In a Mondaq report, Douglas B. Swill and Ilisa Halpern Paul of Drinker Biddle & Reath, a law firm, lay out 10 ways to survive the current federal healthcare policy climate and develop a federal government relations program.
The 10 ways are:
1. Undertake a strategic planning process.
2. Secure organization-specific analyses of legislative and regulatory proposals and maintain a system to receive timely information specific to your organization.
3. Build and sustain relationships with local district and state officials as well as elected officials who represent the organization's staff, leadership and service areas.
4. Establish relationships with other health policy thought leaders in Congress, principally those who serve on the committees with jurisdiction over healthcare.
5. Reach out to and establish partnerships with federal agency officials, including political and career staff at CMS.
6. Develop and disseminate concise materials that educate federal policymakers about your organization/institution and that illustrate your impact in the communities you serve.
7. Deploy an interdisciplinary team of representatives from your organization to engage with federal policymakers.
8. Host a Congressional briefing to educate Congress about a particular issue or program.
9. Submit written comments to and weigh in with CMS on proposed rules and regulations.
10. Strategically utilize social media to connect with elected officials.
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