HIMSS Chapter Advocates Plan for the Congressional Recess 2011

Beginning Aug. 8, members of Congress and their staff will be heading out of Washington, D.C., and back to their home states and districts to visit with constituents, conduct town hall meetings and attend campaign events. This time is a great opportunity for you to meet with your elected leaders to discuss issues important to the HIMSS mission to lead healthcare transformation through the effective use of health IT.

Many of the members of the Chapter Advocacy Roundtable (CAR) are already planning visits and have asked me to share this information with their fellow HIMSS members. HIMSS Regional Affairs and Government Relations Teams work together to provide the following tips and topics for you to make the most of the Congressional Recess:

• Invite your legislators (and their staff) to your hospitals and clinics to see the impact that health IT has on our lives. Access our tool kit to help you set up this visit.
• Many Congressional members will be hosting Town Hall meetings in their districts. Go to the Legislative Action Center to review the health IT bills that HIMSS is monitoring. At the Town Hall meeting, speak up and let your legislator hear why you think it is so important that they support these important pieces of legislation.
• To find your senators’ and representative’s phone numbers, you may use our searchable online congressional directory or call the U.S. Capitol Switchboard at (202)224-3121 and ask for your senators’ and/or representative’s office. The office staff should be able to tell you when the Congressional member is hosting a Town Hall visit as well as the contact to invite the Member to visit your facility.
• If you do meet with your Congressional Member or one of their staff don’t forget to remind them that HIMSS members will be in Washington, D.C. at the HIMSS 10th Annual Public Policy Summit Sept. 14 -15 and will be scheduling a visit at their office on Sept. 15.

Other HIMSS Resources

Interested in discussing other topics of interest to the health IT community with your legislators? Review HIMSS advocacy, public policy, legislative and regulatory actions that are guided by HIMSS 2011-2012 Public Policy Principles Unsure about who your legislators are and how to contact them? Access the links below:

• United States Senate
• United States House of Representatives
• Want to include your state-level legislators? Identify and contact them.
• How about your local elected leaders? Identify and contact them.

If you visit with any of your legislators or their staff during the recess, we would love to hear from you! Share your experience with others by contacting me via the comments below or at tkeefe@himss.org.