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December 2001
Volume 65 |
Number 12
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| Governmental Affairs:
It’s A Team Sport! |
John M. Zerwas, M.D., Chair
Committee on Governmental Affairs
When most of us entered the field of medicine, we were probably
naïve about the impact government and politics could have
on our professional life. Like it or not, politics and government
are realities of life that can have a profound influence on the
quality of medical care and patient safety. Unfortunately, those
who can promulgate laws and regulations sometimes lack the depth
and breadth of knowledge necessary to protect the quality of this
nation’s health care system. Thus it is important that all
physicians become “team players” in the game of governmental
affairs.
One of the basic foundations all physicians must recognize is
the need for education regarding the legislative process. Your
ASA Committee on Governmental Affairs is utilizing a variety of
ways to meet the needs of the membership in this regard. Print
material includes a “Handbook for State Government Affairs,”
which we have typically made available to state legislative chairs
and component presidents. It is our intent to make this more accessible
to the membership in general and to generate an electronic version
on the Resident Component’s Web site. In addition, the Committee
on Governmental Affairs sponsors an annual Legislative Conference
in Washington, D.C. This program offers an outstanding opportunity
to become familiar with federal and state issues as well as direct
involvement with legislators and their staff. The 2002 Legislative
Conference is scheduled for April 29-May 1. Our staff in the Washington
Office is also readily available to answer your questions and
meet with component society members. S. Diane Turpin, J.D., Assistant
Director of Governmental Affairs (State), has traveled the country
extensively, sharing the stories of different state legislatures.
There is much to be learned from the experiences of others.
Perhaps one of the easiest and best ways every anesthesiologist
can get involved is by being a member of the ASA Political Action
Committee (ASAPAC). By making a contribution to this organization,
every physician opens the door of influence to the legislative
process. No amount of contribution is insignificant in this regard.
Make a contribution, and encourage one or more of your colleagues
to join the team!
Another important role anesthesiologists can play lies in becoming
a key contact with elected officials. A primary role of your Committee
on Governmental Affairs is to assist all the states in establishing
a viable key contact program. Though it may seem a relatively
easy task to develop a relationship with elected officials, it
still takes time and energy. In the state of Texas, an individual
with expertise in this area was hired to facilitate the development
of these relationships. This was in addition to a formal lobbyist
and has been an important ingredient to the legislative successes
in Texas.
In addition to being an active member of your state component
society, participation in the your state medical association can
be an enormous advantage in the political arena. Most of the successes
realized in many states have taken place because of unconditional
support of the state’s medical society. Also, do not underestimate
the value of the American Medical Association (AMA). Though many
physicians have stepped away from AMA as an advocate for their
cause, I am proud to say more than 60 percent of ASA members also
are members of AMA. It has been estimated that AMA provides in
excess of $1 million in services to ASA for political and legislative
issues. Membership in AMA is an important adjunct to our legislative
strength and could be considered as important as membership in
ASAPAC. Please help us take advantage of as many opportunities
as possible, and encourage your colleagues to support AMA.
To encourage membership involvement in the legislative process,
the Committee on Governmental Affairs stands ready to facilitate
the needs of each state. A member of the committee has been specifically
assigned to each state legislative chair in order to expedite
the resources available through ASA. Whether it be through the
expertise of the enormous resources of our Washington office,
headed by Michael Scott, or simply tapping into the experiences
of the members of the committee, we encourage interest and involvement
at every level of the political process. As Bertram W. Coffer,
M.D., quoted in the December 1999 ASA NEWSLETTER from an
anonymous source, “The more you take part in government,
the less government will take a part of you.” Step up and
become a player in the game of governmental affairs.
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John
M. Zerwas, M.D., is Staff Anesthesiologist, Memorial Hermann
Hospital System-Southwest, Memorial Hermann Healthcare System,
Houston, Texas. |
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