The Nuts and Bolts of Building Relationships with Your Legislators

1. The Nuts and Bolts of Building Relationships with Your Legislators Ruth I. Hansten, RN PhD FACHE (Hansten Healthcare PLLC) Board Trustee Harrison Medical Center

2. Intended Outcomes

3. Conceptual Framework • Influence through • Knowledge of your voting power in district • Your support of candidate • Willingness to freely share your expertise with the politician • Repetitive positive relationships • Strength in numbers • Determining stakeholders with common objectives

4. Methods of Communication • One to one face time • Office group visit (OK w/aide) • Email • Phone calls • Letter (postal)

5. Methods of Communication • Social media • Hosting visit to hospital or home • Town Hall attendance • Participating in campaign-related events • Thank you notes for support, job well done

6. Be prepared prior to contact • Know the legislator’s position • Know the bills • Know the legislative process • Bullet points of rationale • Impact and effect on constituents' health, jobs, hospital’s viability….

7. Be prepared prior to contact • Know what they care about for re-election or their personal values • Consider proposing legislation • Know Timelines, Calendars, Committees • Ask for Site Visit to propose changes in legislation

8. Content • Give identifying info: Name, Email, Phone, Position • “I live/work in your district…” • “ I am representing_____in your district” • OR “You sit on the Super Committee” and….

9. Content • Be sure to establish a connection to district • What bill or position you are discussing • Rationale and bullet points easier to include in email • Ask for follow up by Legislative Aide or legislator

10. WSHA Alerts • Advocacy Role • State Budget Crisis 2011-2013 • Legislator Contact Information • 2011 Policy / Advocacy Documents • Policy / Advocacy Team • Policy / Advocacy Agenda and Issue Briefs • Hospital Safety Net AssessmentThe hospital safety net assessment brings in new federal Medicaid funding for hospitals, shores up the hospital safety net, and preserves services to Medicaid and Apple Health for Kids enrollees. Some legislators are now trying to undo the assessment. • Talking points on protecting the assessment

11. Important State Legislature Websites: • Subscription to alerts: • http://apps.leg.wa.gov/subscriptions/ • Calendar of Committees and bills they plan to cover by day • http://www.leg.wa.gov/legislature/pages/calendar.aspx • Bill Status Report (daily report of bills that were introduced and tracks them) • http://dlr.leg.wa.gov/searchresults/default.aspx?cb=1&id=5&params=21,1000,9999,12/1/2010&desc=SQkn3vo7oXn7D0kuxVi7YnJFcyWvsej7z57YXtJ7YmTpEB6cNDRNOgXHBvUTDu%2bA&bienString=2011-12 • Detailed bill description: http://apps.leg.wa.gov/billinfo/

14. Federal Politicians • Know Committees • Develop a relationship with the HC legislative aide • Get on the mailing list • Email, Call, Letters • Support them

15. Find Your US Representative https://writerep.house.gov/writerep/welcome.shtml

16. Get on your Senators and Representative’s Mailing List Patty Murray and the Super Committee

17. AHA resources to support Advocacy http://www.aha.org/hospital-members/advocacy-issues/alert/2011/110909-laa.shtml Sign up for Action Alerts at AHA.org

18. AHA resources to support Advocacy http://www.aha.org/hospital-members/advocacy-issues/alert/2011/110909-laa.shtml

19. http://www.govtrack.us/

20. What is our purpose as Healthcare leaders? If our mission is to improve the health of our communities then can we afford not to act to advocate for those who are less able than ourselves? Our politicians need our expertise. Our communities are counting on us. Harrison Silverdale Campus