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