Advocacy Communication Tools
You can make a difference with one phone call. Or one e-mail. Tell your legislator what’s important to you, and what keeps you up at night. Make sure they know how their decisions affect you and your patients. Minutes of your time helps bring the family medicine focus to important health care issues.
Communicating with Elected Officials
Telephoning your legislators
This is a tried-and-true way to make your views known. To find your senators’ and representative’s phone numbers, use our searchable online congressional directory on Speak Out or call the U.S. Capitol Switchboard at (202) 224-3121 and ask for your senators’ and/or representative’s office.
This is a tried-and-true way to make your views known. To find your senators’ and representative’s phone numbers, use our searchable online congressional directory on Speak Out or call the U.S. Capitol Switchboard at (202) 224-3121 and ask for your senators’ and/or representative’s office.
- Telephone calls are taken by a staff member. Ask to speak with the aide who handles health issues.
- After identifying yourself as a constituent and family physician, tell the aide you would like to leave a brief message, such as: “Please tell Senator/Representative (Name) that I support/oppose (S. __/H.R.__).”
- State reasons for your support or opposition to the bill.
- Ask for your senators’ or representative’s position on the bill.
- Request a written response to your telephone call.
Writing letters and e-mails to Congress
- Make it easy, and save a stamp. Use Speak Out to e-mail them directly.
- Or, follow this format when writing a letter or e-mail to your legislators:
Dear Senator/Representative:
Your purpose for writing should be stated in the first paragraph of the letter. If it is regarding specific legislation, identify it accordingly. Address only one issue in each letter. Make clear your position on the issue/bill. “I am writing as a family physician and a constituent to (support or oppose) (HR xxxx S xxxx or specific issue).”
In the second paragraph, include any key information, using examples to support your position. “Payment cuts and freezes will destabilize the Medicare program and put patient access at risk. As a result of these payment cuts and freezes, I no longer can afford to accept Medicare patients.”
Lastly, ask them to support/oppose the bill based on your position. Request a written response on their position. “Thank you very much for considering my views on an issue that is so important to family physicians like me. I look forward to your response.”
Your purpose for writing should be stated in the first paragraph of the letter. If it is regarding specific legislation, identify it accordingly. Address only one issue in each letter. Make clear your position on the issue/bill. “I am writing as a family physician and a constituent to (support or oppose) (HR xxxx S xxxx or specific issue).”
In the second paragraph, include any key information, using examples to support your position. “Payment cuts and freezes will destabilize the Medicare program and put patient access at risk. As a result of these payment cuts and freezes, I no longer can afford to accept Medicare patients.”
Lastly, ask them to support/oppose the bill based on your position. Request a written response on their position. “Thank you very much for considering my views on an issue that is so important to family physicians like me. I look forward to your response.”
Meeting with Your Elected Representatives
Face-to-face meetings are one of the most effective actions you can take. And it’s likely no more difficult than meeting a colleague for lunch. With some preparation, this will be time very well spent.
Set up a meeting
Set up a meeting
- Contact your senators’ or representatives’ D.C. or local office and ask to speak with the scheduler to set up an appointment.
- Make it clear in which office you would like to meet.
- Be prepared to send a written request via e-mail or fax.
Before the meeting
- Review your talking points and become familiar with family medicine issues and all sides of the argument.
- Concentrate and limit issues so you are well organized.
- Know where the lawmaker stands on issues.
- Be prepared to share how issues affect you as a family doctor and constituent.
The meeting
- Be on time.
- State your views in time to allow for discussion afterward.
- Use examples of how you and your patients are affected by the issue.
- Be flexible if your time is cut short. Offer to meet with other key staff in the future.
- If asked a question you cannot answer — don’t guess. Tell him or her that you and the AAFP Government Relations Division will look into it and respond promptly.
- Politely make your request.
- After the meeting, leave a one-page summary of the key points of the issue and your position.
Follow up
- Send a thank you letter re-emphasizing the key points discussed in the meeting.
- Be sure to provide any information that was promised.
- Advise the AAFP Government Relations staff of any developments or information gathered at your meeting by sending an e-mail to capitol@aafp.org.
- Stay in communication with the legislator’s Washington and local offices.
- Offer to be an ongoing resource for more information.
