Making your voice count: grassroots advocacy in emergency medicine EMRA Advocacy Week 2011
Outline
• What is grassroots advocacy?• How is it helpful in influencing health policy?• Organizing a grassroots effort• Advocacy case studies from ACEP chapters• Resident grassroots advocacy activities
• Grassroots advocacy is political activity with the goal of creating change. –Based on the power of people to take
collective action on their own behalf– Federal, state, and local level
What are grassroots activities?
• Levels of grassroots advocacy: federal, state, organized medical groups, hospital
• Hosting house meetings or parties• Educating the public on health policy issues at events• Mobilizing letter-writing, phone-calling, and emailing
campaigns• Raising/donating money to political action committees• Letters to the editor or letters to elected leaders• Using online social networks to organize virtual
communities
Why use grassroots advocacy in health policy?
• Why it works.. Legislators are accountable to the constituents who elect them
• Lawmakers need your first-hand knowledge and expertise
• Individual efforts strengthen the national effort
Advocacy education
• 2010 ACEP/EMRA resolution supporting advocacy education in emergency medicine
• Residency education in advocacy/health policy is crucial to building leaders for emergency medicine in the future
• Most effective education is hands-on
Mobilization of grassroots effort• Pick a leader• Garner support of your program
director/hospital• Research the issues/planning phase• Set goals (educational, legislative)• Identifying the people who can make a
difference
Preparing for Action
• Contact appropriate liaisons for help in arranging meetings (government affairs office, local ACEP chapter)
• Educate residents on key issues and talking points
• Prepare written materials for the legislator• Arrange logistics of the event
Take action• Review talking points on the day of the event• Attend all meetings on time, professional
appearance• Have fun• Invite the legislator to spend the day in the
ED
Case study: Liability reform in Texas
a. Lawsuits cause increased health care cost for all members including patients
b. Fear of lawsuits can lead to defensive practicesc. The costs of lawsuits can lead to reduced
services, especially in areas with high litigationd. The majority of litigation money goes to the
courts and lawyers, not patientse. Lawsuits do not necessarily improve patient
care.
How could TCEP make their arguments heard?
a. Collaboration with other medical, hospital and business groups as well as use of lobbyist
b. Appeals to the public and lawmakers through the use of the media (press releases, interviews, letters to the editor)
c. Facilitate individuals (especially doctors) to contact legislators (phone calls, letter writing)
d. Monitor for submitted legislation that regarded this topic
Partnerships
a. Other medical organizationsb. Organized care organizationsc. Hospital Associationsd. Business and Commerce organizations
What groups are likely to oppose such legislation?a. Trial Lawyersb. Some consumer advocacy groups
Outcome
• Mid 1990s- TCEP and Texas Medical Association developed proposals for liability reform
• 1995: reforms of the civil justice system• 2003: Texas legislature passed comprehensive
liability reform• Texas voters approved Prop. 12
LettersLetter to the legislator:• Individualized, SNAIL or email• Send on a Sunday /Monday night
Letter to the editor:• Small community papers: easier to publish• Use a letter to the editor with legislator’s name to
influence the LEGISLATOR, not the people • Send it to the legislative office as well • Reference the story in the newspaper (within 2 days)• Short 50-100 words• Use your own words
The perfect letter
• Paragraph 1: establish your standing “I serve x # of patients” (why you are important)
• Paragraph 2: personal story (use numbers)• Paragraph 3: Include local data (research the
issue) • Paragraph 4: communicate passion for the
issue
What else can residents do?
• EMRA opportunities• ACEP/EMRA’s Health Policy mini-fellowship• Get involved with your state ACEP or AMA
chapter• Go to the Council Meeting at Scientific
Assembly• Host a legislator to your ED for a day- contact
[email protected] for more information
• Resident Lobby day
• Join the 911 network: http://www.acep.org/membersurvey.aspx?formid=40334
• Send a resident letter to your congressperson:http://www.capwiz.com/acep/issues/alert/?alertid=26650501&type=CO