevent diabetes and improve the availability of accessible, adequate and affordable health care

• Eliminate discrimination against people with diabetes at school, work, and elsewhere in their lives


From General Goals to a

Legislative Agenda Federal and state legislative priorities are:

• Determined annually

• Drafted by the Legislative Subcommittee, a sub-group of the Advocacy Committee, with input from Diabetes Advocates around the country

• Approved by Advocacy Committeeand Board of Directors


Criteria For Determining

Legislative Priorities

• Adherence to ADA mission and intended impact on people with diabetes

• Adherence to ADA Strategic Plan

• Political reality and actual impact on people with diabetes

• Impact on and support of diabetes community and other stakeholders

• Availability of resources


Three Tiers of Priorities • Tier I - Highest priority activities;

ADA involved as a key player, either leading efforts or as a critical partner.

• Tier II - ADA consistently engaged, with less expenditure of resources; might lead or could be one of many partners in a wider coalition effort.

• Tier III – Activities to which ADA will lend its name, but will not play a major or very proactive role.


2010 Federal Tier I Priorities

Federal Funding • CDC: Division of Diabetes Translation• NIH: National Institute of Diabetes and

Digestive and Kidney Diseases• Special Diabetes Program• Innovative funding opportunities in other

federal agencies

Health Reform Passage/Implementation• Coverage• Quality• Prevention

ADA Diabetes Bills• Diabetes Prevention Act• Diabetes Screening and Medicaid Savings

Act


Health Care Reform:Ongoing Efforts

Ensure pending federal health care reform legislation meets the needs of people with, and at risk for, diabetes:

•Fighting discrimination faced by people with diabetes in the insurance market.

•Including wellness and prevention provisions within health reform.

•Grassroots health reform campaign including e-mail, social media, webinars, and videos:

– brought over 63,000 people to an issue-focused website

– resulted in 28,000 people signing a petition calling for health reform.


2010 Federal Tier II

PrioritiesDiabetes Bills

• Eliminating Disparities in Diabetes Prevention and Access to Care Act

• Gestational Diabetes Act

• Diabetes Treatment and Prevention Act

Stem Cell Research

Wellness & Prevention

• Nutrition

• Physical Activity/Fitness

• Obesity Reduction


2010 Federal Tier II

PrioritiesDiabetes Relevant Issues

• Congressional Budget Office (CBO) Scoring on prevention cost/benefit

Health Entitlement Programs

• Medicare

• Medicaid

Discrimination Issues


2010 Federal Tier III

PrioritiesDiabetes & Co-morbidity Bills

• Including but not limited to: Home Infusion Therapy, Catalyst Bill, Prosthetic Parity and School Nurse Funding (Pilot)

Diabetes Relevant Issues

• National Diabetes Coordinator


Influencing State Public Policy

• State priorities are outlined generally through the national committee structure

• However, the actual activities in each state should reflect the individual needs, opportunities and threats in that state.

• Legislative activity for each state should be determined through discussions between the volunteer Advocacy Chair and the staff State Advocacy Director


2010 State Tier I Priorities

Health Insurance Coverage/Protection

• Diabetes Cost Reduction Act (passage and preventing rollbacks)

• Medicaid Coverage

Diabetes Prevention & Control Program Funding

School Diabetes Care

Private Driver’s Licenses

• Oppose Laws and/or State Action with Blanket Treatment of People with Diabetes


2010 State Tier II

Priorities Health Promotion

• School Based (health education, physical education, healthy foods)

• Menu Labeling

State-Level Research Activities

• Diabetes-Specific and Stem Cell Research

• Protecting Stem Cell Research


2010 State Tier III

Priorities

Other Relevant Diabetes Research, Prevention, and Discrimination Issues

•Smoke-Free Environment


Legal Advocacy

Work to end discrimination in:– Schools and Day Care Centers– Employment– Correctional Institutions– Public Accommodations

Four step approach: – Educate– Negotiate– Litigate– Legislate

Training and resources:– For lawyers, health care professionals,

and advocates – Address ways to prevent discrimination

or stop ongoing discrimination.


AdvocacySuccesses

Restrictions lifted on federal funding for embryonic stem cell research

The American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (stimulus bill), resulted in an additional:•$10 billion for NIH•$1 billion for prevention & wellness at DHHS•$19 billion for health information technology. •$87 billion to states to make up for Medicaid shortfalls.

Reauthorization and expansion of SCHIP: •providing health insurance to seven million children of families who otherwise could not afford coverage.

Strengthened public policies that address prevention through health promotion:•13 state bills passed to improve nutrition & physical education. •Menu labeling laws passed in eight jurisdictions. •Agreement reached on federal menu labeling legislation that is pending as a part of the larger health reform package.


Nonprofit Lobbying

As a nonpartisan, nonprofit 501(c)(3):

We cannot:• endorse candidates• show preferential treatment to elected

representatives or political parties

We can: • give our issues preferential treatment• meet with public officials• invite public officials to our events as

long as we follow specific rules


Sharing your Stories How does diabetes affect you?

• ADA needs compelling stories from you and others in your community

• Stories are a great way to help illustrate our message to the public

• Members of Congress and state officials are always interested to know who diabetes effects and how

Tell your story at: stopdiabetes.com


AdvocacyAction

Center We need your voice!

• Sign up to receive advocacy updates and alerts at:

– www.diabetes.org/TakeAction

• Timely information on federal and state legislation:

• Suggested messages for elected officials

• Email alerts so you can make your voice heard on time-sensitive issues


Community Leadership

Board Support

Support ADA’s advocacy agenda • Respond to state and federal Action

Alerts• Attend State Lobby Days and Call to

Congress

Recruit new Diabetes Advocates• Provide opportunities for people to sign

up and take action at every event• Recruit health care professionals and

attorneys• Identify community members with

relationships with elected officials

Write letters to the editor and Op Eds

Visit your elected officials as a Diabetes Advocate


Questions?

Go to: www.diabetes.org/advocacy

Call your State Advocacy Director:

1-800- 676- 4065Randi Chapman x 3082 [email protected] De La Garza x 6017 [email protected] Habbe x 3457 [email protected] Lanier x 4364 [email protected] Keller x 7207 [email protected] Murdock x 7415 [email protected]

Documents

1 1-800-DIABETES American Diabetes Association 2010 Legislative Priorities