Power to the People

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Power to the People

• Advocacy for Community Health Centers

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YOU have the POWER

• To get what you need for your health center and a
  healthier community
• Medicaid policy
• Grants and contracts to CHCs
• Licensing and other regulatory matters
• Other policy affecting underserved (housing,
  benefits, education, etc.)

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HPCA Successes

• PPS and uninsured bill in 2008
• CHC funding uninsured, cigarette tax, IHI,
  outreach
• Medicaid PPS and eligibility issues
• Dental licensing
• APRNs and PAs (psychologists next!)

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Why Legislators Care

• CHCs are important
• Mission
• Patients
• Employment economic contribution
• Board members
• Key role in health care system
• CHCs are great places to do voter registration

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Familiarity with CHCs

• Site visits at least annually
• Make sure patients are in evidence
• Arrange photo ops and send pictures
• Send updates and newsletters
• Dont be shy when spotting legislators in the
  community

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Grassroots LobbyingNumbers Count!

• Board members
• Staff members
• Clients
• Family members
• Interested community members, employers, groups
  (e.g., churches, schools, businesses, other
  nonprofits)
• Coalitions

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Media Support in Advocacy

• Why?
• Credibility of published words.
• Convincing to legislators and administration.
• Helps garner public support.
• What?
• Send news releases.
• Send letters to the editor.
• Arrange editorial board meetings.
• Invite media to health center.
• Be available to reporters and news talk shows.

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HPCA Support for Advocacy

• Help CHCs understand process
• Organize common agenda, draft bills
• Organize CHC visits at Capitol
• Help with communication
• Testimony
• Info. on HPCA website (www.hawaiipca.net) or
  email Jackie at jnosorio_at_hawaiipca.net
• VoterVoice
• Updates urge action
• Tools to support follow-up

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Hawaii State Legislature

• Bicameral (House Senate)
• Nearly 4,000 bills introduced, 5-10 pass
• May take years to get a measure passed
• Key people
• Committee chairs
• Leadership
• Your Legislators
• Staff

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Success in Process

• Seek consensus reduce controversy
• Be honest and consistent in message
• Be upfront about opponents
• Identify other proponents
• Be gracious in defeat
• Great information available at
• Public Access Room
• www.capitol.hawaii.gov

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For more information contact

• Beth Giesting, bgiesting_at_hawaiipca.net
• Jackie Ng-Osorio, jnosorio_at_hawaiipca.net
• Hawaii Primary Care Association
• www.hawaiipca.net