Personal Political Power - Physicians And Medical Practice Managers

Click on the cover to get a big, readable image.

Book is available in hardcover $24.95 includes mailing.

Bulk sales with significant discount.

The book makes a great gift for board and committee members.

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Video Interview Personal Political Power

This interview is a good capsule statement for what Personal Political Power is all about.

Good analysis of medical association clout in SacBee:

Photo of CMA staff from SacBee by Randal Benton

In the past five years, California Medical Association spent about $11.1 million on candidates and causes. Sen. Joel Anderson, R-Alpine, said the CMA is skilled at cultivating candidates at the early stages, dispatching local physicians to spend time with them before elections to discuss their issues. “It’s not just a faceless group that comes in when they need things,” Anderson said, adding that they often make the best case for both sides of an issue.

“As a result, when their opponent comes in to lobby you, (the CMA) has really kind of stolen the thunder because there is rarely anything new,” he said. “They are not presenting these things in a vacuum. That builds trust.”

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Dustin Corcoran CEO

“I don’t want people to ever be apologetic about working on behalf of doctors, or for CMA. I want them to be full of pride,” said Dustin Corcoran, CMA CEO. “It is rare for people in the political world to be able to represent a really noble cause and a noble profession and at the same time have a lot of influence.”

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This paragraph is key to activating and motivating physicians and staff to lobby... they have to feel good about politics, politicians, money and lobbying... all issues on education...

Read more here: http://www.sacbee.com/news/politics-government/capitol-alert/article38883288.html#storylink=cpy

Read more here: http://www.sacbee.com/news/politics-government/capitol-alert/article38883288.html#storylink=cpy

Read the Whole Article Here

Helping Indiana Physicians Increase clout

Had a great experience in Indianapolis working with ISMA earlier this September.

We talked about one former member of the U.S. House - now running for Senate - who reported he once had a lunch with a trial lawyer who was very persuasive but he had never - ever - heard from a physician...

The Challenge For Medical Association Lobbyists

Now CEO of California Medical Association Dustin Corcoran was interviewed when he was lobbyist for the association. He demonstrates how important physicians are to influence politicians and policy.

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Iowa Hospital Association Keynote Samples

Pathologist explains how easy it is to have an impact

Dr. Paula Szypko has become an active and effective advocate for the College of American Pathologists and medicine in general. In this interview she explains how she got started and what has happened since.

Medical practice manager becomes a political junkie

Ben Regalado was one of the activists I met speaking to the Anesthesiology section of Medical Group Managers Association. He describes how anesthesiologists in particular and physicians in general can increase their political clout.

Lobbyist For Medical Association Gets The Book

Neely Carlton of Mississippi State Medical Association got books for her leadership:

"Before coming to the medical association, I had worked with constituents and campaigns, served two terms in the state senate, and represented our Governor for five sessions. Reading Personal Political Power was confirmation of over 15 years of legislative experience. Whether you’ve been working a grassroots plan for years or creating a new strategy, this book will guide you to political success!”
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No one knows what will happen in health care, but change is imminent. If you want to shape the future, September and October are great times to reach MemCongs while they are home campaigning.

http://youtu.be/jeXP4WSJzk8

This video shows you how easy it is to show a state senator what's going on in your practice or hospital. They same is true of MemCongs... just pick up the phone and ask them to stop by and hear what you have to say.

Call Now - Operators May Be Standing By...

Lobbying: High Touch Beats High Tech

Physicians and practice staff are like politicians in one important way: Their days are 150% full.

Just as physicians want more time with patients, politicians wish they had more time to spend talking with constituents.

It's just like John Naisbitt predicted in "Megatrends": The more high tech we become, the more we value high touch.

This shows up particularly with politicians who are very people oriented. Lyndon Johnson used to call it "pressing the flesh," something he lusted for.

In today's world of politics despite -- or probably because of -- Twitter, Facebook, e-mail and all the other techno multipliers, personal contact and relationships are more powerful than ever.

I don't see politicians making policy decisions based on Tweets, cell phone videos or floods of email. Has Obama's vaunted list of emails helped move Congress his way on health care?

This book emphasizes proven communication techniques that will move elected officials to act and help you shape health care policy your way.

Why e-mail is worth the paper it's written on...

Washington Post inquiry casts further doubt on email lobbying campaigns.

The Post reports most members of Congress and their staff and staff of regulatory agencies doubt the validity of emails. They think many aren't real and those that are are meaningless because the senders aren't aware what they are doing. Checking with people whose names were on emails sent to the FCC, "all but one said they had not agreed to send any e-mails at all."

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2007/11/21/AR2007112102149.html

Discouraged physicians drop out of politics

Here's a story that confirms what many of us have long suspected:

Physicians are dropping out of the political field, leaving to others decisions that affect their ability to practice medicine.

If you think you cannot make a difference, or don't want to get into something as unpleasant as politics, view the video below in which a doctor explains her evolution into active advocacy and lobbying.

Then view the video conversation with a lobbyist for a state medical association for his sobering estimate of what percentage of physicians lobby and how that affects his ability to represent them.

Poll Finds That Physicians Long for Political Action

TAMPA, Fla. /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- A new poll of doctors across the country finds that physicians desperately want to play a bigger role in the political process, especially when it comes to health care reform.
As the number of uninsured Americans continues to climb, political candidates are being called upon to make sweeping changes to the U.S. health care system. As a result, doctors say it's more important than ever for them to become more involved in the political process, according to the survey conducted by the American College of Physician Executives.
An overwhelming majority of the more than 760 doctors who responded to the survey said the input of doctors is vital if the health care system is ever truly going to be reformed. A majority also said they vote in every election and many donate money to candidates or causes they support. But they also expressed frustration and cynicism when talking about politics.
"I have given up on the political process," one survey respondent wrote. "Washington fiddles while Rome burns. Hearings regarding steroids in baseball are given more attention than fixing our national disgrace of the uninsured. At best, politicians are 'useful' idiots. At worst, they are venal and utterly unconcerned about the ongoing collapse of our health care 'system.'"
Some of the survey participants said physicians aren't well-suited for politics because they aren't well-organized and have a diverse array of interests. As a result, their message gets lost among the more unified organizations, such as hospitals, insurance companies and trial lawyers.
One doctor called the medical profession "the antithesis" of politics, which is all about making deals and compromising. "We are trained to be analytical and straightforward and to recommend the best course for our patients," the doctor wrote. "We are not used to negotiating for what we think is the best treatment for our patients."
Most physicians agreed that the time to get involved in politics is now. As the country decides who will be its leader for the next four years, the debate surrounding health care is growing more heated and doctors' voices need to be heard.
The survey was conducted in March and the results are published in the May/June issue of The Physician Executive Journal of Medical Management published by the American College of Physician Executives.
To receive a copy of the ACPE 2008 Political Survey results, including nearly 200 comments posted by the doctors, please email Bill Steiger, ACPE VP Communications, at bsteiger@acpe.org
The American College of Physician Executives, with 10,000 members, teaches leadership and management skills to physicians. ACPE has been serving physician leaders for more than 30 years. http://www.acpe.org
Contact: Bill Steiger, bsteiger@acpe.org or 800-562-8088
This release was issued through eReleases(TM). For more information, visit http://www.ereleases.com.
American College of Physician Executives
CONTACT: Bill Steiger of American College of Physician Executives,+1-800-562-8088, bsteiger@acpe.org
Web site: http://www.acpe.org/

Report From One Blue Dog's Town Hall Meetings FL-2 Allen Boyd

1. People who “have not” health care insurance are a new minority getting little sympathy from the “haves.”

2. If health care reform depends on Blue Dog Democrats, getting anything will be tough.

3. Many people in North Florida look at the federal government and see an evil axis of Pelosi, Frank and Obama that is hostile to them and their way of life.

4. Providers such as physicians and hospitals are not being heard.

I conclude this after attending eight Town Hall meetings held by Allen Boyd, who represents FL-2. He has announced a total of 14 meetings in his district and my hat's off to him for doing so. His service in Vietnam probably seems tame in comparison.

(I posted videos of what his constituents are saying on YouTube at grassrootsguy.)

When he mentions 47 million people uninsured, the crowds, and they are unprecedented crowds, leap to their feet in anger. They hurl the words "illegal immigrant" like brickbats and shake their heads in disbelief.

When he reads the section of HB3200 prohibiting health care for illegals, they shout "liar, not true, what about the rest of the bill." No matter what Boyd says, the people at these meetings worry that the evil axis and he have some card up their sleeve that will adversely affect the health plan they have.

The deepest continuing thread is fear and resentment of government intrusion of any sort and skepticism of government's ability to competently manage anything.

Boyd usually seeks out people on Medicare, Tricare (retired military) or veteran's care and asks if they are happy. They say they like their care. Then they, too, will object to any new "socialized" or "government" health care.

Although he was one of those responsible for delaying action in the House, he is accused, and Congress in general, of rushing through a bill no one has read or understood. A significant number of people clearly have read HB3200, listed their objections and are scared of its complexity. They refuse to believe Boyd has read the bill no matter what he says.

These first eight meetings have been in more rural areas of north FL from Cross City to Marianna. Those in the meetings are mostly over 55, 99.9% white and able to attend a meeting during working hours. Something more than 90%, by a show of hands, have insurance and like it and fear anything new will affect their insurance. The uninsured are not showing up at these meetings and not being heard, nor or is the provider community.

The people who do show up are real people with real fears. They feel marginalized by what they see as a foreign cabal of Pelosi, Frank and Obama, names they articulate with visceral disgust. They have difficulty explaining what they fear from these three except they don’t trust them. I think it reflects the politics of identity. These people in North Florida see no one in power in Washington that looks like themselves.

Pelosi's “un-American” put-down has energized them like the bombing of London did the British. Boyd's voters accuse him of treason for supporting Pelosi as Speaker.

Since that un-Aamerican remark, people in his meetings stand up and say, "I'm not paid to be here and I represent no one but myself and my family" and usually get a standing ovation.

Boyd has said he wants some kind of reform to help people with pre-existing conditions and those with no insurance through no fault of their own. The pressure against any change on this moderate Democrat in a conservative district is intense, at least in these public meetings. Supporters of single payer plans are few and silent.

He says he won't take a poll to determine his action, but it will take a real act of courage for him to support any reform. It has been an act of courage to walk among and listen to his voters.

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Town Hell Meetings On Health Care This August?

This promises to be a lively August break for Congress. Will your voice be heard against the mob?

I've always believed the President and Congress need to get shouted at once in a while, something lobbyists can't do. But if only one side is shouting, only one side will be heard. Consistent, expressed anger is powerful.

“Town halls have become town hells,” said Mark McKinnon, a former adviser to President George W. Bush. “Special interests and opponents have figured out how easy it is to disrupt town halls and get their own message out. The days of the truly free-form town halls may be over.”

Inviting MemCongs to a small meeting with sensible, sane people who have something of substance to say will make your group stand out.

Read more: http://www.politico.com/news/stories/0809/25765.html#ixzz0ND9PKAge

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Excerpts Iowa Hospital Association Lobby Day Keynote

This was a presentation for Iowa Hospital Association's Lobby Day. About 1100 people in the audience including a lot of volunteers. It was short and designed to be more entertaining than a longer seminar/training session would be.

Sometimes we focus on delivering a specific message based on a personal version of your issue with a story from the district.

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Zeke Emanuel: Scrapping Health Care System

Zeke Emanuel, brother of Rahm and therefore one degree away from the President, recently spoke to the Commonwealth Club of California and laid out his 10-point plan for health care reform (really, revolution).

Here are the basics:

1. Citizens get a government voucher to pay for standard basic insurance.
2. Everybody is covered, people have a choice of plans.
3. Funded by a value-added tax dedicated for this purpose.
4. Supplemental insurance available for those who want it.
5. Private sector organizes and delivers health care.
6. Tax deduction for employer insurance is phased out.
7. Phase out Medicare and Medicaid; no new enrollees.
8. Administration by a health board similar to Federal Reserve.
9. Create and institute to evaluate technology and outcomes.
10. Malpractice reform and centers for patient safety.

To watch the whole speech and Q and A in high quality video, go to

http://fora.tv/2009/01/08/Zeke_Emanuel_Scrapping_the_Health_Care_System

You can also access a four-minute version of the 10 points.

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Reporter explains series on insurance companies vs. physicians and patients

Reporter explains Toledo Blade series on how insurance companies compromise physician's ability to deliver care.

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Patients suffer as care, coverage limits collide

‘Most doctors don’t start people on medications because they like to start medicines,’ says Dr. Jack Brunner, a Toledo endocrinologist. ‘They have specific reasons and goals for the patient.’

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The Toledo Blade's investigative team set out to examine whether patients are getting the care their doctors ordered. No doctor or practice manager will be surprised. Take this series of articles to your local newspaper and show them how to tell the story about current health care.

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A nationwide survey of doctors by the Toledo Blade shows they increasingly feel that insurance companies erode the doctor-patient relationship and often prevent patients from getting necessary care by second guessing doctors' decisions.

The rising costs of health care procedures has led insurers to constrain treatment options available to doctors in an attempt to hold costs down, according to the majority of doctors surveyed. Doctors said the motive is a drive for profits, while the insurers said it's necessary to hold down the costs for businesses that usually pay the majority of health care premiums.

### link to Toledo Blade below

Article 1:

http://www.toledoblade.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080824/NEWS32/106232155/-1/ARCHIVES30

Article 2:

http://www.toledoblade.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080825/NEWS32/106231964/-1/ARCHIVES30

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