Advocacy May, 2021 101 WAMSS ‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐ Advocacy 101 April, 2021 What are we going to cover today? Roadmap 1. What is advocacy? • Why does it matter? • Recent examples 2. Civics 101 3. Back to advocacy • Process, strategy 4. How to meet with a policymaker 5. What can my organization do? 6. Questions YOU ARE EITHER AT THE TABLE OR ON THE TABLE • B&O services tax increase (2017‐2020) • Scope of practice increases/changes • Liability increases –wrongful death, employer laws (qui tam HB 1076) • Long term care insurance (HB 1323) – limits on employees/ers ADVOCACY purchasing long term care • Credentialling (HB 2335, 2018) – changing credentialling ‐ WHY DOES timelines and process IT MATTER? • HB 1111: Would eliminate the tax deduction for investment income for entities, such as non‐profit hospitals. • HB 1160: Would prohibit a certain practices related to hospital and provider contracting, including banning hospitals from requiring carriers to contract with entities beyond the hospital. • Telemedicine reimbursement (HB 1196) – audio‐only (2015‐19, HB 1096) • PPE reimbursement (SB 5169) –any provider treating patients in state‐regulated commercial health plans who has incurred costs for PPE will be able to bill • • Medicaid reimbursement increase (SB 5246) ‐ ~$150m primary and pediatric care ADVOCACY‐ • Medical residency funding WHY DOES • COVID‐19 liability protections (SB 5271): Would establish a clear method for determining the standard of care for IT MATTER? health care providers and facilities caring for COVID‐19 Advocacy •A process of working out societal problems and issues in favor of individuals, groups, or communies What is •Influences public decision‐making in areas like policy and law, and their advocacy? implementaon •Also influences related cultural beliefs •A deliberate strategy to influence policies and policymakers • Focuses on policy creation or reformation 7 Advocacy •Advocacy is used to influence the choices and actions of those: What is •Who make the laws and advocacy? regulations • Legislators, county & city …continued… officials, etc. •Who distribute resources •Money, time, political capital, etc. 8 Benefits of Advocacy . To resolve an issue •To empower or elevate one’s profile •To create increased awareness of an issue What are the •To achieve change benefits of •To protect interests •To improve the livelihood of a significant advocacy? number of people •To change by targeting policy makers and implementers •Many reasons! 9 TO WHOM ARE WE ADVOCATING? * Three Branches of Government 101. You’ll be fine. Branches of State Government Executive Branch = 1. State Agencies • DOH • DOT • Other… 2. Independently Elected Agencies • Insurance Commissioner • Attorney General 12 Branches of State Government Judicial Branch = • Who cares!? Other = • Cities, other local governments 13 Branches of State Government Legislative branch = 1. Senate 2. House of Representatives 14 State Legislature • Senate –49 members • Election in 2020 • 28 Ds • 21 Rs • House of Reps –98 members • Election in 2020 • 57 Ds • 41 Rs • Washington has a Democratic state government trifecta! 15 How a bill becomes a law… Cartoon time! 16 17 How a bill becomes a law… How a bill becomes a law… 18 TO WHOM ARE WE ADVOCATING? * *ESTABLISH A RELATIONSHIP. YOU CAN’T ASK FOR SOMETHING UNLESS YOU FIRST KNOW WHO YOU ARE ASKING MEETING A POLICYMAKER – READYING YOURSELF AND YOUR ORG Meeting with your policy makers Why? • Introductions! This is first, always. • Establish a relationship. • To become a resource. • Ready your organization for advocacy. • Advocacy. • Relationships are what matters! 22 Meeting with your policy maker . Learn about your decision maker . Who are they? (Legislators? City?) . Reach out for their contact information . Prepare what you want to say . Who you are and what you do . Establish yourself as a resource. What your issue is about and why you care . Think about what you want the decision maker to do . Ask for a commitment . Leave the door open for future communication . Follow‐up with a thank you (note) 23 At the meeting Ask questions: Listen: •You’ll be a better •To your decision makers advocate if you questions and concerns understand how much •If you don’t know the your decision maker answers, be honest knows about you/your and follow up! issue 24 . As one legislator said: "Don't just ask for my support. In theory, I can support anything. If you want my VOTE, ask for my VOTE." . If your decision maker is supportive—thank What does a them. Then ask them to take a specific action: vote, co‐sponsor a bill, or ask their commitment colleagues for support . look like? . If your decision maker is undecided, offer to send more information and be sure to follow up! 25 Always leave the door open… . The decision maker who is your strongest opposition today might be the vote you need on a different issue tomorrow. Be careful not to alienate, even if you strongly disagree. Be polite and focus on your goal. RELATIONSHIPS 26 Back to advocacy… 27 Developing an advocacy strategy… • Strategy…“Identify problem, then design means of advocang for your cause ” • At what point in the process is ‘advocacy’ most important? • Organize your org? Maybe you’re ready to go? • The truth is…advocacy happens the entire time. • Not limited to specific legislation or a specific point in the legislative process. 28 Developing an advocacy strategy… • Policymakers deal with many issues at once. • It is important to develop and maintain ongoing relationships with policymakers/staff to keep them up to date on your issues and to rely on you as experts and resources. • This strategy can take on many forms. • Presuming you’re at this step…we’ll talk about how to work with a statewide policymaker… 29 Other advocacy avenues . Visit your local elected officials . Many legislators have in‐district offices . Coffee! . Invite them to visit your place of business . Example: Mill Creek practice and 44th LD legislators . Aend a town hall . Attend a fundraiser (elections matter!) . Send articles of interest to your elected officials . Join an industry lobby day/’day on the hill’ 30 What can my organization or business do? 31 What can my business/org do to get started? Advocacy Committee Lobbyist Single Goal Track Meet Contribute Join/ally Set up an Hire a lobbyist Have a goal, Track bills Start Contribute to Join/ally with Advocacy –one stop start small. during session! relationships. campaigns/atte other similar committee (or shop! [KISS} Introduce/shar nd a fundraiser. orgs. subcommittee Ex: Set up e your org as a of leadership)! resource. Coordinates committee As individual Can approach Fun! many of the Ex: Meet with members? some of the list activities. legislators Targeted list – together. Ex: Track one allies, As an bill legislators, organization? agency leadership, etc. 32 • Lobbyists are professional advocates that work to influence political decisions on behalf of individuals and organizations. This advocacy could lead to the proposal of new legislation, or the amendment of existing laws and regulations Role of a • Federal and State lobbying lobbyist • One stop shop, so to speak • Legislative and Executive branch • Liaison and messaging 33 • A Government Affairs Committee is usually a subset of membership/leadership • Board, officers, roles and duties. Structure and • Can be scaled. • GAC is charged with monitoring and addressing legislative operations of and public policy issues. • GAC develop policies to guide the organizations stance on a Gov Affairs issues. Committee • GAC’s can: • Develop an advocacy strategy. • Track legislation, represent before legislature, negotiate, work with lobbyists. • Coordinate responses and communication to/from general membership. • Develop relationships with policy makers. • And, more! 34 How can I stay connected? Subscribe to email notifications from the Legislature • https://public.govdelivery.com/accounts/WALEG/subscriber/new Watch TVW • https://www.tvw.org/ 35 So, who are your legislators? . https://app.leg.wa.gov/DistrictFinder/ . Type in your residential address . 2 representatives, 1 senator 36 Thank you! Katie Kolan, JD Leonard and Kolan (206) 618‐4821 [email protected] 37.