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Report to AOA Presidents’ Council Jon Hymes Optometry’s Priority Issues in the 109 th Congress

AOA Advocacy Group. Report to AOA Presidents’ Council Jon Hymes Optometry’s Priority Issues in the 109 th Congress January 26, 2007. 2005/2006 Wrap Up. AOA BoT, AOA President Crooks & Dr. Mike Jones commit to strengthened AOA advocacy programs & Washington Office

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Report to AOA Presidents’ Council Jon Hymes Optometry’s Priority Issues in the 109 th Congress

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  1. AOA Advocacy Group Report to AOA Presidents’ Council Jon Hymes Optometry’s Priority Issues in the 109th Congress January 26, 2007

  2. 2005/2006 Wrap Up • AOA BoT, AOA President Crooks & Dr. Mike Jones commit to strengthened AOA advocacy programs & Washington Office • Washington office team adds lobbying fire power – four new lobbyists and outside firms added • Improved communications with state leaders & staff, and creation of the AOA Washington Office Report

  3. 2005/2006 Wrap Up • Proactive approach to legislative and regulatory issues that impact optometry • Strengthened emphasis on AOA PAC • Updated Keyperson program and AOA online Legislative Action Center • New Leadership in Advocacy Meeting, Chicago, 10/06

  4. Optometry’s Accomplishments in Washington, DC • AOA-backed bills (S. 1932 and HR 6111) to correct anticipated cuts in both 2006 and 2007 in Medicare physician re-imbursement rates – PASSED BY CONGRESS, SIGNED INTO LAW BY THE PRESIDENT • S. 172, the AOA-backed bill to ban the over-the-counter sale of decorative contact lenses – PASSED BY CONGRESS, SIGNED INTO LAW BY THE PRESIDENT • HR 5688, the “Sullivan Scope of Practice Restriction Bill” aimed at attacking the education and standing of ODs and other non-MD health providers – KEY CO SPONSORS PERSUADED TO WITHDRAW AND DEFEATED IN ELECTIONS. BILL IS DEFEATED

  5. Optometry’s Accomplishments in Washington, DC • S. 1955, small business health plan bill, successfully amended by acceptance of AOA-backed "Collins-Murkowski Amendment" to safeguard patient access to optometrists – S. 1955 THEN FAILED IN A PROCEDURAL VOTE • HR 2238, the AOA-backed bill to provide $75 million to state children's vision initiatives – 204 CO-SPONSORS ADDED • Congressional Committee Directive on inclusion of ODs in the National Health Service Corps student loan program – PASSED BY CONGRESS

  6. Optometry’s Accomplishments in Washington, DC • 1-800 CONTACTS' legislative attacks on Optometry – DEFEATED • Contact lens prescription verification abuses by 1-800 CONTACTS and other Internet sellers – EXPOSED AND REPORTED TO THE FEDERAL TRADE COMMISSION FOR ENFORCEMENT ACTION

  7. Unfinished Business • Patient Access (Small Business Health Plans, Medicare Managed Care) • 2008 Medicare Physician Fee Cut • A seat at the table on “pay for performance” • National Health Service Corps • Funding for Children’s Vision • Crackdown on unscrupulous Internet CL sellers

  8. 2006 AOA-PAC Report Rose M. Betz, O.D. Chair, AOA-PAC January 26, 2007 Presidents’ Council

  9. Raise money and support deserving candidates Educate and motivate AOA-members to be involved in the legislative and political process AOA-PAC’s Objectives

  10. AOA-PAC: 2005-2006 Election Cycle Report • Raising the Ante – Just last year, at this very meeting, Dr. Crooks challenged all of us to reach higher. • Half-way through the 2 year election cycle, AOA-PAC set a goal of raising $1.5 million • Before we look at the results lets take a walk down memory lane.

  11. Raising Money A Historical Summary 1975- 1976 $76,509 1995-1996 $1,000,504 1987-1986 $375,500 2005 -2006 $1,381,862

  12. A total of $1,381,862 raised in the 2005-06 cycle

  13. AOA-PAC: 2005-2006 Election Cycle Report • $925,919.65 was raised last year • Can we do bar graphs showing 2005 and 2006 quarterly

  14. AOA-PAC: 2005-2006 Election Cycle Report • Besides the actual amount of dollars raised AOA-PAC broke some other records: • Total % AOA participation: 25.7%(up from 17%) • Average contribution: $172.49 (up over $50)

  15. AOA-PAC: 2005-2006 Election Cycle Report • Highest % of participation: • Nebraska 67.2% • Highest average contribution by AOA-PAC members: • Oregon $273.80 • Highest average contribution by AOA members: • Alaska: $100.43

  16. $1000 Presidential $ 500 Congressional $ 200 Capitol Club $ 199 & less AOA-PAC AOA-PAC: 2005-2006 Higher categories were established

  17. 2005 $366 + 76 $365 130 $200 - $364 601 $100-$199 1,333 $99 or less 2,408 2006 $1,000 + 59 $500 385 $365 173 $200 + 1,225 $100-$199 1,958 $99 or less 1,559 AOA-PAC: 2005/2006 Higher levels of giving

  18. AOA-PAC: Leading by Example • Last year at this meeting Dr. Crooks reported that less than half of all AOA volunteers were active contributors to AOA-PAC • As of 12/05 43% • As of 12/06 65% • The goal has to be 100%.

  19. AOA-PAC: HOW DID WE DO IT? • First and foremost I must recognize the important role that the AOA Board of Trustees played in this process – highlighting the critical role of optometry’s advocacy efforts from the national podium. We could not have reached these new heights without them.

  20. AOA-PAC: HOW DID WE DO IT? • Committed and dedicated corps of AOA-PAC volunteers • New and improved automated credit card process • Tried and true telemarketing program

  21. AOA-PAC: HOW DID WE DO IT? • On line contributions via AOA Web Site • Eye catching mailers • Targeted outreach to underperforming states

  22. Low Performing States • During the last two months of the year AOA-PAC focused on “low performing” states or any state with a participation rate of under 20%. • At the close of 2005, 29 states were under 20% • At the close of 2006, 6 states were under 20%

  23. Identifying candidates for federal office who are deserving of AOA-PAC support is a top responsibility for AOA-PAC Besides contributing to candidates, AOA-PAC encourages direct, active involvement on the part of AOA Local optometric involvement with congressional candidates has always served the profession well AOA-PAC’s Responsibilities: Supporting Candidates

  24. AOA-PAC: 2005 – 2006 Expenditures • National Parties $180,000 • State Parties/Other $ 12,500 • Leadership PACS $ 89,500 • Senate $150,000 • House $538,540

  25. AOA-PAC: 2005 – 2006 Expenditures Grand Total $970,540

  26. AOA-PAC: 2005 – 2006 Expenditures Party Breakdown • $572,040 Republicans • $393,500 Democrats • $ 5,000 Independent

  27. Must have the right people Educate state leaders about the important work of these volunteers AOA national support and visibility is critical How You Can Help Build a Stronger AOA-PAC

  28. 2007-2008 Goal • $2,000,000 • $2,000,000 • $2,000,000 • $2,000,000 • $2,000,000

  29. You are AOA-PAC • “Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed citizens can change the world. Indeed, it is the only thing that ever has.” • Margaret Mead, Anthropologist

  30. AOA Advocacy Group Report to AOA Presidents’ Council Dr. Wiley Curtis & Darlene Eakin Deserve Victory – A Stronger Keyperson Program January 26, 2007

  31. Dr. Crooks, the AOA Board of Trustees and Dr. Mike Jones have committed to making AOA a grassroots lobbying force in Washington, DC. AOA Washington Office is orchestrating our grassroots initiative Deserve Victory – A Stronger Keyperson Program

  32. What does grassroots strength mean? • AOA Keypersons linked to members of Congress • ODs, students, employees and patients contacting members of Congress on optometry’s priority issues (AOA online Legislative Action Center—www.aoa.org) • A bigger, better AOA Congressional Advocacy Conference

  33. AOA Keypersons Linked to Members of Congress • ODs volunteer to be the primary link to their representatives in Congress • ODs build special relationships and educate legislators about the profession • Keyperson program was essential to AOA’s successes on Capitol Hill in 2005/2006 (S. 1955, Decorative Contact Lens Law, Children’s Vision, 1-800 CONTACTS battles • There are gaps and weaknesses in the Keyperson program that we must fill to be effective in 2007 and beyond

  34. AOA Online Legislative Action Center • AOA Washington Office issues bulletins, reports, updates and calls to action • Optometry can be heard on Capitol Hill through the AOA website • Concerned ODs at 12/06 Academy Meeting responded and helped turn the tide against 1-800 CONTACTS midnight maneuvers

  35. AOA Congressional Advocacy Conference • Thousands of groups meet in DC and meet with Members of Congress • To be heard, more ODs and students must participate in the only annual gathering in Washington, DC that focuses on optometry • AOA Congressional Advocacy Conference grew to 220 attendees in 2006 • There are 435 Congressman/woman and 100 Senators…More work needs to be done!

  36. What does grassroots strength mean? It’s the difference between VICTORY and DEFEAT!!!

  37. 2006 AOA-PAC Report Deserve Victory A Stronger AOA-PAC Dorothy Hitchmoth, O.D., FAAO AOA-PAC Treasurer January 26, 2007

  38. A Stronger AOA-PAC • 1n 2006 AOA-PAC experienced significant growth. • Half-way through the 2005-06 election cycle Dr. Crooks challenged the AOA-PAC Board to raise $1.5 million • While we fell short, we did manage to raise $925,919 in less than 12 months, for a total of $1,381,862 for the cycle

  39. 2007-2008 Goal • You just heard the 2005- 2006 AOA-PAC year end report on receipts and expenditures from our illustrious chair, Dr. Rose M. Betz. • You also heard Dr. Betz report on our 2007-2008 goal of $2 million • I hope you are looking forward to me telling you how we can get there

  40. Historical Perspective • In the early years of AOA-PAC the thinking was that we, optometry, could never match medicine dollar for dollar. • It would be our brain, our muscle, our get out and walk precincts, the real grassroots of a campaign, that would balance out the money quotient • And in some measure we were successful

  41. A Historical Perspective Contributions for year ending: 1976: $76,509 1996: $425,000 1986: $375,000 2006: $925,919 An all time new record for AOA-PAC.

  42. HOW MUCH IS ENOUGH? • “Is there too much money in politics or • not enough?”

  43. Average cost of a competitive House campaign $1,500,000 Total $ spent on congressional campaigns $1.15 B Average cost of a competitive Senate campaign $5,400,300 Total $ spent on presidential campaigns $ 720,862,509 (Bush & Kerry) Money in Politics - 2004

  44. Average US Spending • Chewing gum $ .5 billion • Potato chips $ 2.5 billion • Greeting cards $ 7.5 billion • Coffee $ 20 billion • Alcohol $ 100 billion

  45. AOA-PAC • % OF PARTICIPATION: 25.7% (UP FROM 17%) AVERAGE CONTRIBUTION: $172 (UP FROM $112)

  46. Other Health Care Examples • PPAC – Podiatry • Total $ raised in ’06 cycle: $1,355,579 • Average contribution: $167.73 • % of participation: 36% • Total APMA membership: under 12,000

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