FP Report -- December 1998 State lawmakers tell family physicians to get involved
HILTON HEAD, S.C. -- State legislators want to learn about health care issues, and FPs have the credibility to provide the education. This sentiment was a common thread woven through many of the sessions presented at the AAFP's State Legislative Conference Nov. 13-15.
State Sens. Angela Monson of Oklahoma and Dave Syverson of Illinois offered firsthand evidence during one workshop. "The legislative process is open and ripe for people to inform us, to provide credible, accurate, dependable information," said Monson, D-Oklahoma City.
The senators encouraged FPs to develop long-term relationships with lawmakers in their states. Over time, the legislators will turn to chapters for help with health care and medical issues, they said. So, how do you build those relationships?
Do your homework. Each chapter's government relations staff should research their state's legislators, staff and bureaucrats, and then distribute that information to FPs in each district. Get details on the lawmakers' educational backgrounds, previous jobs and families, and find out how they rank with their colleagues. "When you're dealing with a legislator who, for example, may have a child with a severe disability, you'd better believe he has strong feelings about disability issues," said Syverson, R-Rockford.
All politics is local. Hold a coffee or other small group event for a legislator, inviting family physicians who also are constituents. "Let the lawmaker know that you are in his district and that you represent a lot of influential people who have certain concerns, and keep him apprised about these things," Syverson said. "That has an awful lot of influence on legislators, oftentimes even more than money."
Lose the tunnel vision. Politics is all about negotiation and compromise, so lawmakers will be less likely to listen to your concerns if you sound self-serving. "Demonstrate that you have an understanding of both sides of the issue," said Monson. "Then you appear more credible. We're looking for a place to start, some common ground. When you polarize the issues, it makes the fight much harder."
Correspond effectively. Many organizations have people sign form letters or postcards and mail them to lawmakers. Such correspondence will get little attention, the senators agreed. "My staff has been told that if it's a form letter or a postcard, just pitch it," Syverson said.
A more effective approach is to have people rephrase the form letters, or at least transcribe letters into their own handwriting. Show your lawmakers that you respect their time (and lack of it) by keeping it simple. "If it's more than one page, it's probably not going to get read," Syverson said. Don't forget to include a return address!
Be visible. To get heard, you must first be seen. Develop alliances or coalitions with other groups that share your concerns, the senators said. An AAFP chapter could join forces with a state medical society to lobby for a particular bill, recruit other primary care organizations to help support a candidate, or team up with child-focused nonprofit organizations to promote children's health insurance programs in the state. There is power and visibility in numbers.
Show them the money. Chapters should form political action committees and raise the money necessary to be players in the political process, the senators said. Although some people think campaign contributions imply corruption or "buying votes," they said, money generally won't sway a vote. It will, however, help an FP-friendly candidate get elected and buy you access once he or she is in office, they said. "You're helping to elect people who support what you believe in," Syverson said. "That's crucial because the opposition -- managed care, business, the medical society -- is doing it."
FP Report is published by the AAFP News Department. Copyright © 1998 by American Academy of Family Physicians.
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