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Get to Know Your Legislators

Identify, locate, and contact your state and federal legislators. Visit government websites, gather legislative information, and initiate meetings with key contacts. Advocate for home care and share client stories, staffing issues, and regulatory and financial concerns.

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Get to Know Your Legislators

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  1. Get to Know Your Legislators Creating Legislative Connections

  2. Creating Legislative Connections • Governor • Senate (State and Federal) • Representative (State and Federal) • County • City • Chamber • Other

  3. Identify, Locate, Contact State or Federal Legislators • Contact your State Representative: http://www.house.leg.state.mn.us/members/housemembers.asp • Contact your State Senator: http://www.senate.leg.state.mn.us/members/alphalist.shtml • Contact Minnesota members of Congress: Legislators at http://maps.commissions.leg.state.mn.us/website/districts • Visit the White House, Senate, and House Websites

  4. Minnesota HomeCare Association's Recommendations for other Government Information Websites • General Minnesota Information: www.state.mn.us/mainmenu.html • Links to Minnesota Department of Health (MDH) and Minnesota Department of Human Services (DHS) • Governor's Office: www.mainserver.state.mn.us/governor • Find out what is going on during the legislative session: www.house.leg.state.mn.us/hinfo/swkly.ssi

  5. Contact Key Legislators) • Identify key contacts) with designated staff/board member best “suited” for the contact to ensure success • Publicize plans for contacts • Publicize the results

  6. Sample PR piece

  7. Legislative Tips-Visit the MHCA Web Page • How to get legislative information • Initiating an informal meeting with your legislators • Testimony tips

  8. Construct Key Messages • Home Care • Client Stories • Employee • Staffing Issues • Regulatory • Financial

  9. Sample Key Message • Support House File 1574 and Senate File 1503 for home visit rates. • Legislation to increase Skilled Nursing, Physical, Occupational & Speech Therapy visits to $85 per visit, and Home Health Aide visits to $55 per visit in home health care. • Background: • Minnesota reimbursement rates lag far behind other Mid-western states. • From 1985 until 1994, Home Care providers received No reimbursement rate increase, including no COLA. • Home care services related to physical therapy, occupational therapy and speech therapy received no increase for 14 years. • Problem: Skilled visit reimbursement rates for MA and waivered services cover only 48% of the cost. • Lack of increases for 14 years has resulted in service rates that are dramatically lower than rates in surrounding states. • Reimbursement rates for comparable services in our surrounding states are 30% to 50% higher than in Minnesota. • Many home care providers no longer serve patients on the MA waivered programs due to low MA reimbursement rates and many others are considering discontinuation of these same services.

  10. Media and Press • TV • Radio • Newspaper • Newsletters (Corporate and Agency) • Employee Communication • Client and Family Communication • Trade Associations

  11. Events • Open House • Home Visits with Key Contacts • Employee Forum with Legislators • Letter Writing Campaign

  12. Follow-up • Summarize events and contacts • Send written acknowledgement and thank you • Publicize the results for staff, board members, community, trade associations • Send copy of publications to legislative contact

  13. Maintain Relationships • Inform “key” contacts of events in your agency • Include him or her on your newsletter mailing list • Communicate new issues and developments in your industry

  14. Celebrate Your Successes!!

  15. Give Voice to Your Passion for Home Care!!

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