ASET Governmental Advocacy and Grassroots ISET Annual Meeting

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Terence Melton
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1 ASET Governmental Advocacy and Grassroots ISET Annual Meeting

2 Why is it important to take an active role in the legislative process? If you are not at the table you are on the menu Legislation will be introduced, debated and passed with us or without us 50 State Legislatures and 7,382 legislators Thousands of bills introduced each session 7,951 in Texas 8,742 in Illinois 815 in Indiana 15,980 in New York

3 Why is it important to take an active role in the legislative process? If we do not actively protect our interest no one else will Working together we can achieve common goals To protect our jobs and provide high quality patient care It is much easier than you think

4 Professional Licensure February 2009, ASET Board of Trustees unanimously voted to support licensure August 2012, ASET Board of Trustees adopts Critical Goals ( ) Implementation of Licensure is one of five goals Goal is to have at least one state actively engaged in process of toward licensure and passing at least one House. Grand Slam if bill is introduced, passed and signed by Governor

5 Professional Licensure All medical professions must be concerned with licensure Licensed in all 50 States Physicians Nurses Physical Therapists Occupational Therapists Pharmacists

6 Professional Licensure Licensed in a portion of the 50 States Dietitians Respiratory Therapists Physician Assistants Sleep Technologists Audiologists Surgical Technologists Determined to protect their scope of practice California Assembly Bill Certified Surgical Technologists Vetoed by Governor Wilson

7 Professional Licensure Polysomnography Licensure Delaware Senate Bill 194 (2012) Establishes licensure for sleep technologists, effective July 1, 2014 Tennessee Senate Bill 495 (2007) Established licensure for sleep technologists, effective July 1, 2007 Sonographer Licensure New Mexico House Bill 498 (2009) Established licensure for sonographers, effective May 18, 2009 Oregon House Bill 2245 (2009) Established licensure for sonographers effective July 1, 2010

8 What exactly is licensure and why is it important for neurodiagnostic technologists? Licensure grants individuals the authority to engage in a defined scope of practice and it prevents others from performing the tasks Provides title protection for those roles Provides legal authority to take disciplinary action Sets minimum educational and other requirements

9 What are the advantages of licensing neurodiagnostic technologists? Licensure provides safeguards that protect the health, safety and welfare of the public Protects scope of practice from other professions Ensures minimum standards for profession Provides higher salaries for licensed professionals Increases professional prestige

10 What are the disadvantages of licensing neurodiagnostic technologists? Decreased availability of professionals in the field May limit growth in field by disallowing practice of advancements in technology until scope of practice is officially changed Higher salaries to professionals mean higher cost to consumers Hinders practitioner mobility from state to state May exclude other qualified professionals from practice

11 Wyoming House Bill 175-Respiratory Therapists In 2003, Respiratory Therapists introduced licensure bill Included sleep diagnostic procedures and neurodiagnostics as part of their scope of practice If you want to perform a simple EEG in Wyoming you must be a licensed respiratory therapist We were not at the table and they put us on the menu

12 Professional Licensure Licensure Tactical Plan Goal assigned to Grassroots and Government Advocacy Committees Joint Committee to developing work plan to achieve goal of licensure by 2015 Development of Toolkit Cost/Benefit Analysis New Model Licensure Bill Analysis of how others have been successful Select state or states and introduce bill

13 Professional Licensure Possible Factors in Determining State(s) to Introduce Legislation Strength of State and Local Chapters Political Dynamics of State Support and Opposition of Other Medical Groups Identification of Legislative Sponsor Enthusiasm of state neurodiagnostic technologists Funding

14 ASET Governmental Advocacy Committee Responsible for monitoring and reporting on Federal and State legislative and regulatory actions that may have an effect on neurodiagnostics Federal Regulatory Tracking Working Group State Legislative & Regulatory Tracking Working Group

15 ASET Grassroots Network Sign up for the Grassroots Network and help build a communications highway across our nation From the ASET website click on the Be Counted logo on the homepage One of ASET's missions is to advocate for professional excellence and quality patient care in Neurodiagnostic. As we all know, when it comes to advocacy the number of voices counts Complete the brief census form so you, too, can be counted and included in our grassroots efforts

16 ASET Grassroots Network

17 Neurodiagnostic Legislative & Regulatory Center

18 Neurodiagnostic Legislative & Regulatory Center

19 Neurodiagnostic Legislative & Regulatory Center

20 Neurodiagnostic Legislative & Regulatory Center

21 Neurodiagnostic Legislative & Regulatory Center

22 Why it is important for you to get involved? You do not have to be an expert in parliamentary procedure, the committee system or legislative process You don t need to know how a bill moves through the legislature (although it helps) You are an expert when it comes to Neurodiagnostic technology Legislators want your input. You know more than they do when it comes to Neurodiagnostic technology. They appreciate benefitting from your knowledge and experience

23 State Political Coordinator Program Key Neurodiagnostic technologists in each state/region that would be the go to person when a legislative issue needs action in their territory. Responsible for the following duties: Responding to all ASET Calls for Action Advocating on behalf of all neurodiagnostic technologists in their state Contacting their assigned State Senator(s) and State Representative(s) periodically and submit a field report each time Developing a grassroots team and coordinating grassroots activities

24 Personal Relationship Program Maximize existing relationships our members have with legislators Participate in survey by sharing any personal relationship you may have with members of the State Senate or State House of Representatives All politics is personal and members who have a personal relationship with a legislator are well positioned to advocate the profession s issues

25 Getting to Know and Understand Your Legislators The primary job of a grassroots advocate is to build a relationship with their elected officials. Issues will come and go, but the relationships you build will serve you a very long time It is just as important to develop a relationship with a legislator s staff as it is to develop a relationship with the legislator Elected officials want to help you if they can and they will try to help you because that s how they get re-elected and that s why they are in office

26 Getting to Know and Understand Your Legislators People tend to care about issues that people they know and care about are concerned with Consider volunteering on a State Senate of State Representative campaign Nothing will stand out more than helping them get elected or re-elected Visit with your legislator in his/her District Office Arrange a visit for your legislator at your hospital or lab

27 Relationship, Relationship, Relationship Real Estate is three words: location, location, location. Politics is three words: relationship, relationship, relationship. Harold Brubaker, Former Speaker of the North Carolina House of Representatives

28 Bradley A. Hix Governmental & Grassroots Advocacy Manager ASET - The Neurodiagnostic Society 402 East Bannister Road, Suite A Kansas City, MO (p) , ext 5# (f) bradley@aset.org

Alliance for Natural Health USA 1350 Connecticut Avenue, 5 th Floor Washington, DC (o)

Alliance for Natural Health USA 1350 Connecticut Avenue, 5 th Floor Washington, DC (o) Page 1 of 1 State Regulation Board(s) ADA Alabama License for both Alabama State Board of Examiners for Dietetics/Nutritionists Yes 1984 Standard ADA bill Started as title protection in 1984 and amended