Politics and Health Care Politics and Health Care
Mark Grapentine, JD Mark Grapentine, JD
Senior Vice President, Government RelationsSenior Vice President, Government Relations
October 31, 2007October 31, 2007
Wisconsin’s GovernmentWisconsin’s Government
The GovernorDepartments
Department of Administration (DOA)Department of Health and Human Services (DHFS)Department of Regulation and Licensing (DRL)Office of the Commissioner of Insurance (OCI)
Wisconsin’s GovernmentWisconsin’s Government
The Supreme CourtThe Legislature
Assembly: 99 State Reps (52 R/47 D)
Senate: 33 State Senators (18 D/15 R)
CongressSenators: Kohl & FeingoldU.S. Representatives: 8
Health Health PolicyPolicy
Constituents Fiscal Pressures
Media
PoliticalIdeology
PersonalExperience
ResearchFindings
Special InterestGroups
MarketForces
Crisis
Factors Influencing Health PolicyFactors Influencing Health Policy
How Public Policy Ideas Become LawHow Public Policy Ideas Become Law
Biennial Budget IssuesBiennial Budget Issues
Budget Conference CommitteeBudget Conference Committee
• Senate members: Sen. Judy Robson (D-Beloit) Sen. Russ Decker (D-
Weston) Sen. Bob Jauch (D-
Poplar) Sen. Scott Fitzgerald (R-
Juneau)
• Assembly members: Rep. Mike Huebsch (R-West Salem)
Rep. Jeff Fitzgerald (R-Horicon)
Rep. Kitty Rhoades (R-Hudson)
Rep. Jim Kreuser (D-Kenosha)
Healthy WisconsinHealthy Wisconsin
Federal Health Care IssuesFederal Health Care Issues
State Children’s Health Insurance Program (SCHIP)
Tamper-Resistant Prescription Pads
Medicare Reimbursement
Elections 2008Elections 2008
Federal Elections:Presidential and Congress
State Elections: State Supreme Court
State Senate and State Assembly
Communicating With PolicymakersCommunicating With Policymakers
Communicating with PolicymakersCommunicating with Policymakers
In Person…• Know your subject• Be direct and honest• Offer to help• Leave something behind• Know when to end it
In Writing…• Document the problem• Identify the issues• Support observations
• Use anecdotes!• List recommendations
Lessons Learned from the InsideLessons Learned from the Inside
• You can gain a lot by giving a little• Target key people• Politicians pay attention to numbers/data• Knowledge helps to build relationships• Don’t underestimate your
credentials/knowledge
Protect Your Ability to Practice MedicineProtect Your Ability to Practice Medicine
• Phone calls/e-mail/letters
• Be polite
• Be clear and brief
• “Make The Ask”
Contact Your Legislators and the Governor
Know who your legislators are: http://waml.legis.state.wi.us/
Questions Questions
and and
AnswersAnswers