Advocacy

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In partnership with HIMSS, we recognize Global Health Equity Week, an initiative focused on information and technology's potential to transform health and minimize health disparities for everyone around the world.

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HIMSS Advocacy and Public Policy Center

HIMSS mobilizes its members and other collaborators to successfully accomplish multiple levels of advocacy activities that are fueled by its members’ passion and experience. These activities include educating HIMSS members and Members of Congress and their staff on key issues to actually proposing and writing draft legislation. In addition, HIMSS works closely with key federal and state level decision-makers to advance improvements in the quality, safety and efficiency of healthcare.

HIMSS Chapter Advocacy Program

With over 50 chapters in the United States, one of HIMSS’ many strengths is connecting HIMSS members with state, regional and national decision-makers on key health IT issues. Chapter Advocates and other volunteers interested in state level advocacy participate collectively in the Chapter Advocacy Task Force (CATF).

The CATF provides a networking and educational opportunity for Chapter Advocates to promote chapter level advocacy programs at the grassroots level in coordination with the HIMSS advocacy and public policy Board-approved agenda. Throughout the United States today, over 60 HIMSS Chapter Advocates are actively engaging state legislators through planning and facilitating advocacy outreach campaigns alongside their local chapters.

What does it mean to be a Chapter Advocate? 
To advocate on behalf of your organization and community about issues important to furthering health IT policy and ensure state government officials are aware of your qualification as a health IT subject matter expert.

At the state and local levels, chapters will need to clearly define the role of the CATF Member. The conduct of this role will vary among the states based on local membership and volunteer capabilities. The HIMSS State Government Affairs team will work with each Chapter to develop this position and will support the Chapter Advocacy Roundtable in a number of ways. The responsibilities of this role should minimally include:

• Act as your Chapter’s connection to state level advocacy and keep members of your Board informed about campaign efforts 
• Create an advocacy action plan specific to your community 
• Recruit Chapter volunteers and other community leaders to join the campaign 
• Plan a State Health IT/Advocacy Day to lead the chapter in developing and maintaining relationships with state elected officials
• Attend or designate a chapter representative to sit in on monthly calls, quarterly regional calls and advocacy workshops to discuss current advocacy initiatives and provide feedback from local efforts