So, You Are a NAHU Legislative ChairNow What

1
So, You Are a NAHU Legislative ChairNow What?

• National Association of Health Underwriters
• Government Relations Department
• September 2009

2
NAHU State Staff

• This is a lot of information to digest- and we
  cant go into every detail. Always feel free to
  call NAHU staff. We want to help you.
• Regions 1, 2, 3 4 - Adam Brackemyre (703)
  276-3808
• Regions 5, 6, 7 8 - Michael Keegan (703)
  276-3809
• Manager of Government Affairs- Danielle Jaffee
  [phone]

3
Overview of Responsibilities

• Congratulations! Youve been appointed (or maybe
  you have been begged to serve) as your chapters
  legislative chairperson for NAHUNow, what are
  you supposed to do?
• Basically, NAHU Legislative Chairs have two
  distinct responsibilities
• Managing the legislative and regulatory
  activities of your chapter, and
• Serving as the link between your chapter members
  and the national office staff, legislative
  council and the BoT on legislative and regulatory
  issues of interest to the association.

4
Managing Your Chapters Government Relations
Activities

• Insurance is primarily regulated at the state
  level of government.
• The first thing you will need to do is establish
  a team of people to help you.
• Ensure a line of succession (no one should be
  legislative chair for life!)
• Ensure that important policy decisions are made
  by a representative group of members.
• Ensure that all of the work gets done in a timely
  manner, with no one volunteer shouldering too
  much of the load.

5
State Legislative Committee

• Who should be on the team?
• State legislative chair, vice-chair,
  representatives from each of the local chapters,
  state president, state president-elect, HUPAC
  chair, state PAC chair, media chair, and the
  chapter lobbyist (if applicable).
• How often should you meet?
• It depends on your state legislative session.
  All state legislative committees should meet at
  least monthly, even when the state is not in
  session.

6
State Legislative Committee

• What are the roles of the members of the State
  Legislative Committee?
• Assign every member of your committee a specific
  job. Examples include
• Monitoring the Department of Insurance
• Grassroots and coalition building,
• Developing a state PAC
• Working with the state lobbyist, and/or election
  activity.
• Have at least one other state board member on the
  committee other than the state legislative chair.
  This ensures that communication with the state
  board.

7
State Legislative Management Team

• Develop a State Legislative Management Team to
  make emergency decisions.
• It should include a few critical officers such as
  the state President, the Legislative Chair, the
  Vice Chair and the lobbyist, so that decisions
  are not, or appear to be, made in a vacuum.

8
What if You Cannot Reach Consensus on a Leg Issue?

• What are the roles of the members of the State
  Legislative Committee?
• This is one of the most common problems our
  states face
• Develop a PP on how policy positions by the
  state association are developed an approved, and
  then follow that structure.
• Disagree in private, but speak with one voice in
  public. Failing to support that position in front
  of others may damage your chapters credibility
  on non-related issues.
• Review the NAHU guidelines for chapters on
  speaking with one voice.
• Talk to national. Other states have experienced
  the same problem. We might also be able to find
  a middle ground that you didnt already notice.

9
Local Legislative Chairs

• For local legislative chairs, your chapters
  legislative committee structure will probably not
  need to be as formal as what is required on the
  state level.
• However, develop a committee structure and
  meeting regularly will ensure that local
  legislative tasks get done.
• Some examples of roles individuals on a local
  legislative committee could play include
• Organizing grassroots activity
• Organizing chapter key contacts and an
  adopt-a-legislator program
• Organizing chapter representation at state and
  national chapter legislative events (i.e.
  Capital Conference, state Day On The Hill)
• Local political campaigns
• Local chair for the state PAC and the
• Local HUPAC chair.

10
Serving as the Link Between Your Chapter and
National

• In addition to coordinating all of the
  legislative and regulatory activities of the
  chapter, a legislative chair also serves as the
  primary link between NAHUs national government
  relations staff, the NAHU Legislative Council,
  and the NAHU Board of Trustees.
• Its legislative chairs job to disseminate
  legislative information provided by national back
  down to the state board, the state legislative
  committee, local chapters and the rank and file
  membership.
• The other part of this job, which is just as
  important, is communicating the feelings of your
  state membership about policy issues back to
  national and keeping us informed and involved in
  legislative and regulatory activities going on in
  your state.

11
How You Can Communicate With the Members in Your
State

• Give brief but regular legislative updates at
  each chapter meeting.
• Participate in the monthly legislative chair
  training calls to get copies and training on our
  federal issues PPT presentation. Its always
  up-to-date, and this one-hour presentation makes
  an ideal CE presentation.
• Encourage every state member to adopt a
  legislator.
• Find out what grasstop contacts your members
  have, and keep national informed as to what you
  find out. Youll be surprised to learn who some
  of our members know and what contacts they have.
• Plan legislative events like Days on the Hill,
  candidate briefings, Healthcare 101 sessions for
  legislators, etc.
• Encourage all new members to get involved with
  the legislative committee, and then put them to
  work.

12
How Should You Communicate with National?

• Attend monthly regional legislative
  teleconferences.
• Keep in regular contact with the NAHU Government
  Affairs staff person assigned to your state, as
  well your regional legislative chair.
• Utilize the resources of Operation Shout!

13
How NAHU Communicates with You

• The Heads Up newsletter for state and local
  legislative chairs is sent out at the end of
  every month. Contains a 1-2 page report on top
  issues that you can use to brief your chapter.
• Monthly one-hour legislative training calls on
  federal issues and state trends. Third Wednesday
  of every month at 100pm EST
• The Washington Update, which goes out every
  Friday, gives members up-to-date information
  about health insurance issues pending on Capitol
  Hill.
• Hot Issues is a newsletter about top state policy
  trends we send out once a month.
• NAHU regularly runs legislative articles in HIU,
  including a monthly column on federal issues.
• The most widely used source of information for
  legislative chairs, policymakers and other
  interested parties in the NAHU websitewww.nahu.or
  g.
• And always feel free to call us.

14
Resources on the NAHU Website

• TrendTrack- Bill Tracking
• Healthy Access Materials and PPT
• Brochures
• Consumer Guide to Health Insurance
• Faces of the Uninsured
• Role of the Agent
• Wellness brochure
• Medicare Brochure
• Membership Brochure
• Operation Shout
• Elected officials
• Current alerts
• Voting records

15
Resources on the NAHU Website

• Highlights- The latest and most requested policy
  information, including charts and analyses, white
  papers, NAHU testimonies and other resources.
• IssuesInformation includes an overview of each
  issue, NAHUs position, opposing views and
  resource materials related to each topic.
• Newsletters All Newsletters sent out by the
  Government Relations staff at NAHU including
  Washington Update, Hot Issues, State Updates and
  Heads Up
• Legislative ToolsInformation for legislative
  chairs, such as training Power Points, chapter
  management guidelines, awards materials, this
  manual and more.
• Meetings InformationIn-depth information about
  upcoming regional meetings, Capital Conference
  and Annual Convention.
• HUPACSite for member donations, information
  about upcoming events, bylaws and FAQs.

16
How NAHU Can Help You

• NAHU routinely produces legislative research
  products for members, state- and federal-level
  policymakers and other interested parties.
• These products include comparisons of state and
  federal legislation, detailed analyses of pending
  and enacted measures, overviews of state and
  federal healthcare reform laws, analyses of
  program implementation across states and charts
  illustrating the cost and availability of health
  insurance in the different states.

17
Federal Grassroots Activity

• NAHU frequently arranges in-district meetings
  with members of Congress in conjunction with
  other coalition members. Our members have been
  called the best-educated and articulate among
  those participating.
• NAHU members also participate in town hall
  meetings sponsored by their congressional
  representatives during each recess. 

18
Operation Shout!

• NAHUs Operation Shout! is available at
  www.nahu.org, and can be utilized to send letters
  via electronic mail to both state and federal
  legislators.
• Operation Shout! contains valuable political
  background information and links to federal and
  state-level government websites.
• Members can access media information, voting
  records, issue summaries, PAC details, and
  election information.
• Members can also register to vote and receive
  weekly e-mails on how their representatives
  voted.

19
What NAHU Does in the States

• NAHU routinely monitors the meetings of the
  National Association of Insurance Commissioners
  (NAIC), the National Conference of Insurance
  Legislators (NCOIL), the American Legislative
  Exchange Council (ALEC), and the National
  Conference of State Legislators (NCSL).
• NAHU serves as a member of the NAICs Industry
  Liaison Committee.
• We also are active members of the Industry
  Education Committee to NCOIL.

20
What NAHU Does In the States

• NAHU regularly assists our chapters with
  legislative language and strategy for pending
  state-level legislation and regulations.
• We often develop charts, testimony, position
  statements, articles, analyses, and other policy
  documents at the request of our state chapters.
• We work with state legislators, regulators, and
  other officials on implementation of legislation
  and particularly on state/federal cooperation on
  federally passed legislation.   

21
The NAHU Government Relations Staff

• Janet Trautwein, Executive Vice President and CEO
  
• Jessica Waltman, Senior VP of Government Affairs
• John Greene VP of Congressional Affairs
• Peter Stein VP of Congressional Affairs
• Adam Brackemyre, Dir. of State Affairs- Regions 1
  , 2, 3 4
• Michael Keegan, Dir. of State Affairs- Regions 5,
  6, 7 8
• Danielle Jaffee, Manager of Government Affairs

22
The Legislative Management Team

• Jesse Patton, Legislative Council Chair
• Russ Childers, NAHU President
• Steve Selinsky, NAHU President-elect
• Janet Trautwein, NAHU Executive Vice-President
  and CEO
• Jessica Waltman, Senior Vice President of
  Government Affairs

23
The Legislative Council

• Jesse Patton, Legislative Council Chair
• Pam Mitroff, Associate Chair for Employee
  Benefits and the Uninsured
• Larry Hurst, Associate Chair for Regulatory
  Affairs
• Region 1 Legislative Chair Julie Jennings
• Region 2 Legislative Chair Alan Schulman
• Region 3 Legislative Chair Sue Christensen
• Region 4 Legislative Chair Troy Cook
• Region 5 Legislative Chair Lisa Wetherton
• Region 6 Legislative Chair Misty Baker
• Region 7 Legislative Chair James Sugden
• Region 8 Legislative Chair Marsha Tellesbo

24
NAHUs Capitol Conference

• NAHU hosts a Capital Conference in Washington, DC
  every spring for our membership.
• The event is comprised of educational training
  sessions for our members, legislative updates
  from the NAHU staff, amazing speakers
  representing the Congressional and Executive
  branches of government, direct lobbying by the
  member attendees on Capitol Hill and a closing
  Congressional Reception.
• Leg Chairs lead their states delegations.
• Make sure that your member attendees are prepared
  and energized for the event, and organizing your
  states lobbying visits.

25
Capitol Conference

• Things legislative chairs can do to make sure
  your state delegation has successful lobbying
  visits on Capitol Hill
• Make appointments with every office and that at
  least one member from that Congressional district
  is present.
• Send effective teams to your Members of Congress
  that hold a key committee or leadership.
• If you think one of your visits is particularly
  important to NAHUs agenda, ask one of our staff
  lobbyists to come along.
• Develop teams of members to handle the visits.
  These teams shouldnt be too large (3-6 members
  is perfect) and one person should be designated
  as the discussion leader.
• Brief all of the members of your team to make
  sure they are on message.
• Fill out the NAHU debriefing form and one person
  to maintain follow-up contact with the office and
  send a thank-you note.

26
Hiring a State Lobbyist

• State legislatures are becoming more professional
  each year, and relevant meetings, hearing and
  activities occur all of the time.
• Hiring a professional not only gives you expert
  advice and representation, but it also lends a
  greater degree of legitimacy to the association.
• NAHU has a publication available designed
  specifically for our chapters on finding
  prospective lobbyists, questions for RFPs and
  interviews, issues to address in lobbyist
  contracts, fundraising strategies, and ways NAHU
  can help assist you with obtaining a lobbyist.
• Great management of your contract lobbyist is key
  for your chapter to get the most value and
  influence out of its lobbying dollars

27
Managing a State Lobbyist

• Having a team in place to manage the lobbyist is
  key
• Ideal function of the state legislative
  committee.
• Make sure expectations are clear on both sides.
• Set up a schedule of regular meetings and means
  of communication.
• Make sure your lobbyist understands your top
  priorities, the basics of health insurance
  markets and the role of the agent.
• Develop clear policy positions to give your
  lobbyist a solid guidelines to use when
  advocating your position.
• Have a procedure in place for handling possible
  conflicts of interest.

28
Coalition Building

• Coalition building is another key component of
  gaining influence in your state capital
• Your chapter NEEDS to be a part of all of these
  groups and coalitions such as
• Agent and carrier groups
• Health care coalitions
• Business groups.
• You do not agree with every coalition goal.
• Simply being seen at these events establishes
  your organizations presence.
• You can glean all sorts of powerful information.
• You never know where your friends and allies are
  going to come from and when you are going to need
  them.
• An effective lobbyist can help you to gain access
  to these coalitions or form them if they do not
  already exist.

29
Coalition Building

• What our members bring to the table
• Unique knowledge of the health insurance market
  place. We understand what consumers want, the
  perspective of the small business owner and the
  economic realties of health insurance markets.
• Access to true health insurance rates for all
  products and all carriers.
• Access to a vast number of health insurance
  consumers and small business owners.
• Excellent presentation and sales skills.
• Not only can you readily mobilize your
  membership, you can also access the clients of
  your membership.

30
Holding a State Day on the Hill

• If your state is not hosting a Day on the Hill
  every year, it should be.
• This is an easy way to get your members fired up
  about legislative issues, make your presence
  known and establish yourselves as a resource to
  legislators and staff.
• An easy way to do it is to mimic the structure of
  NAHUs Capital Conference, with a combination of
  speakers, direct lobbying of legislators and a
  reception or other social function.

31
Holding a State Day on the Hill

• Some things to keep in mind when organizing your
  event
• You can use Operation Shout! to let legislators
  know you will be coming to the capitol.
• Pick the venue and the day/time carefully. You
  want a location that is easily accessible and
  convenient for both your members and high profile
  speakers.
• Many chapters combine their days on the hill with
  other agent groups or other coalition partners to
  ensure greater attendance and more focus on their
  issues.
• Follow your states protocols for scheduling
  lobbying visits.

32
Holding a State Day on the Hill

• Some things to keep in mind when organizing your
  event
• Make sure all of your members are properly
  prepared for their lobbying visits. Brief them
  ahead of time and prepare talking points and
  informational materials for them to leave behind.
• Invite speakers well in advance and be flexible
  about schedules.
• Work with National to get media coverage of your
  event.
• A social event is a great way to conclude a
  meeting, reward members for participating and
  show your appreciation to legislators and their
  staff. Make sure you are very cognizant about
  gift rules, etc. in your state though!

33
Health Insurance 101 Briefings

• A great way to establish yourself as a resource
  group for legislators, legislative staff, the
  media and other groups is to host a Health
  Insurance 101 briefing at or near the Capitol.
• A good time to do this is just before the
  legislative session starts. You can also host a
  briefing as part of your Day on the Hill.
• Legislators are generalists, as are reporters.
  Most of them only understand the very basics of
  private health insurance. Many state legislators
  have access to the state employees plan, and so
  they might not even be private health insurance
  consumers!

34
Health Insurance 101 Briefings

• How health insurance markets work, including the
  way they work in other states that are regulated
  differently than your own (i.e., states with
  community rating, states with medical
  underwriting, states with risk pools) is very
  valuable information for legislators to have.
• Inviting the press not only could get you
  positive coverage of your event, but it could
  also help improve the content of future articles.
• Several NAHU chapters hold successful briefings
  every year.
• National has developed a template presentation
  for you to use, and can also contact information
  for chapters who have organized similar events in
  the past.

35
Being Proactive

• Legislators and regulators hear No, no, no from
  other organizations and constituents all the
  time.
• Also, many groups get wrapped up in being
  responsive to other peoples proposals, and they
  forget to advance their own positive agenda.
• Its amazing how receptive policymakers can be to
  a positive voice.
• Try to establish your association as a positive
  force for private health insurance market
  solutions.

36
Being Proactive

• Things you can do
• Listen to everyone and everyones ideas. Even if
  you think they sound crazy right off the bat,
  dont immediately jump to the defensive. Look
  for areas of common ground and ways in which you
  can work together or modify proposals to make
  them more palatable.
• Volunteer to serve as a resource for anyone who
  needs help. Examples of things you can provide
  include information on what other states are
  doing or whats going on in DC (ask National),
  market information, rate information, grassroots
  support, your clients perspective, etc.

37
Being Proactive

• Other things you can do
• Ask legislators and key regulators how you could
  best help them.
• Provide reliable, accurate information in a
  timely manner.
• Try to broker compromises among coalition
  partners.
• Keep your seat at the table if at all possible.
• Every session, try to advance at least one
  positive bill created by your chapter. National
  can help you draft legislation and come up with
  ideas for projects (i.e., LTC partnerships,
  high-risk pool, small group reform)

38
NAHUs State Legislative Defense Fund

• To assist chapters that have a need for financial
  assistance due to an emergency legislative
  situation, the NAHU BOT created the State
  Legislative Defense Fund (SLDF).
• To receive SLDF monies, the leadership of a state
  NAHU affiliate must complete the approved SLDF
  application.
• Copies of the application should be submitted to
• The NAHU government affairs staff person assigned
  to your state,
• The appropriate regional legislative chair and
• The appropriate regional vice president.
• Upon receiving the application, the NAHU
  Legislative Management Team will review it and
  submit it to the NAHU BOT for approval.

39
NAHUs State Legislative Defense Fund

• The NAHU BOT may make SLDF monies available to
  NAHU chapters in the form of a grant or a
  repayable loan.
• The NAHU BOT will require all SLDF grant and/or
  loan recipients to provide the association with
  monthly progress reports regarding the
  legislative effort for which SLDF funds are
  provided.
• The SLDF application process can take several
  weeks, as the NAHU BOT meets monthly.
• If you would like to request an expedited review,
  or if you have any other questions about this
  application process, please contact the NAHU
  staff member assigned to your state.

40
Wrapping up

• Hire a lobbyist (if possible) to help expand your
  chapters influence.
• Identify coalition partners and get involved with
  coalition events and activities.
• Make the most of our memberships unique
  understanding of the economics of the health
  insurance market place and the needs and wants of
  health insurance consumers.
• Sometimes you just need to see and be seen to
  make an impact.
• Serve as a resource to legislators and coalition
  partners.
• Be a proactive force in the capital. Make sure
  your chapter is known as the group that is
  seeking positive private health insurance market
  solutions.
• Call NAHU staff if you have questions.