State Government Affairs
The mission of HIMSS Office of State Government Affairs is to support the organization and its chapters by building effective partnerships and relationships with state and local officials. This is achieved through the representation and advocacy of HIMSS legislative principles, needs and interests. The office is headed by HIMSS Senior Director of State Government Affairs, Tom Keefe.
The department’s programs and products include:
- Chapter Advocates and the Chapter Advocacy Roundtable
- Chapter Advocacy Recognition Program
- State HIT Advocacy Days
- Rural/ Underserved Communities and HIT Activities
Chapter Advocates and the Chapter Advocacy Roundtable (CAR)
With 50 US chapters, one of HIMSS many strengths is to connect HIMSS members with local, state and national decision-makers on key health IT issues. The HIMSS Chapter Advocacy program provides an opportunity for each HIMSS chapter to elect or appoint one or more members to serve in the Chapter Board level position of Chapter Advocate.
The HIMSS Chapter Advocacy Roundtable was established in 2003 to help build grassroots support at the Chapter level. Grassroots outreach is an essential part of an advocacy network. HIMSS seeks to establish strong, local advocacy networks that can be kept current as issues change. Chapters have identified advocacy leaders within their communities in an effort to educate and build "friends" among opinion leaders and lawmakers in their districts. Each HIMSS Chapter is eligible to have one or more Chapter Advocates.
Chapter Advocacy Roundtable Program Overview
Chapter Advocacy Roundtable Guide (PDF)
Chapter Advocates
- Organize visits and other avenues of frequent communication with state and federal elected officials.
- Speak to local media about key policy and advocacy issues.
- Attend HIMSS-sponsored advocacy training and message development sessions.
- Working with the HIMSS Chapter Advocacy Roundtable and/committee members to create an advocacy action plan specific to your community.
- Keeping members Chapter Board informed about campaign efforts.
- Recruit Chapter volunteers and other community leaders to join the campaign.
The Chapter Advocacy Roundtable for fiscal year 2011 is led by Chair, Martha Dameron of the HIMSS Northern California Chapter with the support of:
- Vice Chair, Midwest Region
David Cheli, HIMSS Midwest Gateway Chapter
- Vice Chair, Eastern Region
Terri Ripley, HIMSS Virginia chapter
- Vice Chair, Southern Region
Dr. Pawan Goyal, HIMSS Dallas-Fort Worth Chapter
- Vice Chair, Western Region
Lee Castonguay, HIMSS Hawaii-Alaska Chapter
Throughout the United States today, more than 60 HIMSS Chapter Advocates are engaged in planning and facilitating advocacy and public policy activities within their local chapters. Once a year, Chapter Advocates have an opportunity to visit Washington, D.C. to attend an off-site training seminar and participate in HIMSS National Advocacy Day on Capitol Hill. The advocacy activities, conducted by chapters and Chapter Advocates, are celebrated through the Chapter Advocacy Recognition Program.
For more information on Chapter Advocates and the Chapter Advocacy Roundtable, please contact HIMSS Coordinator of Regional Affairs, Jessica Martin at jmartin@himss.org.
2010 CAR Second Quarter Report
Chapter Advocacy Recognition Program
The advocacy activities conducted by Chapters and Chapter Advocates, is celebrated through the Chapter Advocacy Recognition Program. Chapters that demonstrate exceptional participation in coordinated HIMSS advocacy activities are recognized through the three recognition levels:
- Presidential Level: Presidential Level recognition demonstrates the highest tier of relationship-building legislative activity at a HIMSS Chapter.
- Ambassador Level: Ambassador Level designation demonstrates an active and ongoing commitment to advocacy activity at the chapter level.
- Advocate Level: Advocate Level recognition is awarded to chapters that demonstrate an active, entry-level commitment to HIMSS-related advocacy efforts.
Recognitions are conducted twice a year, at the CALR off-site training and the Annual HIMSS Conference and Exhibition, where the Chapter Advocate of the Year is announced. 2009 HIMSS CAR of the Year Award winner was Terri Ripley of the HIMSS Virginia Chapter. For more information on the Chapter Advocacy Recognition Program, please contact HIMSS Coordinator of Jessica Martin, Coordinator of Regional Affairs at jmartin@himss.org.
CY10 CAR Recognition Program
State HIT Days
HIMSS State HIT Days are some of the most important HIMSS events each year. Supported by HIMSS Chapters and HIMSS State Government Relations, State HIT Days aim to raise awareness to select HIT and management systems policy. Conducted when a state legislature is in session, a State Advocacy Day may include meetings with legislators, site visits to healthcare facilities and presentations from policy experts.
In 2010, there were ten State HIT Days. Job well done to Colorado, Virginia, Iowa, Maryland, Kentucky, Pennsylvania, North Carolina, New Jersey, California and Ohio. Each HIT Day was successful yet unique in size, timing and approach.
HIMSS FY11 State Health IT Day Manual
For additional information on HIMSS State Advocacy Days, please contact HIMSS Coordinator of Regional Affairs, Jessica Martin at jmartin@himss.org.
Rural/ Underserved Communities and HIT Activities
HIT is emerging as an important tool for improving the quality and cost-effectiveness of the nation’s health care system. As the population becomes more diverse, the implications of health disparities become more compelling for: policy makers, public health officials, health care providers, business leaders, educators, and the broader public.
HIMSS Department of State Government Relations collaborates with government agencies, corporations, and other institutions to:
- Identify basic principles for creating and evaluating tools to reduce health disparities
- Describe current legislative approaches for a national health policy
- Describe administrative approaches to focus on safety net issues such as barriers to HIT adoption and cultural norms
- Explain specific recommendations to narrow the digital divide
HIMSS is currently collaborating on this topic with the House Congressional Tri-Caucus, the Association of Clinicians for the Underserved (ACU) and the Summit Health Institute for Research and Education, Inc. (SHIRE). For additional information of HIMSS Rural/ Underserved Communities and HIT activities, please contact HIMSS Manager of Public Policy Initiatives, Arnol Simmons at asimmons@himss.org.
State Healthcare Information Technology Policy Guidance
On May 23, 2011, HIMSS Board State Government Affairs updated the "State Health Information Technology Policy Guidance".
The document was developed by HIMSS staff in partnership with HIMSS Committees, Work Groups, and Taskforces. For additional information on the document, please contact Thomas S. Keefe, Senior Director of HIMSS State Government Affairs at (703) 562 – 8813 or tkeefe@himss.org.
