This document provides resources and tips for advocacy success at the state level. It outlines the many healthcare topics family physicians can provide a perspective on. It then lists universal resources for leveling the playing field like the AAFP, Robert Graham Center, and various foundations. The document stresses the importance of building coalitions and partnering with various health advocates, providers, disease groups, government agencies, businesses, and more. It also provides tips on developing materials, being a reliable information source, focusing on legislators' priorities, and maintaining persistent but positive relationships with them. The overall message is that family physicians should utilize these resources and strategies to effectively advocate for legislative and regulatory recommendations.

1. Resources for
Advocacy Success
WHERE TO FIND RESOURCES TO SUPPORT OUR LEGISLATIVE AND
REGULATORY RECOMMENDATIONS AT THE STATE LEVEL

2. EVERY healthcare topic has a
family medicine perspective:
 Cost Containment and Pricing
 Health Finance and Taxes
 Quality and Safety
 Diseases and Conditions
 Cancer
 Chronic Disease
 Diabetes
 Heart/Stroke/Cardiovascular Disease
 Infectious Diseases
 Mental Health and Substance Abuse
 Obesity
 Public Health and Prevention
 Vaccines and Immunization
 Tobacco and Smoking
 Pharmaceuticals
 Health Reform
• Health Exchanges
• Health Information Technology
• Insurance Reform
• Medicaid/CHIP
• Providers and Workforce
 Population Groups
 Children's Health
 Adolescent Health
 Men’s Health
 Women’s Health
 Minority Health
 Maternal and Infant Health
 Veterans Health
 Urban/Rural

3. It’s hard to be against
family physicians: you
stand for everything
we should believe in.
State legislator

4. Every state government has
a different dynamic
Every state AFP chapter is
different
HERE ARE SOME TIPS TO LEVEL THE PLAYING FIELD

5. Leveling the playing field with
universal resources
 AAFP
 Robert Graham Center
 NCSL (National Council of State Legislators
 CSG (Council of State Governments
 Institute of Medicine
 Foundations and think tanks (depending on your state’s persuasion)
 Robert Wood Johnson Foundation
 Pew Charitable Trusts
 Sargent Shriver Center on Poverty Law (MacArthur Foundation)

6. Build Alliances – Coalitions Work!
 Be a team player
 Coalitions can be with both like-minded and adversarial groups
working to move a specific issue forward
 Learn from one another
 Build community
 Relationship building doesn’t happen overnight

7. Partner, Partner, Partner
Health Advocates
Primary care coalitions
Pediatricians
APNs
Pas
Hospital Association
Public Health Association
FQHC Association
Maternal & Child Health
Consumers
Health and Disability Advocates
Campaign for Better Health
Care (Community Catalyst )
AARP
Make Medicare Work
Disease/Organ Groups –
Cancer
Heart
Lung
IL Alliance to Prevent Obesity
IL Coalition Against Tobacco
Business
U.S. (IL Chamber)
Healthcare Council
NFIB (Nat’l Federation of
Independent Business)
MBGH (Midwest Business Group
on Health)
PhRMA
Insurance (health plans)

8. …and partner some more…..
 Federal, state, local, and municipal branches of
government are often ready, willing and in need
of private sector partners:
state agencies: (Dept. of Public Health,
Medicaid, Area Agencies on Aging,
Governor’s Office of Health Innovation and
Transformation)
Federal agencies: CMS, HRSA, AHRQ, PCORI

9. Develop Materials
 Some state chapter examples
 California, Florida, Michigan, etc.
APN campaigns
 Texas and Wisconsin
Primary Care Coalitions
 Ohio’s Automated Rx Reporting
System (OARRS)
 Colorado’s Patient-Centered
Primary Care Collaborative
 North Carolina’s “Our NC Health
Care” on Medicaid Reform
 Georgia and New Jersey
PCMH efforts
 EVERY CHAPTER HAS AN EXAMPLE
 Some recent IL chapter examples
 With providers:
 Oppose dentists vaccinating
 Oppose psychologists prescribing
 Support poison control center
 With Disease/Organ Groups:
 Support sugary beverage tax
 Oppose P.E. exemptions
 Support more tobacco taxes
 With the State:
 Support 1115 waiver
 Support loan repayment
 With business:
 State-base health insurance exchange

10. YOU are the resource!
Constituents make the best Lobbyists
Communicate
Introduce yourself
Pick up the phone
Stop in the district office
Keep in touch
WRITE a thank you
Connect through social media
LinkedIN
Twitter
Blogs
Educate
Establish yourself as a reliable
and credible source of
information
Convey your position
transparently
Be an honest broker of
information
Deliver what you promise
Focus on them
Know their priorities
visit their website
Volunteer for their campaign
Contribute to their campaign
Service the community
Attend events
Stop in their office
Be patient and persistent
Stay positive

11. THANK YOU
HAPPY TO ANSWER QUESTIONS!
Gordana Krkic, CAE
Deputy Executive Vice President
of External Affairs
Illinois Academy of Family Physicians
Office 630.427.8007
Mobile 708.278.6921