Talking points for speaking with legislators and staff at the local level help ensure that all participants are covering the same topics in similar fashion. This allows the full legislature to hear similar issues from constituents in their local districts. The focus of PCPA’s district education month is on the individual provider and how individual organization issues correlate to those faced in the state budget.
Organization Business Points to Highlight
- The name of your organization (bring business cards and agency-specific materials; you are an educational resource to your legislator).
- The town/county where your organization is located – also mention the counties where your agency/organization provides services.
- The types of services (mental health/mental retardation/drug and alcohol – MH/MR/D&A) provided by your organization.
- How many consumers/clients your organization serves annually.
- How many individuals your organization employs.
- Discuss
business items:
- Remember
that you are an employer – besides salaries, consider other rising
costs (for example, increasing health care insurance costs) at your
organization. Be specific.
o Remember that you are a business and purchaser of services – think about the amount spent on utilities (including vehicles, gasoline, phones, computers, furniture, food, postage, supplies, training, etc.) – make it clear to your legislator that your organization is vital to your community’s economy. - Remember that you are truly a provider of MH/MR/D&A services – discuss best practices in the field that cannot be considered for incorporation or implementation due to lack of funding, those not being served and those on waiting lists, etc.
- Remember
that you are an employer – besides salaries, consider other rising
costs (for example, increasing health care insurance costs) at your
organization. Be specific.
- Discuss local issues that affect your organization or county.
Impacts
to Your Organization
The over-arching theme for PCPA’s 2006 lobby efforts is long-term, stable
system funding. Legislators and staff need to hear from providers about the
impact that funding, the state budget, and regulations have on individual
organizations. Discuss inadequate and improper funding for the MH/MR/D&A
system in past years including whether or not your organization realized any
cost-of-living adjustment (COLA) monies in either the 2004/05 or 2005/06 state
budget.
Members should also refer to PCPA’s January 4 Legislative Info for specific information regarding House and Senate legislation introduced to address MH/MR/D&A funding issues. The Legislative Info was accompanied by PCPA legislative analyses for House Bill 1813 (inflationary index legislation for MH/MR) and Senate Bill 727 (dedicated alcohol tax legislation to secure select line-items for D&A services).
Reminder
to Contact PCPA
Please register your appointment, whether it is scheduled for January or after,
with PCPA as soon as possible by contacting Melissa DiSanto Simmons, director
of legislative affairs (melissa@paproviders.org or 717-657-7078). This enables
the association to track all efforts being undertaken by members.
Coming
Tomorrow…
Talking points aimed at providers who have established relationships with
their legislators.
