Published by: Shawn Gremminger on 9/23/2011 9:54:23 AM
Earlier this week, leaders from safety net hospitals from around the country came to Washington to participate in NAPH’s Fall Conference and Clinicians’ Legislative Event. Fourteen of those hospitals sent clinicians to the event to advocate on behalf of their patients and systems:
• Alameda County Medical Center
• Contra Costa Health Services
• Denver Health
• Grady Health System
• Harris County Hospital District
• Hennepin County Medical Center
• Hurley Medical Center
• NuHealth
• New York City Health and Hospitals Corporation
• San Francisco General Hospital and Health System
• Sinai Health System
• UNM Hospital
• VCU Health System
• Wishard Health Services
While paid lobbyists (like myself) have a role to play in affecting policy on Capitol Hill, I firmly believe the most important and powerful voice in Washington is that of the citizen constituent. That is the person who comes to Washington on their own time to talk about the issues that are important to them. At NAPH, we’re lucky that we have powerful voices working every day at all of our hospitals and were honored to be able to amplify their message by bringing them to Capitol Hill this week.
I was delighted to join Hurley Medical Center’s Government Relations representative, Karen Lopez, and one of the hospital’s top nurses, Melanie Mata, on two meetings with staff from members on the Joint Select Committee on Deficit Reduction on Wednesday. Melanie was the embodiment of a great clinician advocate – direct, persuasive, and speaking with an experienced voice. I came out of our meetings feeling better about our issues than when I went in.
With the Joint Select Committee working this fall to find $1.2 trillion in reduced deficits over the next decade, we have our work cut out for us. Medicaid and teaching hospital payments remain on the chopping block. Happily, the voice of safety net hospitals and our patients was heard this week.
I thank everyone who came to Washington!