APMA News - July 2011 - (Page 48)

Federal Advocacy Forum By Phillip E. Ward, DPM Who We Are and What We Do This month’s article explains the important functions of the Legislative Advocacy Department and Legislative Committee and how they interact. APMA’s Legislative Advocacy Department is made up of employees who have expertise in the workings of the federal government. The department is allotted three full-time positions. Staff roles include the following responsibilities: 1. implementing APMA’s legislative health policy agenda set by the Board of Trustees or House of Delegates (HOD), and advising the board and house in the formation of that agenda; 2. evaluating and monitoring proposed health policy legislation for its possible effect on APMA members; 3. coordinating with APMA’s Health Policy and Practice Department on federal regulatory issues, and helping to determine whether congressional intervention is necessary; 4. promoting successful federal legislative advocacy for podiatric medicine; 5. educating and involving APMA members; 6. being accountable to the Legislative Committee, APMA Board of Trustees, and HOD; 7. keeping membership informed about federal issues; and 8. staffing and overseeing the fundraising and reporting functions of APMAPAC. Item two above is perhaps the most challenging. Our staff culls through a tremendous amount of information from the media and government officials to determine what is real, what is political posturing, what is playing to a particular constituent base, and what is aimed at political aggrandizement. Staff members have to understand the federal legislative and political processes and be able to recognize what bills have a chance to become law. Staff must determine the best allocation of resources in order to avoid wasting time, energy, and money on health-care related issues that members may want APMA to address but that are not a priority. As a small organization with limited resources, APMA must direct its finances and activities primarily to expanding recognition in federal statutes and protecting what the association has achieved so far. APMA has, on occasion, been accused of being biased toward one political party or another. This is simply not the case. APMA staff members must maintain a bipartisan stance if they are to achieve the legislative goals of the association. At times, we will seem to be more involved with one party, but this interaction is determined solely by which party is in control. APMA has worked effectively with members of the Republican, Democratic, and Independent parties. 48 APMA News July/August 2011 The APMA Legislative Committee directs Legislative Advocacy staff in achieving the goals of the department. The committee, as directed by the APMA HOD and board, determines the legislative priorities for the association. This is the third year I have been honored to chair the committee. The following members serve on the committee: Representative from State Advocacy Committee (Ira Kraus, DPM–TN) Representative from Health Policy Committee (Seth Rubenstein, DPM–VA) Representative from Health Systems Committee (Dan Davis, DPM–CT) Young Member Representative (Cabell Adams, DPM–VA) Representative from the APMA HOD (Andrew Shapiro, DPM–NY) Advisor (Gerald Peterson, DPM–APMAPAC Chair) Advisor (Karen Wrubel, DPM–CA) Observer (Jimelle Rumberg, DPM– American Society of Podiatric Executives) • • • • • • • • In addition to establishing APMA’s legislative focus and priorities, the committee’s responsibilities are to review federal legislative activity and its impact on podiatric practice and payments, to recommend federal legislative policy and actions to the board, to ensure implementation of policies and actions, to update the board and membership on federal legislative issues and activities, and to ensure that Legislative Advocacy staff members remain focused on the association’s priorities. The committee communicates the federal legislative activities of the association through a number of channels. Information is provided through articles in APMA News and the twiceweekly APMA News Brief, calls to action for APMA members to interact with their senators and representatives, and the APMA Federal Resource Center at http://members.apma.org/ Members/Advocacy/FederalResourceCenter.aspx. By the time this article is published, long-time APMA employee, chief lobbyist for APMA, and Director of the APMA Legislative Advocacy Department Faye Frankfort will have retired. Her replacement had not been named at press time. It is assured, however, that Frankfort’s successor will have the benefit of following the path she has laid. APMA owes her a debt of gratitude for her work on behalf of its members and the profession. n APMA Trustee Phillip E. Ward, DPM, can be reached at peward@apma.org. http://www.apma.org/workingforyou/content.cfm?ItemNumber=1378&navItemNumber=645 http://www.apma.org/workingforyou/content.cfm?ItemNumber=1378&navItemNumber=645

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of APMA News - July 2011

APMA News - July 2011
President’s Message
Contents
PICA Reflects on its Past, Looks to the Future
APMA Media Event Wrap-Up: Toning Shoes Are All The Rage, Along with Podiatrists' Expert Advice
APMA Member Testifi es Before Congressional Committee on Health IT
Stepping Up to Prevent Falls: Part II
Resident Experts: CPME's Residency Evaluators Share Their Stories
Strategic Planning Retreat Underscores APMA Direction
Reimbursement
Can They Really Do That?
Members Who Know Media
Technofile
Young Voices
Federal Advocacy Forum
Small Business 101
CPME Update
APMAPAC Chair Report
APMA All Stars
In Short
Worthy of Note
Affiliates Corner
Insurance Advisor
New Members
Death Notices
APMAPAC Update
Development Update
Annual Scientific Meeting Sponsors
Committee Nominations
Bylaws Propositions Due
Classified Advertising
Dates to Remember
Advertising Index
Ten Questions

APMA News - July 2011