You'll Lobby for Me Whether or Not I Join

Bob Harris, CAE, The Nonprofit Center

Non-members benefit from lobbying --- maybe you call them “freeloaders.”  I call it a “legislative welfare” program. We respond to their objections with rationale like: “your membership allows access to influence the process,” or, “your participation increases our clout.”

The fact is, successful lobbying benefits everyone, not only dues paying members.

Solving the Dilemma

The issue is how to make lobbying a member benefit; an activity respected by prospects and members alike. 

Do this by transforming lobbying efforts and results into tangibles. A tangible benefit is one you can publish, sell, share, distribute and control. It positions the organization as a leader by managing and controlling the information. 

Try these ideas to transform lobbying into tangible member benefits:

• Compliance Manual – When a law is enacted, create a compliance manual that describes how the law came about, the exact wording, definitions, how to comply and where to go for help. Every law has a history and there is plenty of content to create a manual.
• End of Session Report – A summary of the legislative session is valued by members and retained for reference. It summarizes the organization’s platform, efforts and results. 
• Legislative Directory – Create a legislative directory with contact information and committees of interest. Or, adapt an existing directory by imprinting the cover or inserting several center pages describing the organization’s issues or key bills. A legislative directory is an excellent member benefit and sellable to non-members.
• Legislative Platform – The organization or lobbyist determines a legislative agenda for the upcoming session. Prepare the legislative platform in a brochure to inform members of issues and goals. 
• Legislative Audit Checklist – Most businesses comply with regulations enforced by multiple agencies. For example, a restaurant complies with licensing, smoking, safety, taxation, and labor laws, at a minimum. Describe all the regulations monitored and influenced by the association to create a legislative audit checklist. Distribute it to members annually as a checklist of the many laws requiring compliance. The checklist format serves as a practical guide to conformance.
• Regulatory Audit Service – Expand the value of the legislative audit checklist by employing staff to visit with members who want help in understanding and complying with the laws influenced by the association. One great value of the audit service is that the association has an engaging relationship with members wanting help. A second advantage is the collection of data about compliance problems that will result in better lobbying. 

To protect your lobbying program as a member benefit, consider ways to transform information into tangibles. Let non-members access the information at reasonable fees.   
Bob Harris, CAE, offers free governance tips and templates at www.nonprofitcenter.com. 

We want to hear from you!

What does your medical society do to ensure its lobbying efforts are a tangible member benefit? Leave a comment and share your ideas!

Upcoming Webinar: ACA Implementation Post-SCOTUS

A Special EDWeb Event:

ACA Implementation Post-SCOTUS: Moving Forward

Thursday, August 16

10-11:30 AM CT

Cost: $50.00*

Featuring: Richard Deem, SVP, Advocacy, American Medical Association

AAMSE is hosting a special webinar to help medical societies understand the implications of the recent ruling to uphold the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (ACA). 

The June 2012 Supreme Court (SCOTUS) decision left nearly all of the provisions of the Affordable Care Act intact, including the individual mandate. One policy change triggered by the Supreme Court decision would allow states to opt out of the law's expansion of Medicaid to cover childless adults up to 133 percent of the federal poverty level. The Court's decision on Medicaid has left many in the healthcare community with more questions than answers. 

This webinar will explore the implications of the Court's decision and what's next for physicians and their patients in implementation of the ACA.  

Richard Deem, Senior Vice President of Advocacy at the American Medical Association, will discuss ACA implementation issues and will answer your questions during this special event. 

For more information and to register, visit the webinar information page. 

* AAMSE members qualify for FREE registration. Check your email for additional details or contact aamse@aamse.org.

Poll Finds Public Opinion On Health Reform Stable, but Pliable

As the debate over health reform options heats up at the federal level, the June Kaiser Health Tracking Poll has found that the majority (61%) of Americans continue to believe health reform is important issue that needs to be addressed.

Although many of the reforms, such as employer mandates (69%), individual mandates (71%), and a public plan option (65-67% depending on wording), being considered have strong support, only 41% of those polled are willing to pay more for health reform.

For more information and a complete analysis of the results click here.

Massachusetts Gift Ban Rules Approved

Massachusetts officials gave final approval for the rules banning pharmaceuticals and medical device manufacturers from providing gifts and other perks to physicians.

For the complete story click here

To read the complete rules, click here

Pfizer, Inc. to Disclose Physician Payments

Pfizer, Inc. has announced it is volunteering to disclose physician payments on its website.. This follows a statement made by Eli Lilly & Co. in September that it, too, will start disclosing physician payments and gifts.

To read more, click here.