Family Physicians' Input Vital to Shaping Health Care Policy

By News Staff
5/17/2006

America's health care system is on the cusp of dramatic change, and family medicine is in a prime position to have significant influence on that change. That reality should spur family physicians to jump into political activism, according to Randell Wexler, M.D., of Columbus, Ohio.

Wexler, who is chair of the Ohio AFP Legislation and Advocacy Committee, joined David Paragas, Ohio AFP lobbyist, to explain the route by which family physicians can make a difference in state and national health care politics. They spoke during "Grassroots Political Advocacy for Physicians" at the AAFP's Annual Leadership Forum, May 4-6 in Kansas City, Mo.

"Medicine is politics," said Wexler. "Medicine is the most regulated industry in and has the most red tape of any industry in America. But we're in the right place at the right time."

Most likely changes won't occur quickly, said Paragas, adding that successfully changing state and national health policy requires persistence and a relationship with legislators.

"When you think of the legislative process, don't think of it as a destination," he advised. "Look on it as a journey."

Paragas and Wexler offered a few rules of the road for that journey.

Start early, and clearly define your goals; know who supports you and who opposes you in your efforts. "If you have strong opposition, check your strategy," said Paragas.
Review legislators' voting records.
Be willing to compromise. "The art of compromise is how you win," said Paragas. "Compromise is the way you ensure the legislator won't be so offended that he or she won't help in the future."
Provide information that is quickly read, easily understood and framed from the constituents' point of view.
Keep the door open with legislators who don't agree with your position. "They may come around as they learn more and more about an issue," said Paragas. "They come around; they really do."
Be a consultant. "Every legislator would love to have one doctor who they can call on to ask questions," said Wexler. "If the legislator calls on a subspecialist on immunizations, he's probably not going to get good, accurate information" because the subspecialist's expertise doesn't necessarily focus on such issues.
Give legislators information in a convenient format: a one-page fact sheet, an audiotape or small CDs that can be played in the car to and from the office, or podcasts.