At the meetings in DC, there were about 30 or 35 patients along with some doctors and lobbyists for various groups including advocates and medical imaging equipment manufacturers. The patients were from various parts of the country based on which MoCs were scheduled for meetings. There were quite a number of MoC’s – both Senators and Congresspeople on the list including Senators Schumer (NY), Durbin (IL), Franken (MN), Lincoln (AR), Hagan (NC) and Mikulski (MD). The House side Representatives were from a variety of states including NJ, NY, PA, FL, TX, SD, MD, MI, AL, IN, WI and so on. I was assigned to meet with Rep. Allyson Schwartz (D-PA) who represents a part of Philadelphia and western suburbs and serves on the House Ways and Means Committee and Rep. Frank Pallone (D-NJ) who represents a convoluted central NJ district that stretches from Plainfield through New Brunswick and then down along the shore to Asbury Park. Ah, the gerrymandering of congressional districts! Rep. Pallone is the chair of the House Subcommittee on Health.
At each meeting, I was part of a group of about six people including one other cancer patient, a couple of advocacy group lobbyists and a lobbyist for an imagining equipment manufacturer. In one case it was Seimans and I don’t recall the firm of the other.
Both meetings lasted about a half an hour. In both cases, the representatives showed an excellent command of healthcare issues and in Rep. Pallone’s case, a great familiarity with the minutia of imaging issues. Both Reps had their staffer who was in charge of healthcare attend. Most of the talking, as you might imagine, was done by the lobbyists – with the Reps asking specific questions. The lobbyists stuck to their key talking points (which we patients were all briefed on the night before). The Reps were interested in hearing a little from we patients and also commented that bringing actual patients into meetings with MoCs was an effective way to gain their attention.
In both meetings, I thought the lobbyists did a good job of explaining the issues succinctly and I was impressed by the Representatives’ demeanor, intelligence and logic. In neither case could they make promises about what any final legislation would hold but both were very sincere in their interest and supportive. So, overall, I think the meetings went well and the points were made. The lobbyists were all happy after the meetings – feeling like they got a chance to be heard.
At each meeting, I was part of a group of about six people including one other cancer patient, a couple of advocacy group lobbyists and a lobbyist for an imagining equipment manufacturer. In one case it was Seimans and I don’t recall the firm of the other.
Both meetings lasted about a half an hour. In both cases, the representatives showed an excellent command of healthcare issues and in Rep. Pallone’s case, a great familiarity with the minutia of imaging issues. Both Reps had their staffer who was in charge of healthcare attend. Most of the talking, as you might imagine, was done by the lobbyists – with the Reps asking specific questions. The lobbyists stuck to their key talking points (which we patients were all briefed on the night before). The Reps were interested in hearing a little from we patients and also commented that bringing actual patients into meetings with MoCs was an effective way to gain their attention.
In both meetings, I thought the lobbyists did a good job of explaining the issues succinctly and I was impressed by the Representatives’ demeanor, intelligence and logic. In neither case could they make promises about what any final legislation would hold but both were very sincere in their interest and supportive. So, overall, I think the meetings went well and the points were made. The lobbyists were all happy after the meetings – feeling like they got a chance to be heard.
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