MHA Council on Representation and Advocacy
Representation and advocacy are the cornerstones of MHA's activities,
and it is in this area that a majority of the association's resources
are directed. The primary objective of representation and advocacy
is to influence the decisions made by lawmakers and regulatory agencies
in Helena and Washington, D.C.
Advocating members' interests with governmental and other organizations
is one of the core services MHA provides. Activities in this program
area, which account for the largest share of the association's budget,
are overseen by the Council on Representation and Advocacy.
Public policy development and analysis are the foundation of MHA's
government relations activities.
MHA staff, working closely with the Council on Representation and
Advocacy, analyzes federal and state legislative and regulatory
proposals to determine their impact on member facilities. In addition,
members and staff develop public policy principles and initiatives
that will enable member facilities to continue to meet the health
care needs of their communities.
In 2001, the state public policy agenda will be dominated by the
legislative session and the regulatory changes mandated by the statutory
changes made by lawmakers. The MHA Council on Representation and
Advocacy and MHA staff will work throughout the early part of the
year to present member concerns and identify potential effects of
health care legislation that may come before lawmakers. Upon adjournment,
MHA staff will work with state agencies charged with implementing
statutory changes and new spending initiatives included in the state
budget.
At the federal level, MHA will continue to monitor the impact of
the Balanced Budget Act of 1997, and the refinements to the Act
passed in 1999, on member facilities and, as needed, will develop
legislative and regulatory proposals that provide relief.
Through AHA's regional policy boards and constituency sections,
MHA representatives also will continue to participate in the development
of the AHA public policy initiatives. In addition, as state affiliates,
MHA will participate in the policy development process for the American
Association of Homes and Services for the Aged (AAHSA), the National
Association for Home Care (NAHC) and te National Hospice and Palliative
Care Association (NHPCA).
MHA's government relations program seeks to ensure that the association's
public policy principles and initiatives are enacted by Congress,
the state legislature and federal and state regulatory agencies.
One of MHA's top state priorities for 2001 will be working with
legislators during the 2001 session. Working closely with the Council
on Representation and Advocacy, staff will solicit legislative ideas
from members, develop MHA's legislative initiatives, develop MHA
testimony and responses to other health care legislation likely
to be proposed. In addition, MHA will monitor the activities of
the interim legislative committees upon adjournment of the session.
MHA also will work to strengthen our relationships with the governor's
office and the Department of Public Health and Human Services, the
Insurance Commissioner and other state agencies with regulatory
authority over the health care arena. MHA expects considerable staff
turnover in key administrative positions as the new administration
and other elected officials take office. As part of this effort,
staff and members will participate fully in meeting new staff and
in the development and modification of state rules and regulations.
MHA will continue to devote considerable resources to congressional
relations. MHA staff actively monitors legislative developments,
and regularly provides the congressional delegation with analysis
of the impact of legislation on MHA members. MHA has established,
and maintains, close relationships with the Montana congressional
delegation and their staffs in Washington, D.C. and Montana, working
with them to shape legislation affecting member facilities.
MHA's congressional advocacy efforts will take on even more importance
in the years ahead due to Sen. Baucus's move into the top Democratic
seat in the Senate Finance Committee. Over the months ahead, association
staff and the MHA Board of Trustees will develop strategies that
enable us work with the Senator more closely.
The association also works closely with the American Hospital Association,
the American Association of Homes and Services for the Aging and
the National Association for Home Care.
MHA members participate in the AHA Annual Washington Meeting, the
AAHSA spring legislative conference and the NAHC annual Washington
convention. During these meetings, an MHA delegation holds face-to-face
meetings with Montana's congressional delegation. In addition to
these annual meetings, MHA staff and members visit Washington as
the legislative schedule warrants.
MHA officers and staff have provided testimony before a variety
of congressional committees and national commissions, including
the Senate Finance and Commerce Committees and the House Education
and Labor Committee.
MHA staff also reviews the Federal Register for regulations that
affect hospitals, extended care facilities and other providers and,
when needed, submits comments or recommendations.
The relationship between providers and payers is one of the most
dynamic in the health care industry. Private insurers are increasingly
looking for ways to reduce their payments to providers. Meanwhile,
providers are increasingly exploring new arrangements with insurers
and at assuming insurance risk themselves.
The purpose of this subprogram is to monitor developments in this
rapidly-changing arena and provide the tools members need to adjust
to change.
MHA's External Relations subprogram is designed to help member
facilities strengthen their relationships with community leaders
and legislators and develop community-based health projects. This
subprogram was created in 1996 in recognition of the greatly increased
importance of grass roots advocacy in achieving the association's
goals in representation and advocacy.
With nearly a third of the members of the state legislature retiring
due to term limits, grass roots advocacy will take on even greater
importance in 2001. A primary objective of this program will be
to strengthen relationships with holdover lawmakers and to develop
relationships with candidates who are likely to play major roles
in the 2001 legislative session. This effort will be developed and
coordinated by the Council on Representation and Advocacy, which
will develop its main components during the last six months of 1999.
Also housed under this subprogram will be the association's community
accountability initiative, which members directed staff and the
MHA Board of Trustees to develop at the Mid-Year CEO Meeting in
May 1999. The initiative also will encompass activities that fall
under the data and communications subprograms.
The goal of this initiative is to enable member facilities to
develop community accountability programs. Among the activities
that may be provided by this initiative are education programs,
implementation of the VHA survey tool for a community accountability
program, assistance in quantifying the impact of community accountability
activities and tools for communicating facility activities locally.
Member facilities are asked to develop an external relations effort
that helps define their image and mission in the community, demonstrates
how they are providing cost-effective care, educates their customers
and explains the impact of public policies on their facility.
Facilities are also encouraged to meet regularly with their legislators
and community leaders. These meetings should reinforce the lobbying
activities conducted by MHA staff.
The MHA staff provides resource materials and strategic support
for these efforts, helping target key legislators and community
leaders, providing background materials on public policy issues
and offering educational programs as needed.
In 2001, the association will continue to enhance the computer
database of key contacts for federal and state lawmakers. Using
software provided by AHA, this project will enable the association
to manage its grass roots advocacy and PAC activities much more
effectively.
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