APMA News - July/August 2017 - 30

T

2016 State Component Self-Assessment Survey

he APMA Center for Professional Advocacy (CPA) conducted the first State Component Self-Assessment Survey in 2012, followed by a second survey in 2014, and
a third at the end of 2016. A majority of state components participated in each survey, answering questions in five categories:
1) advocacy infrastructure; 2) grassroots advocacy; 3) political
action; 4) relationships; and 5) public outreach and education.
Each question was assigned a numeric value to provide a quick
snapshot of how state components were performing in the five
categories. The CPA distilled the survey data into an overall picture of state component activity, as well as an overview of the
current status of each state component. The results of all three
surveys are available at www.apma.org/CPA.
In analyzing the results of the 2016 survey, the CPA used the
category structure from the previous two surveys, adding an
additional unscored category to assess state components' awareness of various APMA and CPA advocacy resources. This time,
41 states and the District of Columbia provided responses, and
the Federal Services component participated for the first time.
State components continue to be strong in the Advocacy
Infrastructure category by ensuring the necessary support is in
place in terms of crucial funding and staff to run a successful
state advocacy campaign. In an area of increasing strength, state
components are working harder to facilitate outreach with their
state legislators. Nearly 58 percent of the 2016 responders indicated that they had established a key contact program with their
state legislators, versus 41 percent in 2014. Additionally, nearly
a third of state components hosted a lobby day in either 2015
or 2016 to educate their state legislators, continuing the trend
from 2014. Increased engagement and mobilization of state
components' members was a key element contributing to successful outreach to state legislators.

TOP STATES (2014)
Advocacy
Infrastructure

Grassroots
Advocacy

Political Action

Relationships

Public Education
& Outreach

As any effective advocate knows, building and maintaining
relationships with other stakeholders and state government officials is critical. State components continue to face obstacles in
the relationships category. The number of state components that
regularly hold meetings with state medical and osteopathic associations (outside of directed initiative and coalition work) has
stagnated at just over 41 percent, while the number of state components seeking support from outside organizations and community leaders for their legislative initiatives has declined, from
54 percent in 2014 to 45 percent in 2016. APMA and the CPA
have stressed that one key component of advancing the profession is through building and maintaining relationships with physician and other health-care provider groups and policymakers.
For example, most recently, APMA worked with the American
Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons, American Orthopaedic Foot
& Ankle Society, and American Orthotic and Prosthetic Association, among other organizations, to stand in united opposition to
the proposed rule changes to the certification requirements for
physicians and other providers who dispense and furnish certain
custom orthotics and prosthetics for Medicare beneficiaries, thus
making our individual position against the proposal stronger.
Future editions of APMA News will include a comprehensive
look at each of the six categories, highlighting areas where state
components were especially strong, providing case studies, and
identifying areas in which state components can improve. Details about APMA resources available to state components and
members will be shared to improve and increase efforts, involvement, and general advocacy strategies.
n
For questions about the survey, contact the CPA at
advocacy@apma.org.

TOP STATES (2016)

STATE

RANK

TOTAL
SCORE

STATE

RANK

TOTAL
SCORE

California

1

28.5

New York

1

29

Ohio

2

28

Iowa

2

24.5

Texas

3

27.5

Wisconsin

3

24

Florida

4

25.5

Arizona

4

23.5

New Jersey

5

24.5

California

5

23

Iowa

6

23.5

New Jersey

5

23

Michigan

7

22

Ohio

5

23

Illinois

8

21

Tennessee

5

23

Massachusetts

9

20

Illinois

9

22.5

Utah

9

20

Washington

9

22.5

Washington

9

20

30 APMA News July/August 2017
http://www.apma.org/CPA
Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of APMA News - July/August 2017
