The focus of PCPA’s district lobby month is on the individual provider and how individual organization issues correlate to those faced in the state budget. Previous Legislative Infos relative to district lobby month have covered areas such as the over-arching theme of long-term, stable system funding and highlighting business concerns. PCPA knows that the association’s multi-tiered lobbying effort has been successful in the past several years – and that some members are cultivating relationships with legislators rather than establishing them. This Legislative Info is geared to those members.
Helpful Items to Include in the District Visit
- A prepared folder containing information specific to your organization (include program descriptions, organization highlights, list of board members, business cards). Are you aware of an area or program that is of particular interest to the legislator?
- Your organization’s most recent annual report.
- A document addressing business areas for your organization. Reference the January 5 Legislative Info – Helping Members Highlight Organization Business to Legislators for suggestions of information to include.
- How many consumers/clients your organization serves annually.
- How many individuals your organization employs.
- Mention of local/regional issues that affect your organization or county.
- Your calendar – come prepared to establish a date for a site visit to your organization by the legislator and/or the legislative staff.
Legislator’s
Prior Areas of Interest
In past meetings and conversations with your legislator, did s/he have areas
of particular interest or concern? For example, was s/he wondering about the
status of a contract, the establishment of a new program, growing waiting
lists/unmet need, etc.? Be prepared with answers to these questions if they
have not yet been provided to the legislator or be ready to remind the legislator
of these past issues.
Since the district lobby month over-arching theme is long-term, stable system funding a seasoned legislator will likely ask questions such as:
- What budget growth did your organization realize this year (if any)?
- Were you able to give a cost-of-living adjustment (COLA) to your employees? If so, what amount?
- Has your organization realized any of the COLA monies from the past two state budgets? If so, how much? How did your organization utilize those funds?
- How much did your organization’s health care costs increase? What is your employees’ share of that cost?
- What are your increased energy (including gasoline and heat) costs this year?
- How many consumers/clients do you see that are public pay vs. private pay?
- Are you in a HealthChoices or fee-for-service area (the legislator will likely already know the answer to this question but may have questions relative to operation of the program within your locale)?
Reminder
to Contact PCPA
Please register your appointment whenever it is scheduled with PCPA by contacting
Melissa DiSanto Simmons, director
of legislative affairs. This enables the association to track all efforts
being undertaken by members.
