Grassroots Lobbying/AA Advocacy

Welcome to AA Advocacy and Grassroots Lobbying

The term "grassroots lobbying" has been thrown around a lot in recent years and was promoted extensively in the last U.S. presidential campaign. But what exactly is this movement? Grassroots lobbying is when everyday citizens contact their own legislators in the attempt to influence legislation or policy. The AAAA organization promotes grassroots lobbying for Anesthesiologist Assistant advocacy. In order to assist AAs and others in this effort, the AAAA is supplying tools for better understanding of the issues and ability to contact legislators that results in more effective grassroots lobbying.

Grassroots Lobbying Methods

Several effective means of grassroots lobbying exist. The method used should be selected to best fit the issue at hand. These methods are:

Email

• Can be utilized at any time
• Very convenient
• Instantaneous

Letter Writing

• Most effective
• Able to explain new or difficult issues
• Needs sufficient time (at least two weeks)

Phone Calls

• Best when time is short
• Issue should be simple (i.e. request to support or oppose legislation)
• Support or opposition is immediately recorded

Meetings

• Establish or maintain your relationship with legislator(s)
• Personalizes the message or agenda
• Conveys your message face-to-face

AA Advocacy Material

AAAA Advocacy Manual for 2012

1. Explains how to communicate effectively with your Senators and Representatives.
2. Explains the legislative process.
3. Lists all members of Congress.
4. Lists various congressional committees and their members.
5. Explains various healthcare reform issues important to AAs
   • Medicare's Sustainable Growth Rate (SGR)
   • Truth and Transparency in Health care
   • Summary of New Health Reform Law (Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act)
   • Surgical Home™ & Accountable Care Organizations (ACOs)
   • Drug Shortages and S.296 - Preserving Access to Life-Saving Medications Act

The manual also contains a Congressional Appointment Evaluation Sheet that every AA is asked to fill out and return to the AAAA office after contacting a member of congress so that we may track AAAA member contact with Senators and Representatives and follow up on grassroots lobbying efforts.

AAAA Materials on Health Care Issues

1. Medicare's Sustainable Growth Rate (SGR) flyer
2. H.R. 451 - Truth and Transparency Legislation handout
3. Medicare Access to Rural Anesthesiology Act
4. Economics of Healthcare from HBR.org
5. Guide to Supreme Court PPACA Review from Kaiser Family Foundation
6. Health Reform Implementation Timeline from Kaiser Family Foundation
7. ASA ACT Statement
8. Comparison of AAs and CRNAs Education
9. ASA Statement Comparing Anesthesiologist Assistant and Nurse Anesthetist Education
10. Talking Points on Anesthesiologist Assistants - Education
11. Process of Credentialing AAs
12. Coming Together, Moving Apart: A History of the Term Allied Health in Education, Accreditation and Practice
13. Questions bout the Practice and Education of AAs, video by Dr. John Dombrowski

Feel free to print these materials or to use information from them in your grassroots lobbying for AA advocacy. If you wish to receive high-grade copies of the printed material, contact the AAAA office toll-free at 888-443-6353.

Expanded Health Care Grassroots Lobbying through the ASA

The ASA has recently launched a Grassroots Network that can be accessed through the organization's website at http://www.asahq.org/Washington/grassroots.htm. You do not need to be a member of the ASA or an ASAPAC donor to sign-up and participate in this Grassroots Network, although both are encouraged! Encourage not only your fellow AAs to sign up for this Grassroots Network but also your friends and family as well.

In addition, the ASA provides a political fundraiser guide. That document can be accessed here for your convenience.

With these materials, you can effectively grassroots lobby for AA issues on all political levels. The main focus is - get involved!

Financial Support of AAAA Legislative Efforts

In conjunction with grassroots lobbying, AA advocacy is strengthened by AA profession knowledge and expertise from the AAAA organization. The AAAA actively supports AA issues and some of these activities require financing. The AAAA has established a separate Legislative Fund to provide financial support to these activities that includes providing knowledgeable AAAA leaders and members to speak on behalf of the AA profession to groups and legislators.

The AAAA Legislative Fund is not a political action committee, so anyone may contribute. To make a donation, click on the AAAA Legislative Fund link.