Political Advocacy and You
Brian Caswell, R.Ph.
Wolkar Drug, Baxter Springs, KS
NCPA 2nd Vice President
October 8, 2011
NCPA Annual Meeting
Nashville, TN
Political Advocacy and You
“ All Politics is Local”
- Tip O’Neill,
55th Speaker
U.S. House of Representatives
(1977-1987)
Political Advocacy and You
“Get Into Politics or
Get Out of Pharmacy”
- NCPA motto
Political Advocacy and You
The Five W’s of a Grassroots Program
Who?
•
The Grassroots Program is YOU
What?
•
Work with NCPA, State Assoc., Local Pharmacy groups
Where?
•
Communicate with Members of Congress and State
Legislators (Meet, phone calls, E-Mails, etc.)
When?
•
•
Long Term – Building Relationships
Short Term – Call to Alert
Why?
•
•
Profession – Becoming an Advocate
Business – Protect Your Investment and Ensure Patient
Access
Becoming Involved
It’s all about ACCESS
 Access refers to the ability to get an appointment with
legislators or their staffs.
 You are a local constituent who represents an important
healthcare sector
 When federal and state legislators are in Washington and your
state capital, call or e-mail them
 Become a recognized subject-matter “expert” and establish a
mutually beneficial relationship as a valuable information
resource on complex health care issues
 Develop a professional, working relationship with your
legislators
 Strive to become recognized when you meet – First name basis
 That’s ACCESS
Becoming Involved
The Art of Persuasion
 Heavy handed tactics never work
 Become an Educator, facilitator, coalition builder
and policy advocate
 You must win trust to build a relationship
 Know how the formal legislative process works
 Recognize that many things are accomplished behind the
scenes
 Understand the policies you are promoting and state them
clearly while being brief and to the point
 Understand the political implications of what you request
 Know the players - the individual legislators and staff
Becoming Involved
• Opportunities for involvement
• Join NCPA
• NCPA-PAC
• NCPA-LDF
• Join State Pharmacy Association
• Get involved with Governmental Affairs
Becoming Involved
 Opportunities for involvement
 Give to individual campaigns
 Host a “coffee” with other pharmacists to meet the
candidate
 Bring forward other potential contributors
 Help directly with fundraising
 Attend or even sponsor fundraisers in your
community
Becoming Involved
 Help in the campaign office
Stuff envelopes
Walk neighborhoods door to door
Make Phone calls
 Gain recognition as a leader who
“makes things happen”
Becoming Involved
• Tools to enhance your advocacy
• Join NCPA
• Read and study NCPA correspondence
• Monitor NCPA website
• www.ncpanet.org
• Attend NCPA Legislative Conference
• May ??, 2012 – Washington, DC
• Meet, Learn, Succeed
Becoming Involved
• Example of Grassroots Lobbying Victories
–
–
–
–
AMP
First DataBank
CVS/Caremark
Tricare/ Mandatory Mail Order
Homework Assignment
What rate limiting factor is common
between the major sporting events?
(Baseball, Football, and Basketball)
Homework Assignment
Answer –
A Referee
Homework Assignment
REF-
Homework Assignment
R – Register to Vote
E - Engage
F - Fun
Thank You…
Questions????