APMA News - November/December 2017 - 48

Update on APMA Scope-of-Practice
Advocacy Initiatives

he mission of APMA's Center for Professional AdvoThe Massachusetts Podiatric Medical Society (MPMS) has
cacy (CPA) is to advance the podiatric medical proa long-established legislative committee overseeing its advofession by providing direction for legal, regulatory,
cacy efforts. While APMA was in Boston discussing scope-ofand state legislative advocacy activities. Over the past year,
practice issues with legislators and legislative staff at the Nathe CPA has prioritized its resources to assist state compotional Conference of State Legislatures' Legislative Summit in
nents with their scope-of-practice advocacy efforts.
August, APMA Executive Director and CEO James R. ChristiIn December 2016, APMA held its first Scope-of-Practice
na, DPM, and CPA staff met with MPMS Legislative CommitAdvocacy Summit and brought together state component
tee co-chairs and MPMS staff to discuss scope-of-practice
leaders from states that limit treatment to the foot. During
advocacy efforts. APMA also provided a letter of support for
this intense one-day summit, leaders from Alabama, MassachuMPMS efforts. During the scope-of-practice summit, attendsetts, Mississippi, and South
ees discussed the value of gainCarolina strategized, collaboing friends outside the podiA
state
component
legislative
rated, reviewed scope-of-pracatric medical profession to
tice language, and learned
support our advocacy efforts.
committee's role is to build and
about the importance of buildMPMS has been successful in
oversee
that
state
component's
ing an effective advocacy infraobtaining letters of support
structure, which includes an
from MD/DOs and hospital adadvocacy infrastructure, which
active grassroots base with
ministrators. Letters of support
includes
developing
grassroots
strong legislative relationships.
are helpful to legislators to
support from members, supporting
Finally, state component leaddemonstrate a wide network of
ers had an opportunity to share
supporters for our legislation.
and supervising lobbyists, and
their experiences, discussing
Letters of support also neutralmeeting with state legislators.
what has been ineffective and
ize, or at least lessen, the imwhat has advanced their ultipact of any possible opposition.
mate goal of a legislative fix.
Updating scope-of-practice laws was also a key focus of the
One lesson apparent from this summit was the need for
2017 APMA State Advocacy Forum held in Salt Lake City. The
state components to build legislative relationships. In FebruUtah Podiatric Medical Association (UPMA) was selected to
ary and March, the South Carolina Podiatric Medical Associhost because of its successful efforts to update its scope, removation (SCPMA) hosted, with partial financial assistance from
ing restrictions on podiatrists' ability to perform certain ankle
CPA, two lunches at the state capitol with the Black Caucus
surgeries such as ankle fractures and ankle fusions. The forum
and Democratic Caucus. These lunches provided an opporkicked off with a case study from UPMA leaders about how and
tunity for SCPMA podiatrists to meet and interact directly
why they were successful, and a presentation from Utah State
with their legislative leaders. During the Black Caucus lunch,
Representative Justin Fawson, who was the primary sponsor of
SCPMA spent 90 minutes discussing the scope-of-practice
the scope bill. Read about Rep. Fawson's tips on legislative adbill and answering legislators' questions. Another message
vocacy in the July/August edition of APMA News. During the
shared during the December 2016 summit was the need to
Scope of Practice and Physician Definition panel, state combuild a solid advocacy infrastructure before introducing
ponent leaders from California, Maryland, and Oregon disscope-of-practice legislation. A state component legislative
cussed their experiences in advancing professional parity by
committee's role is to build and oversee that state compoupdating scope-of-practice and physician definition laws in
nent's advocacy infrastructure, which includes developing
their state. The lessons learned from these efforts emphasized
grassroots support from members, supporting and supervisthe importance of grassroots advocacy and building relationing lobbyists, and meeting with state legislators. Following
ships with legislators.
the summit, the Alabama Podiatric Medical Association formed
At the State Advocacy Forum, APMA unveiled its new Innoa legislative committee to oversee its scope-of-practice advovation Grant program. These grants are designed to help state
cacy activities. CPA staff has participated in calls with Alacomponents with their scope-of-practice and physician definibama's new legislative committee and advised on a legislative
tion advocacy efforts and their efforts to educate and build relaadvocacy plan.
tionships with MD/DOs, policymakers, and payers. As part of

48 APMA News November/December 2017

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