Access to Affordable Health Insurance. Next Steps for Achieving Your Health Goal

Transcription

1 Access to Affordable Health Insurance Next Steps for Achieving Your Health Goal

2 About This Toolkit NOW THAT YOU VE SELECTED YOUR GOAL: we d like to equip the Boards and Staff to work together, building healthier communities while raising funds for our mission. The objectives are: To help you better understand the goal To provide a sense of some steps that may be right for your community To offer resources you may want to explore as you form a strategy with your local Board and Staff A VIRTUAL VIDEO CHAT: Many of the videos in this presentation are provided via a casual recorded video chat. Staff members with related expertise have shared insight, so that when you meet with your local staff and volunteers, you may be further along in your understanding of what it takes to reach your goal. A PROCESS APPROACH: As we move forward, we want to share your successes to educate other Boards. Please track your accomplishments and share them with your local staff members, so that our next toolkit can include what we re learning in the field. Tobacco Excise Taxes

3 How does access to care help us build a culture of health? Nancy Brown: The Importance of Healthier Communities Building a culture of health is about making the healthy choice the easy choice in your community. Advocating for Access to Care - RW Johnson Foundation Policies can have a tremendous impact on the health of our communities and can help us build that culture of health. YOUR GOAL: Helping more people in need gain access to health insurance they can afford. RESULT: You ll make the healthier choice, the easier choice by helping people see how they can navigate the healthcare system with the security of coverage for routine care and in times of greater need. Tobacco Access to Excise Affordable Taxes Health Insurance

4 A Word From Staff Leadership From the American Heart Association CEO CEO Nancy Brown encourages volunteer Board Members and Staff on the value of working together to reach our 2020 goals. You ve already analyzed your community s need to improve access to affordable health insurance to: Increase likelihood that people will seek care when needed Increase chances that health risks will be managed Encourage preventive measures among at risk groups Hear From State & Community Advocacy Consultant, Lucy Asdourian: Introduction, recent history in Medicaid expansion Five million in a coverage gap with no access Access toexcise Affordable Health Insurance Tobacco Taxes

5 An Overview of Policy Advocacy Hear from State Advocacy Director, Jeff Ranous (Red button = play all) 1. Introduction Thank you for investing 2. What s the process? Understanding your local community s options 3. Board Members Role 4. Who are our partners? Serving as the face of the American Heart Association Leading and supporting coalitions for change 5. Where do we start? 6. Guidance from Staff 7. Making a Difference Assessing readiness for progress toward the goal Determining the best strategy for local communities Changing our culture by advocating for healthy change Understanding the Process of Successful Advocacy Campaigns Tobacco Excise Taxes

6 Overview of Steps for Success Task Advocacy staff, Metro Director, and Community Health Director (if applicable in your market) provide volunteer training on how to accomplish these goals. Staff Responsibility Board/Vol Responsibility Gain a clear understanding of whether this is a policy decision that can be made at both the local level and state level. If this is addressed at the state level only, gain an understanding of the role of the local market in influencing state level policy decisions. Attend training. Visit online resource center to view planning tools and documents. Develop an action plan for this policy issue for your market. Identify and meet with external partners or coalitions who also support this goal. Present volunteers with opportunities for engagement and assist in implementation. (E.g. recruit others in the community, work with media and on communications issues, contact legislators and community leaders.) Keep volunteers informed of campaign intelligence. Keep staff informed of campaign intelligence. (From Menu for Community Planning 2.0) Tobacco Access to Excise Affordable Taxes Health Insurance

7 Overview of Steps for Success Task Staff Responsibility Board/Vol Responsibility Ensure that all activities are within legal limits for non-profit lobbying. Recruit Power Brokers, You re the Cure members, hospitals/medical center officials, community health departments, medical experts as needed to assist with issue. Recruit others who are concerned about this issue. Help with researching pathways of influence or other aspects of the campaign. Serve as spokespersons with the media or public. Write letters to the editor to submit to local print and online media. Tell your story and share your expertise Contact legislators and local public officials. Tell your story and share your expertise During election season educate candidates about access to care needs. (Remember the AHA is a non-profit, non-partisan organization and does not participate in electoral politics. All involvement with individuals running for office should be coordinated with the state Government Relations Director.) Evaluate progress and revisit action plan throughout the year. Tobacco Access to Excise Affordable Taxes Health Insurance

8 Essentials for Goal 1 MISSION 2 METHOD 3 MANPOWER ARTICULATE Compelling Reasons for Advocating for Access to Care Each Board Member has chosen to be part of a task force for change. Your Board must be able to clearly and simply share your mission with others. Distill the essentials of your message to reach this goal. IDENTIFY Intermediate Steps to Your Goal After reviewing the material presented here, drafting your action steps, and working with your AHA/ASA staff member, your Board will begin taking measurable steps toward your goal. ENLIST The Right Team Members To Reach Your Goal Your Board s plan will engage each Board Member in reaching the Health Goals in ways that match his or her skill set. Your Board will also explore additional people to enlist who will help you achieve your goal. Tobacco Access to Excise Affordable Taxes Health Insurance

9 MISSION: Advocating for Access to Care Why the AHA/ASA advocates for this policy, 1 benefit to states, and who is most likely Articulate why your Board is seeking to improve access to care policies: to be affected by insurance gap issues. To improve people s ability to invest in protecting their family s health and well-being To provide quality options to people with limited access to health insurance Decide how you will articulate your local board s goal and mission Review the official studies supporting the American Heart Association s strategy and the reasons we advocate for access to care. It will help you plan your overall strategy and select your Board s key points for greatest local impact. Resources shown are clickable links. On Tobacco Excise Taxes Video: 1) Mission: What are some reasons the AHA has prioritized this issue for communities? 2) What is the positive impact insurance coverage will have on communities?

10 METHOD: Advocating for Access to Care 2 Hear more about key components for a successful campaign Review available resources for improving your state s use of federal funds to provide access to health care. Explore options for an effective campaign Discover more about why the AHA is advocating for these standards Read recommendations for planning: In addition to reaching out to your State Government Relations advisor at the AHA/ASA, you may want to review some existing materials and resources found at the You re The Cure website as well as those found on Access to Medicaid and Medicare pages. On Tobacco Excise Taxes Video: You re the Cure Resources 1) Method: What is the overview of the process for reaching this goal? 2) What are some of the key components that need to be in place in order to successfully reach the goal? 3) What are some key resources the Boards may find useful?

11 SAMPLE ACTION PLAN - Affordable Insurance Together with your local AHA staff person, consider the following: RECOMMENDATION Build your local case for support ACTIONS TO CONSIDER Coming soon: More info from the AHA Learn more about the status of progress in your state. (Start with Kaiser Family Foundation.) Learn more about existing partners and coalitions Understand your challenges Explore your resources Consult with your State Government Relations Director and determine if he/she is working on this issue at the state level. (Click here to find yours). Ask your Government Relations Director about existing coalitions and partners already working on this issue. Explore options to learn about the current level of public support you may have for healthier food and beverage purchasing policies. Determine who the decision-makers are in your local area. These are the public officials you will need to move to get a change made. Research the position and opinions of those with administrative or budgetary decision-making power. Investigate who might be considered to be a stakeholder in a favorable outcome and consider options for working together. Determine your call to action Work toward a coalition of other Community Partners interested in this community health goal, or if a Coalition already exist for this topic explore how AHA may be a partner in the coalition. Seek out other community leaders who have a passion for this community health goal and bring them on board to partner with AHA. In partnership with your Government Relations Director plan meetings with the decision makers. Work with your local staff members to create a Tobacco Excise Taxes customized plan for your Board.

12 MANPOWER Find out who your essential team leaders should be What is the Board Member s Role in advancing this policy agenda? FIND OUT: What are my existing resources that may help further this campaign? What are hurdles that exist in my state and who are the people with the abilities to overcome them? 3 Placeholder: Know the individual, know their story Who are the key people we need to be involved in advocating for this change? This particular issue is varied. Hear more about coalitions efforts in each state. Review this page from the AHA s Vision for Volunteerism Workbook. It may help you identify people who will be effective leaders on your team. On Tobacco Excise Taxes Video: 1) Manpower: Which items are best accomplished with involvement from AHA staff? Is there a key time by which they should check in with the Staff to be sure they have a workable plan going forward? 2) Are there important sensitivities about this agenda that the Board should know? 3) How will they decide WHO should carry out the tasks on their team?

13 Additional Considerations? What is our history of advocating in this arena? Are there key sensitivities we should understand? Closing thoughts? This is a new issue for the AHA. In some states, this issue has become highly politicized. The AHA s position is focused on health. Health care access removes many barriers that may otherwise keep people from investing in a lifetime of health and well-being. Find the right approach for your campaign.! Hear more about partners and coalitions. Partner with your AHA Staff to understand what is likely to resonate with lawmakers and constituents. Access to care changes lives.! Access toexcise Affordable Health Insurance Tobacco Taxes

14 Additional Resources Here are some additional resources to help you create a strategy for success and reach your goal. Helping people manage their own health Who are the people in need? Understanding Insurance Gaps Who are the people in need? Access Affordable Health Insurance TobaccotoExcise Taxes Social Media For Volunteers Who are the people in need? More about insurance access

15 Identify Your Why Why is this mission to build healthier lives meaningful to you? Tobacco Excise Taxes Hear From Teri Ackerman Stroke Survivor: My Family Is Why As you work to achieve these goals, share your why. You may never know how many lives will be enriched through the investment of your time, talents, and resources.! Thank you for joining in this mission to build healthier lives!