ADVOCACY SPOTLIGHT
Visit Capitol Hill with ASCA Fly in, speak out and make a difference for ASCs
T
he 2014 Capitol Fly-In Program is your opportunity to educate mem-
bers of Congress and their staff about the high-quality, patient-centered care that your ASC provides every day. This year, ASCA will conduct two Fly-In Programs: one June 17–18 and the other September 9–10. You can make a difference by joining one of these Fly-Ins and the hundreds of ASC advocates who have dedicated their time to championing the ASC message on Capitol Hill before you. Visiting your members of Congress shows your commitment to the ASC community and can have a direct impact on the legislation, regulations and reimburse- ment policies that affect your ASC. On June 17, the first Fly-In pro-
gram will kick off with an Advocates in Action training and dinner on the top floor of the Library of Congress’ Madison Building where you can enjoy 180-degree views of the Capitol, the Washington Monument and down- town DC. After dinner, all ASCAPAC donors will be invited for an evening tour of the monuments (for informa- tion on ASCAPAC, please visit www.
ascapac.org or contact Heather Ashby at
hashby@ascassociation.org). The next morning, ASCAPAC will host breakfast at the historic DC restaurant The Monocle on Capitol Hill. US Rep- resentative Brett Guthrie (KY-R) will attend. Advocates will stay at the Cap- itol Hill Hotel, only blocks from the Capitol and all of these venues. In September, advocates will stay at the Hyatt Regency on Capitol Hill; venues for
other activities are still
being determined. For both Fly-Ins, all meals will be provided and ASCA will contribute $50 per night toward the cost of a hotel room for the first 50 hotel reservations.
The Advocates in Action training ses-
sion that will be part of both Fly-Ins will discuss major ASC issues and legislation and how to effectively meet with a mem- ber of Congress. This training will also give you an opportunity to network with ASC advocates from around the country. Whether you are a veteran of previous Fly-Ins or taking part in this program for the first time, you can participate in the two-hour mock meeting that will be part of the Advocates in Action boot camp and additional training via webinar and conference call before you spend your day on Capitol Hill. ASCA will also pro- vide all of the materials you will need to conduct a successful visit with your members of Congress during your visit to Washington, DC. ASCA will work with you to schedule
you and your colleagues to visit four to eight offices to meet with your representatives, senators and their staff. This will be your opportunity to tell the story of your ASC and the care you deliver to patients every day. Your participation in ASCA’s Capi- tol Fly-In program can make a differ-
ence. In 2013, more than 130 advocates from across the country participated in these Fly-Ins. Their efforts accounted for 90 percent of last year’s cospon- sors of the ASC Quality & Access Act. Your advocacy efforts put a face on the ASC message. When asked by the Congressional Management Foundation
about the
most influential advocacy strategies, 97 percent of congressional offices said “in-person issue visits from constitu- ents” had significant influence on their member’s decisions—the highest of all advocacy strategies tested. When con- stituents take time out of their day, off of work and away from their families to meet with members of Congress about an issue, those members of Congress listen. The Capitol Fly-In Program is your opportunity to do just that.
Seize this opportunity to help your surgery center and the ASC community. Visit
www.ascassociation.org/capitolflyin2014 or email Jack Coleman at jcoleman@
ascassociation.org.
ASC FOCUS JUNE/JULY 2014 27
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