VIRTUAL LOBBY DAY, AUGUST 10 - 28
MAKE YOUR VOICE BE HEARD IN THE HEALTH CARE DEBATE!
ADVOCATE FOR HEALTH CARE REFORM AND EATING DISORDERS WITHOUT COMING TO DC
VIRTUAL LOBBY WEEKS, AUGUST 10 - 28
Meet with Your Legislators during the August Recess! Members of Congress leave Washington DC to return home to their districts for the month of August, making it an ideal time to meet with them regarding the importance of including eating disorders treatment in any health care reform bill.What follows is a step-by-step guide to make that happen.
1) Who are my Legislators?
Click here to find your Representative in the House.
Click here to locate your Senators.
2) Calling the office and setting up a meeting
Using contact information posted on your legislator's website, use the LOCAL OFFICE phone number and call to request a meeting with the Congressperson (House) and Senators when s/he is in the district in August.
What to say: "Hi, my name is (XXXX), and I am a constituent of Congressperson or Senator (XXXX). I'd like to set up a meeting with him while he is in the district to discuss health care reform and eating disorders. When would he be available for a meeting the week of August 17th? (put whatever date in that works for you during August 10-28)"
Whoever answers the phone may transfer you to the scheduler. They may ask you to fax your request. If you do not have a fax machine please let them know and ask what the alternative is. Once you have your request in, follow-up until you hear back from someone with a date and time. It is fairly typical to have to call the office multiple times before getting a response. Do not take it personally - it is simply a reflection of how busy the staff is. Also - with so many people weighing in on health care reform and wanting meetings - this may be a particularly hard time to get a visit. Those who are persistent tend to get appointments. If you get an answer that the Congressperson is not able to meet you, then request a meeting with staff instead. It’s better to get a meeting with staff than no meeting at all. Staff are critical in advising their bosses on policy initiatives, so this is well worth your time.
3) Meeting with your Representative/Senator
The purpose of meeting with your Members of Congress is to inform, influence and build relationships. Keep in mind that they are in office to represent constituent interests, including yours. Think of them as your ally. We often approach politicians as the enemy, yet that is most often not the case, especially with a non-partisan issue like eating disorders that cuts across party lines. Since we currently have almost equal support from both parties for our comprehensive eating disorders bill, the Federal Response to Eliminate Eating Disorders Act (the FREED Act) with 10 Democrats and 7 Republicans - we can see this is an issue that affects us all. Therefore, approach the meeting with openness and ease. Expect to have a conversation based on learning and possibility.
The message: "We are thrilled that Congress is working so diligently on passing health care reform that is desperately needed. We are pleased that mental health is being included in health care reform. I am here today to urge you to ensure that treatment for eating disorders will be explicitly included. I'd like to tell you a bit about my personal experience with this topic and why it is so important to include eating disorders treatment in health care reform."
IF MEETING WITH YOUR HOUSE REPRESENTATIVE: "Because so many people struggle with accessing appropriate care and having that care covered by insurance companies there is a new bill in Congress I'd like to tell you about as well. The Federal Response to Eliminate Eating Disorders Act (the FREED Act) is the first comprehensive eating disorders bill in the history of Congress. We hope you will support this bill":
Background: Both the House and Senate drafts currently include the coverage of mental health services. This is great news. The one detail they are not specifying at this time is how those mental health benefits will be defined. Thus we want to meet with them at this pivotal time to share with them the difficulties of getting eating disorders treatment covered and ask Members to do what they can to ensure eating disorders treatment will be included in any health care reform efforts.
There are three important themes in the message worth emphasizing:
* We need healthcare reform, and we need eating disorders treatment to be an explicit part of that.
* You have a personal perspective (story) on eating disorders that will help inform the Member of Congress - make it real for them. This is important to share.
* If meeting with a House Representative: We want the Member of Congress to cosponsor the FREED Act (HR 1193). Make sure you ask for this explicitly (using this exact language).
4) Some additional tips for a successful meeting
* Prepare ahead of time: Download the following two pdf files: A summary of the FREED Act and a fact sheet on eating disorders. Familiarize yourself with this information and take a copy of each to the meeting for the Member of Congress to keep.
You do not have to be an expert on health care reform. The background offered above should suffice. If you want a summary of the House bill check out this link: http://www.stark.house.gov/images/stories/111/legislation/AAHCA/aahca-billsummary-071409.pdf
If meeting with House Representative: Go to the following link and make sure your member is not already listed as a cosponsor (cut and paste into your browser): http://www.govtrack.us/congress/bill.xpd?bill=h111-1193. If she is already a cosponsor, then thank her for supporting FREED and ask her to ensure that eating disorders treatment be incorporated into health care reform.
* Be concise: Your meeting will last no longer than 30 minutes, and sometimes more like 15. Extract the most important and compelling part of your personal story no more than 2 - 3 minutes at a time to underscore the importance of the above outlined eating disorder policies.
* Stay on message: Health care reform has so many components to it and is a topic many people have strong opinions about. The focus of this meeting - is to inform them about the serious of eating disorders, the difficulty in accessing appropriate long term treatment that is reimbursed by health insurance companies, and any other "horror stories" you may have with health care that underscores the importance of fixing the system. Stay on message. Talk about the points that underscore the message above (we need ed treatment in health care reform and the FREED Act).
* Ask questions: Remember that this is a two way conversation, so make sure you engage your member of Congress. "Do you know anyone who has an eating disorder?" A question like that can be very helpful in creating a meaningful connection. Also, ask questions to learn more about his or her policy stance. After you explain the FREED Act - ask the member if s/he is likely to support this policy.
* Say thank you: Always thank the congressional member for his/her time.
5) After the meeting
Write a thank you note and let the member of Congress know you look forward to hearing if he/she will cosponsor the FREED Act. Complete the virtual lobby day survey form by clicking here. This is critical for our record keeping and knowing which Members of Congress we should follow-up with. Thanks so much! Have fun!