ASCA’s National Advocacy Day Returns after Three Years

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ASCA’s National Advocacy Day Returns after Three Years

Apply now for scholarships

BY MAIA KUNKEL | DECEMBER 2022

The deadline to apply for ASCA’s National Advocacy Day Scholarship for next year will close Friday, December 30. ASCA will award up to five scholarships of up to $1,000 each. Interested members who find the participation expenses prohibitive are encouraged to apply.

For the first time since the COVID-19 pandemic began, ASC advocates from across the country will converge on Capitol Hill in Washington, DC, this winter to meet with their lawmakers during ASCA’s National Advocacy Day. From February 27 to March 1, 2023, ASC professionals will meet with their members of Congress to educate them about surgery centers and urge support for the Outpatient Surgery Quality and Access Act of 2021.

National Advocacy Day allows participants the opportunity to meet with their elected officials, tell the story of their ASC and build relationships with the decision-makers who vote on matters that directly impact their surgery center. Much has changed in the ASC community since the last National Advocacy Day was held three years ago. Therefore, it is more important than ever that members of Congress know about the ASCs in their districts and the issues that might be impacting their operation. Below are answers to frequently asked questions about the event.

I have never participated in National Advocacy Day before. How does the event work?

The main event will take place on Monday, February 27, and Tuesday, February 28. It will start with a networking happy hour on February 27 followed by dinner. ASCA staff will host a training briefing after the dinner that will go over the details of the next day of meetings. All attendees will receive a folder of materials that includes information on the members of Congress they will meet, their schedule for the following day and helpful tips to reference. The briefing also will go over best practices for congressional meetings and provide an overview of the topics usually discussed. Tuesday, February 28, will be a full day of meetings on Capitol Hill. ASCA staff will schedule all meetings based on attendees’ geographic information included in registration.

How will we be divided into groups?

Groups will be determined by the state or region of the participant’s surgery center. Up to five people will travel together to Capitol Hill and between meetings. Each group will have a leader, either a member of ASCA staff or a state association leader.

I have never been to Capitol Hill. How will I get around?

Each group leader will be in charge of making sure everyone arrives on time for meetings. While the congressional buildings on Capitol Hill are large, it is walkable and relatively easy to get around, but security measures have increased and extra time might be needed to go through security screenings. Meetings will be spaced out to give each group time to travel to their next office destination.

ASCA will provide a printed map and a digital map for directions. In addition, the Capitol Police can help point participants in the right direction and ASCA staff will always be there for help.

I have never met with my members of Congress. Who will I be meeting with? What do I say during meetings?

Each meeting will look a bit different as every office on Capitol Hill has their own processes. Sometimes, due to the voting schedule and the ever-changing nature of Congress, the legislator might not be able to make it to a meeting and send their staff instead. Meeting with congressional staff is a vital component of advocacy and just as important as a member-level meeting. The staff choose the legislation their boss sees, and advise on and hold sway over how they should vote.

Meetings also can differ in length and location. Meetings might sometimes run shorter or longer than the scheduled time, be held in conference rooms or even in the hallway. It is important to go into each meeting with an open mind and be adaptable to last-minute changes. Even the shortest meeting can have a lasting impact on a member of Congress.

A participant’s role in each meeting will primarily be to speak about their surgery center and their day-to-day experience, coupled with an ask for support for the Outpatient Surgery Quality and Access Act. They are not expected to know the answer to every question. Let a member of the ASCA staff know if a question requires a follow-up. ASCA staff follow up with each office after every meeting to address any outstanding questions, provide information about the legislation and thank them for their time.

Register by January 31 to participate in National Advocacy Day. To help you prepare for your trip to Capitol Hill, ASCA will host a National Advocacy Day webinar. More details on the training will be announced soon.

Write Maia Kunkel with any questions.