The South Carolina Hospital Association would like to invite you to join in our efforts to SHAPE THE DEBATE for both state and national healthcare related issues. Legislators in South Carolina and in Washington, DC make decisions that impact your hospitals on a daily basis. As we continue to face challenges with reimbursement, staffing shortages and quality and patient safety, it is very important that our elected officials understand and care about the future of the healthcare system. Learn how your voice can be heard and make an impact with those who are making decisions.

What is LEAd?

LEAd, Leadership for Education and Advocacy, is the South Carolina Hospital Association’s grassroots advocacy program that allows members to work together to make sure the healthcare community is influencing policy decisions that will affect the future of healthcare.

Joining LEAd provides the opportunity to play a role in the development of public policy that furthers the interests of hospitals and the communities they serve.  Members will receive updated information from the State and Federal levels, Advocacy Alerts on important issues, and the tools needed to effectively communicate with lawmakers on issues of importance.

The SCHA has a governmental affairs office. Why do you need me?

SCHA’s team of professional lobbyists works closely with members of Congress and the South Carolina General Assembly.  However, we need you and others to make sure that all lawmakers hear our messages as often and as clearly as possible. Constituents who understand the issues and can tell our story in a personal, compassionate way are far more influential than facts and statistics.

I know my Senator and Representative well – my Senator’s children attend the same school as mine, and I went to school with my Representative. Does that help?

Absolutely. Communications from “key contacts” such as you are very influential. Key contacts play a vital role in SCHA’s legislative advocacy program.

How much time will it take?

SCHA understand that you have a very busy schedule and will limit our requests for assistance to only the most pressing situations.

What are SCHA’s current Legislative Priorities and how are they selected?

The SCHA Board of Trustees works with member hospitals and SCHA senior staff to identify annual legislative priorities. The priorities, which may vary from year to year, can be found on SCHA’s website at www.schanew.org/advocacy.

How will I know when to contact my lawmakers?

You will receive a personal phone call from the Advocacy Team staff and/or an Action Alert by e-mail, along with background information and a fact sheet on the issue. Breaking news and more detailed information are available on the Grassroots Advocacy Center at www.schanew.org/grassroots.

What can I do to improve my effectiveness as a Grassroots Action Team member?

The Advocacy Team will help you stay current with the issues you support through:

• a free electronic copy of the weekly “Pulse” during the legislative session
• a free electronic copy of the “Federal Update”
• access to the interactive website
• list serve updates on selected topics
• invitations to Grassroots Advocates meetings