Get Ready for August Recess!
NHPCO Hospice Action Network
TheAugust recess is around the corner! From August 3 - September 8, members of Congress will be out of DC and returning to their home districts. This is an ideal opportunity to strengthen relationships with legislators and staffers, especially by further educating about and advocating for key issues.
Show Congress the essential role that hospice and palliative care serve in their own backyards! This is a critical moment for hospice and palliative care--with the upcoming hospice Special Focus Program, the need for continued telehealth flexibilities, the urgency to address fraud, and benefits access issues for Veterans, it is vital for advocates and organizations to make the most of this recess.
The Hospice Action Network has everything you need to connect with your Congressional representatives during the recess (and beyond!): 1) Find out who represents you in Congress, if they've co-sponsored any of our priority bills, where their district offices are, and how to contact them through our Action Center.
2) Request an in-district meeting OR invite your legislator on a tour or to another event. OR If you cannot arrange a meeting or tour at this time, you can always take action and contact them using our Action Center. We have Action Alerts ready in support of the hospice workforce, telehealth, and Veterans care.
3) Use our guides to plan for a productive meeting or an engaging visit. If you need to practice meeting with a legislative office, try this practice tool.
4) Don't forget to take photos. Use our social media guide to share about your visit, tour, or event.
5) Review our policy issues before legislative meetings. We have one-pagers and talking points on key issues for advocates to use in meetings, including:
• The Hospice Benefit: One Pager
• President Carter and Long Hospice Stays: One Pager | Talking Points
• Program Integrity: One Pager | Talking Points
• Hospice Special Focus Program: One Pager | Talking Points
• Hospice Payment: One Pager | Talking Points
• Hospice Workforce: One Pager | Talking Points
• Telehealth Flexibilities: One Pager | Talking Points
• Veterans Care: One Pager | Talking Points
• Pediatric Palliative care: One Pager | Talking Points
Thank you for your efforts on behalf of hospice and palliative care. We hope these tools and guides will serve you well this summer and in the future.
Stephanie Marburger
Manager, Grassroots Advocacy
National Hospice and Palliative Care Organization | Hospice Action Network |