Arthritis Foundation Arthritis Ambassador Briefing Dial In: 1-866-487-9460 Conference Code: # 931 709 2991 Materials available for download at http://www.arthritis.org/ambassador_assignment.php
November 11, 2014 3PM Eastern
Agenda • • • • • • • •
Welcome/Introduction Laura Keivel, Manager of Grassroots Advocacy 2014 Election Review David Wasserman, The Cook Political Report What’s Next in Federal Priorities? Anna Hyde, Director of Health Policy and Federal Affairs What’s Happening in the States? Mark Guimond, Director of State Government Relations November / December Ambassador Assignment Laura Keivel, Manager of Grassroots Advocacy Ambassador Year End Review Laura Keivel, Manager of Grassroots Advocacy Advocacy Summit Laura Keivel, Manager of Grassroots Advocacy Q&A
Welcome! Happy Veteran’s Day • Final Ambassador briefing of 2014 • Grassroots Advocacy Manager position
2014 Election Review David Wasserman House Editor The Cook Political Report
What’s Next on the Federal Landscape?
Anna Hyde Director, Health Policy and Federal Affairs
What’s Next on the Federal Landscape? • Republicans now hold a majority of both the House and Senate, with 13 House seats and 7 Senate seats. • There will be at least 66 new Representatives Senators in the 114th Congress. • 10 Members of the Arthritis Caucus will not be coming back in the 114th Congress. • 21 co-sponsors of HR 460 will not be coming back in the 114th Congress. • Bottom line: We have a lot of work to do to educate the new Members of Congress about our issues, increase membership of the Caucus, and increase support for HR 460.
Issues for the Lame Duck • Congress will have to pass an appropriations bill by Dec 11 to keep the government funded. • This could be a short-term continuing resolution, or this could be an omnibus bill that combines multiple spending bills into one. • Our main issue: the Senate bill zeroes out the CDC Arthritis Program; a CR would protect this funding, an omnibus might put it in jeopardy. • We will be watching this closely and mobilizing our Ambassadors as needed.
Gearing Up for 2015 • Re-introducing the Patients’ Access to Treatment Act: – Continuing our op-ed strategy (we got at least one placed over October recess…way to go Ambassadors!). – Working with the Coalition for Accessible Treatments to increase House co-sponsors and get a Senate companion bill introduced. – Planning a big, splashy briefing upon re-introduction of the bill.
New Opportunities at FDA • The FDA is seeking comments on ways to include the patient perspective in the drug development process. • We want to hear from you! – Have you engaged with the FDA before? If so, what was your experience like? – Do you have any ideas about how the FDA should include you in their work? – What would be the best way for the FDA to communicate with you about the work they are doing?
• There will also be upcoming opportunities to serve as a patient representative on FDA Advisory Councils. Stay tuned for more information!
State Legislation Update
Mark Guimond Director of State Legislative Affairs
2015 State Legislative Priorities • • • • •
Out-of-Pocket Costs Biosimilars Step Therapy Formulary Transparency Prior Authorization
Recent 2014 Major Ambassador Policy Engagements • • • • •
CA S. 1052 – Formulary Transparency MD H. 761 - Out of Pocket Cap LA S. 165 – Out of Pocket Cap Iowa Insurance Commissioner Idaho Board of Pharmacy
New AF Position Statements
State Legislation Update We need your personal stories! • • • •
Are you having issues with step therapy? Are you personally experiencing specialty tier issues? Have you heard of biosimilars issues in your state? Any other issues we should know about? Let us know! Contact Mark Guimond at
[email protected]
November / December Assignment Invite your member of Congress and Senators to Arthritis 101 What is Arthritis 101? A briefing to educate Congress about arthritis and our legislative priorities Why? Congress has many misconceptions about arthritis and we want to clear them up!
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Arthritis 101 Speakers • Dr. Jan Wyatt, Former Arthritis Foundation Board Member and Patient • Margo Diehl, Juvenile Arthritis patient • Dr. Harry Gewanter, pediatric rheumatologist, Pediatric and Adolescent Health Partners • Dr. Randeep Kahlon (invited), orthopedic surgeon, First State Orthopaedics • Devon Seibert, Legislative Director, Rep. David McKinley • Erin Wise, Health Legislative Assistant, Rep. Anna Eshoo
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Assignment Resources • A manual with an invitations and scripts is available on the Ambassador website • Polite persistence is key in inviting! • It’s a busy time but make sure the staff knows this briefing is important
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Ambassador Assignment Resources • Report your activity in the reporting center ONLY when it is complete! • Need assistance with the reporting center? Check out our guide on the Ambassador website!
Reminder: Check your 2014 reporting by Friday, November 14th!
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Stay Tuned for January’s Exciting Activity! You WON’T want to miss this! January 14, 2015 3:00 PM Eastern Welcome Back Congress initiative A push for Patients’ Access to Treatment’s Act reintroduction and educating Congress about arthritis
Ambassador Commitment forms will be available in mid-December and due by the January 31
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Ambassador Year End Wrap Up • Over 40 offices visited during 2014 August recess with 3 new Congressional Arthritis Caucus members added • 940 E-Advocates recruited across the country in April 2014 by Ambassadors • 23 Co-sponsors added to H.R. 460 as a result of the Ambassadors • 15 Co-sponsors added to H.R. 1827 as a result of the Ambassadors • Over 5,523 letters sent to Congressional offices by Ambassadors and advocates in 2014 (HR460 and CDMRP Funding) • Over 100 new Ambassadors joined the program since May 2014 • Over 362 Ambassador assignments completed and over 200 bonus assignments completed!
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Save the Date! 2015 Advocacy Summit March 23-24 Doubletree Hotel Crystal City
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Questions? Contact Laura Keivel Manager of Grassroots Advocacy
[email protected] 202-887-2913
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Thank You! We appreciate all of your support and dedication! The next Ambassador call is January 14, 2015 3:00 PM Eastern
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