Opportunities to Engage with Policy Makers

With the November 2^nd elections less than a month away, it’s truly an exciting political atmosphere. If you’re wondering who will hold the majority in Congress come this January, I don’t have an answer for you – it’s a little hazy at this time. Polls change on a day-to-day basis and can change on a drop of a hat.

Some of my favorite political forecasting tools to monitor are the Cook Political Report and Politico’s e 2010 Polling Center.

Currently, Democrats hold the majority in both the Senate (59-41- includes two independents that caucus with the democrats) and House (253-178). In the Senate, 37 of the 100 seats are up for election. Republicans currently hold 18 of the seats, with Democrats holding 19 of the seats. All 453 seats will be up for election in the House.

On November 5, 2010, HIMSS will hold an election results webinar, “A Post-Election Results Analysis: Potential Effects on Health IT Policy,” to highlight the outcomes of the November elections. No matter which party remains in or gains control of either chamber this January, we are sure to have some newcomers to the health IT arena.

In addition, we are bound to see some new members that are well-versed on the benefits of health IT and even have some legislative proposals of their own. Last time I checked, I think there were over 30 medical professionals running for Congress.

As the health IT community, it’s important that we continue to do our job to educate these candidates and existing Members of Congress on the important role that health IT plays in healthcare. In addition, it is essential that we ensure that policy makers have the appropriate information to engage in dialogue and make informed policy decisions.

Elected officials rely on you – their constituents – as the subject matter experts outside of Washington, where he or she can turn to on a minute’s notice to receive a trusted opinion. The political season is ripe for you to engage in dialogue with elected officials and candidates running for office.

For opportunities to engage in dialogue, just check out your local or state party websites for information on gatherings such as town hall meetings, debates and meet-and-greets. These activities provide great forums for you to not only discuss the local or national health IT landscape with elected officials and candidates, but also, to gage where they stand on health IT issues that are important to you. Initial dialogues with elected officials and candidates can lead to great, long-term relationships.

To assist you in your activities, HIMSS offers an array of resources through the HIMSS Advocacy Tool Kit.

If you have any questions regarding engagement with your elected officials and candidates, as well as stories of your own, feel free to share them with us! Remember, it’s important that we all do our part to educate both candidates and elected officials on the role that health IT plays in transforming healthcare.