Legislative "Key Contacts" are members who have some type of personal acquaintance with elected officials and thus have greater access to communicate information about health care issues and convey the ACCMA's and/or the CMA's view on pending health care legislation. Key Contacts play an integral role in our legislative advocacy activities.
What Kind of Relationship is Required?
ACCMA members may have relationships with elected officials who:
- are members of the same club, civic organization, religious congregation or some other group
- are former classmates or alumni from the same school
- have their children in the same school
- have some type of family relationship
- are a treating physician
- have received the ACCMA member's personal support for their election to public office
What Do Key Contacts Have to Do?
As a key contact, you will be periodically asked to convey the ACCMA and/or CMA's view on specific legislation to the legislator(s) in your network. It is, of course, at the discretion of the key contact to convey the message on any given issue or bill. Additionally, key contacts will be invited to attend meetings with legislators scheduled by the ACCMA Legislative and Executive Committees, attend the CMA's annual legislative day in Sacramento, and may serve on the ACCMA Legislative Committee.
What if I Don't Have Relationships with Elected Officials?
If you don't have any existing connection with a legislator or someone who is aspiring to get elected, you can get acquainted by supporting their campaign, or by involving yourself in their campaign. You might even consider hosting a fundraiser in your home for a candidate or elected official. Whatever the relationship is, it creates an opportunity for the most effective communication possible.
How Do I Become a Key Contact?
Our continued ability to influence health care policy is dependent on cultivating and expanding our cadre of key contacts. If you currently have or want to develop a relationship with an elected official and have not yet become a key contact, please sign up by completing the
"Key Contact" Enrollment Form and sending it to the ACCMA (
click here for contact information).