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
James Boxall, PhD
Saiza Elayda, JD