The number 33 is on my mind. And not just because it figures prominently in the local lore of my native Lebanon County, Pennsylvania, where we’re baffled by the 33 that appears on every bottle of Rolling Rock beer and get excited about the annual Big 33 football game featuring the best high school players in the state. I’m thinking of 33 because that’s the number of cosponsors we need for our
provider status bill in the House, H.R. 592, to reach the magic number of 218, a majority of the U.S. House of Representatives.
Reaching 218 is a milestone but not the end zone. Getting this level of support means that a majority of House members view this bill favorably and would likely vote for it on the House floor. But there is still work for us to do. We must work on the Senate side to gain support, lobby the committee chairs and ranking members get the bills considered by the committees of jurisdiction, and the Congressional Budget Office must issue a “score” that addresses the legislation’s costs to the Medicare program.
Now is the time for every ASHP member in every state to take action. Members of Congress are in their districts for the next 5 weeks to meet with constituents, hear concerns from the “folks back home,” and reconnect with the electorate. There is no better time to generate a buzz about this legislation as we head into the fall and come closer to the goal of 218 cosponsors.
So, how do we get there? Here’s a simple first step: Send an email to your members of Congress and ask them to cosponsor the bill. Tell them how the training you received in your six years of schooling has prepared you for a role in patient care and how the bills will increase access to care in medically underserved areas. Describe how the services provided by pharmacists help to achieve greater cost savings and improve the lives of our nation’s seniors.
We’ve done a lot of the work for you. Simply go to our
online advocacy center and personalize the email with examples from your practice that demonstrate the value you bring to the healthcare team. If your member of Congress is not a sponsor, our online tool will automatically send an emailing asking him or her to sign on in support of the bill. If they are a cosponsor, they will receive an email thanking them for their support. You can
check our website to see if the congressional representatives in your state are cosponsors.
If you want to take the next step, include a request to meet with your representatives and their aides in their local offices. Our
Political Activity Toolkit has a step-by-step guide for setting up your meeting.
Reaching 218 cosponsors represents a turning point in our campaign, one that now has momentum on our side. What once seemed insurmountable is actually possible. This would be huge! Please commit to take the next step—sending an email, setting up an office meeting, or hosting a site visit—to help us line up those 33 new cosponsors by the end of August.