Proposed IMDMC Advocacy Guidelines

IMDMC Advocacy Process Guidelines

4/30/03

Goal: A public policy environment that serves the patients of today and tomorrow, supports the long-term financial viability of healthcare system and promotes timely patient access to medical technology and continued innovation.

I. On Going Issues:

The Request

At any point, any full member of IMDMC may raise a federal or state public policy issue for possible advocacy by contacting the chairman of the advocacy committee.
The company that raises the issue is responsible for framing the problem and proposing the general direction of the solution. In framing the problem, the requestor should provide enough background for the Board to understand in general the advantages and disadvantages of the proposed solution. In particular, it should address a series of basic questions that the association will post to its web site.
The advocacy chairman will present the proposal to the Board.

Board Approval

The Board will review the statement of the problem and proposed direction, and if the Board finds it acceptable, the Board will authorize the creation (chartering) of a task force dedicated to addressing the issue on the basis of the proposed solution. The Board can act by e-mail, conference call or meeting, depending on the Board’s desires.
In deciding whether a proposed policy provision is acceptable, the Board will seek to craft a statement that represents a consensus of the group. Such statement will be general in nature, leaving the details to the task force.
If a statement cannot be crafted that represents unanimous agreement, such statement must be supported by at least 80% of the Board present at the meeting.
Alternatively, the Board can authorize the chartering of a task force without a policy statement, and ask the Task Force, before engaging in advocacy, to propose a policy statement for the Board’s approval.
In addition to these responses to requests, the Board may on its own motion approve general advocacy statements to provide guidance to the advocacy committee.

Creating a Task Force

The opportunity to participate in the task force will be announced through Regweb and Payweb and on the IMDMC website, and as appropriate announced at meetings of the Council.
The advocacy chairman will chair the task force, and convene meetings.
The task force shall be open to anyone interested in the issue.

Duties and Authority of the Task Force

The task force shall develop:

Ø More detailed policy positions within the framework established by the Board.

Ø Written materials designed to support the policy statements

Ø Strategies and tactics for advocating those policy positions.

Each time they are completed for public release, the task force shall disseminate for comment its policy positions to the members of IMDMC through Regweb and Payweb.
The task force shall consider the comments of members, but has discretion to accept or reject such comments so long as the task force stays within the parameters set by the board.
So long as the detailed policy positions are consistent with the Board direction, the task force may proceed to express the policy positions on behalf of the entire IMDMC.
The task force shall be responsible for all costs associated with the project. It may divide those costs in whatever manner is acceptable to the task force.

Monitoring and Reporting

The task force shall be responsible for monitoring the advocacy efforts and making adjustments to the proposed policies and the advocacy strategies and tactics as necessary and appropriate.
The advocacy chair shall keep the Board informed of the activities of the task force at quarterly board meetings (by supplying copies of key policy statements), and at any juncture where the task force wishes to depart from its charter.
The task force shall try to keep the membership informed of significant developments through Regweb and Payment and oral reports at meetings, as appropriate.

II. One Time Issues

Any full member may propose that IMDMC sign on to an advocacy letter or position statement by sending the proposed letter or statement to the advocacy chair. In addition to the letter, the requestor will frame the problem by providing enough background for the Board to understand in general the advantages and disadvantages of the proposed solution. In particular, the backgrounder should address a series of basic questions that the association will post to its web site.
The advocacy chair will forward such letter or statement, together with his or her recommendation, to the Board for decision.
The advocacy chair will convey that decision to the requesting member and/or to the outside party seeking IMDMC’s support.