June 2002 • Volume 8 • Number 6 |
Your lawmakers can learn from you. Your patients will benefit from your contacts with legislators. A few ways to share your views:
Face to face. Nothing beats a visit to your legislator's office, either to an aide or the legislator. Contact the local office to set up time to talk. For backgrounders on health care topics, go to http://www.aafp.org/fedgov/bg.xml .
Phone. If you've only got a few minutes for the legislation you're fired up about, call your lawmaker's local office and ask for a vote pro or con. Phone numbers are available at http://capitol.aafp.org -- Speak Out: AAFP Legislative Action Center. Under "Congress and President," enter your ZIP code, hit "Go," and then click your elected officials' pictures for their local and federal office information. You can also call the U.S. Capitol switchboard at (202) 224-3121 for your lawmakers' Washington offices.
E-mail. The Academy has developed sample letters on key health topics pending in the U.S. Congress. Go to http://capitol.aafp.org and follow directions to send e-mails. Then check the box for joining the new Family Physician Alert Network -- you'll receive notice of new advocacy messages for lawmakers, plus other legislative information.
Don't underestimate your impact. You most likely know far more about health care than your legislator. You can find suggestions for communicating with your federal and state lawmakers at http://capitol.aafp.org/aafp/issues/basics/?style=comm.
Finally, a tip from AAFP President-elect James Martin, M.D., of San Antonio, a longtime lobbyist: "Tell a story." Put a human face on the issue. A story can help your legislator remember your point of view.
FP Report is published by the
AAFP News Department.
Copyright © 2002 by
American Academy of Family Physicians.