FEATURE A key component in building a com-


prehensive nationwide ASC advocacy structure is developing


associations


in every state. With this in mind, the State Affairs Committee planned and executed the first ASCA State Leaders Conference last June, in conjunction with ASCA’s June 2014 Capitol Fly- In. During the two-day event, 28 offi- cers and executive staff from 20 state associations discussed ways to develop their


organizations and strengthen


advocacy at the state level. Discussion topics ranged from unique ways to increase and engage with membership, leadership development and turnover, building relationships with regulators, legislative campaigns, political fund- raising and effective meeting planning. “As a small state association, it was


ASCA Collaborates with State Associations


The goal is to have strong organizations in every state BY BLAKE MCDONALD


H


ealth care decisions continue to shift to state legislatures and regu-


lators, and big-time lobbyists increas- ingly are upstaged by grassroots advo- cates in Washington, DC. As a result, the ASC community is placing increas- ing importance on the advocacy efforts that individual ASC professionals and the state ASC associations provide. Within ASCA, outreach and collabora- tion efforts with these individuals and associations are overseen by the State Affairs Committee.


“Our committee encompasses rep-


resentatives from associations in all regions of the nation as well as from corporate management companies and the ASCA Board of Directors,” says Committee Chair Randy Leffler, executive director of the Ohio Associ- ation of Ambulatory Surgery Centers. “Most of us have been working with our state associations for many years.


The state associations bring a tremen- dous wealth of knowledge and connec- tions when working with ASCA on the national level. This is invaluable as we all partner to advance the ASC indus- try across the nation.” The State Affairs Committee over-


sees ASCA’s state legislative, regu- latory and association development efforts. The committee proactively works with ASCA staff and ASCA’s Government Affairs Committee to identify trends in state legislation and regulations. The committee also main- tains an open dialogue between state association leaders via group emails, monthly committee conference calls and biweekly ASC advocacy calls. The ultimate goal is to get out in front of any policies that could potentially tra- verse state borders and become a threat to ASCs nationwide.


great to not only share how we have had successes in New Hampshire, but also to hear from other states, big and small, about how they demonstrate value to their members,” says committee mem- ber Joyce Meisel, CASC, president of the New Hampshire Ambulatory Sur- gery Association,


and a discussion


leader at the conference. “We had well- established association staff, multi-state management companies and volunteer leaders all come together; everyone took home something that will help the ASC community in their state.” The State Affairs Committee is in the process of planning the 2015 State Leaders Conference, with the goal of building on the productive policy discussions of 2014 while, at the same time, expanding cover- age to states that do not currently have leaders who are involved with ASCA. Since the 2014 conference highlighted the need for increased communications between the states, ASCA and the committee also are exploring ways to achieve that goal.


Recent Wins


In addition to big-picture, across-state coordination, ASCA also works one-


ASC FOCUS FEBRUARY 2015 17


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