Promoting RDs Through Public Policy
Katherine Nashatker, MS, RD, LD, CDE
Nina Crowley, MS, RD, LD
Public Policy Workshop 2012
Washington, DC
Be Aware
 Know who your lawmakers
are, visit the Academy’s
Action Center

 Federal Senate (6 yrs) State
Senate (4 yrs ), House (2 yrs)
 Members  Public
Policy  Legislation OR
Take Action
 Find information about
your lawmakers on their
websites, or your state
General Assembly website.
 www.scstatehouse.gov
Know the political calendar and
how often each office is up for
election
 SC General Assembly's annual
session begins on the 2nd
Tuesday in January and runs
through the 1st Thursday in
June

Know party platform positions on
health care issues, visit The
American Presidency Project
 www.presidency.ucsb.edu/pla
tforms.php
US Senators for SC
• Jim DeMint (R)
• Lindsey Graham (R)
US Representatives for SC
• 1st District -Tim Scott (R)
• 2nd District -Joe Wilson (R)
• 3rd District- Jeff Duncan (R)
• 4th District- Trey Gowdy (R)
• 5th District- Mick Mulvaney (R)
• 6th District- James Clyburn (D)
State Senators & Representatives
 46 State Senators
 26 Republicans
 19 Democrats
 1 vacancy
 124 Representatives
 76 Republicans
 48 Democrats
 Speaker of the House –
Bobby Harrell
 Look at committees
legislators are involved in –
some that have to do with
medical issues
Academy Public Policy Priority Areas
 Members  Public Policy  Legislative and Public Policy Priority Areas
 Consumer and Community Issues
 Prevention and treatment of chronic disease, including health care equity
 Meeting nutrition needs through the life cycle: Maternal and child nutrition to
healthy aging
 Quality food and nutrition through education, production, access and
delivery
 Nutrition monitoring and research
 Professional Issues
 Licensure: Protection of the Public
 Workforce demand: Assuring the Public has access to nutrition services
delivered by qualified practitioners
 Outcome driven nutrition services in changing health systems
Academy Resources
 On the Pulse
 A weekly report on topics that reflect the Academy’s legislative and
regulatory priorities in Washington and the states, as well as
reimbursement, science and practice-related matters
 Action Alert
 Action Alerts are sent to all members requesting them to contact
their state representatives in order to bring awareness on pending
legislation
 www.eatright.org/advocacy for more public policy info
Older Americans Act
 Reauthorization: OAA of 1965
 Congregate Nutrition Services (Title III)
 Home-Delivered Meal Services (Title III)
 Target: >60 years, low-income and homebound
 Results: 92 million meals, 1.7 million seniors served (63% rely
on home-delivered meals for half or more of their total daily
intake)
 South Carolina: annual cost of meals: $1,107 compared to
annual cost of a nursing home stay: $25,000-$37,000
The Farm Bill (aka “The Food Bill”)
 The Commodity Supplemental Food Program (CSFP)
 The Emergency Food Assistance Program (TEFAP)
 The Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP)
 eligibility, program access, benefits levels & (SNAP-Ed)
 40.3 million people in 18.6 million households
“The economic return of nutrition
education far exceeds the cost, with a return
investment of $9.58 in health care and productivity
savings for every $1 spent”
Expanding MNT for Pre-diabetes
 General Population
 1 in 10 people have DM, 4 out of 10 have pre-diabetes
(annual cost to healthcare: $174 billion)
 Incidence in Medicare
 7 out of 10 are affected by DM or pre-diabetes
 For 5 out of the 10, DM may be prevented if access to diet
and exercise lifestyle interventions is provided
 New bill would increase scope of MNT provided to
beneficiary with pre-diabetes, in addition to with diabetes.
Drug Shortages Affecting Patient
Care
 The Drug Shortage Prevention Act
 “critical drug” list, public alerts, revise FDA approval process
 Preserving Access to Life-Saving Medications Act
 6 month notice required of any planned interruption
 Penalty: $10,000/violation not to exceed $1.8 million
 Require manufactures to submit notice to FDA for:
 Adjustments related to supply of raw materials
 Adjustments to production capabilities
 Business decisions that may affect manufacturer of the
drug
Announce
 Be able to explain what you know to others
 Provide clients with the facts supporting advocacy for RD services
 “The Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics National Coverage
Determination Formal Request,” by Prashanthi Rao Raman, Esq, MPH,
and Erica Gradwell, MS, RD, in the January 2012, volume 112, issue 1 of
the Journal of the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics
 Presents evidence from over 20 scientific studies demonstrating the
health benefits and cost effectiveness of medical nutrition therapy.
 Contact your legislator, share who you are, what you do, and why
it matters to them
 Invite legislators to local dietetic membership meetings, outreach
activities, and/or sponsored events
Get Active

Respond to Action Alerts on Grassroots Manager on the Academy website

www.eatright.org/members/actioncenter.aspx

Attend townhall meetings

Contribute to a political party

As a registered dietitian, offer to serve as a subject expert for your legislator, in public
policy or health advice

Offer to volunteer during a legislator’s campaign, or hold a fundraiser (if you are not a
government employee), the more local a candidate, the more low-key the fundraising
events—don’t be intimidated!

If legislators vote the way you request, thank them

Attend State Dietetic Association Legislative Day and Academy Public Policy Workshop
(March 10-12, 2013 in Washington DC)
Meet with your Legislator
 To prepare for a visit watch the video “Removing the Fear Factor”
produced by Lisa Eaton Wright, MS, RD, LDN
 http://vimeo.com/40030612
 Bring handouts to support your message:
 “Top 10 Reasons How Registered Dietitians Can Improve the Health of
Americans and Save Health Care Dollars”
 http://www.eatright.org/WorkArea/linkit.aspx?LinkIdentifier=id&ItemID=1
0795
 “MNT Coverage for Medicare and Prediabetes”
 http://www.eatright.org/WorkArea/linkit.aspx?LinkIdentifier=id&ItemID=6
442468706&libID=6442468688
 Bring your business card and write the Bill Number on the back of
the card to encourage co-sponsorship
Learning to be a Passionate
Advocate
 Basic RULES of Politics
 Registered voter who is a
passionate advocate
 Understand the process
 Loyalty to the Academy and
some insight into political parties
 Electronic media use
 Support the Academy’s Public
Policy Priority Areas
 Tips
 Read the local newspaper
 Get on the party’s email list
($25), if you give $50 you
have to write down your
profession – Dietitian!
 Choose a political party to
join (only 1 during a 2 year
election cycle)
 Contribute $25+ to a political
party (but not both parties)
 Get on legislators website,
facebook/twitter pages,
newsletters and attend
townhall meetings