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Advocacy Briefing by Francesca Fierro O’Reilly Senior Director, Legislative Affairs

Advocacy Briefing by Francesca Fierro O’Reilly Senior Director, Legislative Affairs. Agenda Why Advocate on Capitol Hill? All About Capitol Hill How to be an Effective Advocate AHCA Advocacy Priorities Small Group Activity: Advocacy in Practice Conclusion.

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Advocacy Briefing by Francesca Fierro O’Reilly Senior Director, Legislative Affairs

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  1. Advocacy Briefing by Francesca Fierro O’Reilly Senior Director, Legislative Affairs

  2. Agenda • Why Advocate on Capitol Hill? • All About Capitol Hill • How to be an Effective Advocate • AHCA Advocacy Priorities • Small Group Activity: Advocacy in Practice • Conclusion

  3. Why Advocate on Capitol Hill? • The nation’s largest health care profession • The most trusted profession in US • Already skilled in advocacy • 1 out of every 50 registered voters is a RN

  4. All About Capitol Hill • White House controlled by Republicans • Bicameral Congress controlled by Democrats

  5. All About Capitol Hill • House of Representatives • 235 Democrats • 199 Republicans • 0 Independents • 1 Vacancy • Senate • 49 Democrats • 49 Republicans • 2 Independents (caucus with Ds)

  6. All About Capitol Hill • Staff are the eyes and ears of the Member • Do not underestimate their influence

  7. All About Capitol Hill– the Legislative Process

  8. How to be an Effective Advocate • Be Prepared • Be Prompt and Patient • Be Political • Be Responsive • Be Polite The 5 “Bees”

  9. How to be an Effective Advocate • Argumentative • Threatening • Surprised • Assuming • Campaigning 5 Things Not To “Bee”

  10. How to be an Effective Advocate • Following Up • Send a thank you note to everyone you met • Use that note to reiterate your points • Token courtesy - cements relationships

  11. AHCA Advocacy Priorities: Framing Principles • Our nearly 11,000 members of AHCA/NCAL comprise the largest association of long term care providers – caring for the majority of the frail, elderly and disabled Americans receiving essential facility-based care. • 70 percent of all individuals turning 65 will require some form of long term care during their lifetime – and the “demand for long-term care services is likely to at least double by 2040.” - NIC May 2008

  12. AHCA Advocacy Priorities: Framing Principles • As we prepare for the current and future long term care needs of Americans, we encourage a financing system that enhances quality; changing to a survey system that is fair, accurate and recognizes quality; and building a well-trained, more stable workforce. • Policy makers must realize that a national long term care strategy must be developed and implemented now if we are to address the looming demographic realities and threats to the long term care needs of Americans.

  13. AHCA Advocacy Priorities: Framing Principles • National statistics clearly point to improvements over the past five years in patient outcomes, increases in overall direct care staffing levels, high satisfaction ratings and significant decreases in quality of care survey deficiencies in our nation’s skilled nursing facilities. • Financial stability is critical to sustain the quality improvements in care and services for the millions of frail, elderly and disabled Americans cared for in long term care settings daily.

  14. AHCA Advocacy Priorities: The Issues • Medicare • Medicaid • Quality • Arbitration

  15. AHCA Advocacy Priorities: The Issues Medicare: Preserve Critical Funds • RUG Regulatory Reduction • Market Basket • Part B Outpatient Therapy Services

  16. AHCA Advocacy Priorities: The Issues Medicaid: Protect Current Funding • Regulatory Moratorium • Oppose Further Potential Cuts

  17. AHCA Advocacy Priorities: The Issues Quality: Continue Improvements • The Long Term Care Quality and Modernization Act(S. 1980 or H.R. 4082) • The Nursing Home Transparency and Improvement Act(S. 2641) aka the Grassley-Kohl bill

  18. AHCA Advocacy Priorities: The Issues Arbitration: Keep the Status Quo • The Fairness in Nursing Home Arbitration Act(S. 2838 or H.R. 6126)

  19. AHCA Advocacy Priorities: Our “Asks” • Oppose the Administration’s RUG cut • Protect the Medicare market basket & extend the currenttherapy cap exceptions process • Support Medicaid regulation moratorium • Express concerns over Grassley-Kohl legislation • Oppose efforts to restrict arbitration in LTC

  20. Small Group Activity: Advocacy in Practice • Divide up into groups of 4 • Choose one person to be the Member of Congress • Others serve as constituents– make sure there’s a scribe • Spend 5 minutes role-playing a Capitol Hill meeting • Gather your observations & report back to group

  21. Conclusion • Who, What, Where, and Why • Congressional Briefing begins 4:00pmTiconderoga/Yorktowne/Valley Forge Rooms • Resources

  22. Questions?

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