The Current Health House: Republicans 247 seats, Democrats 188 - - PowerPoint PPT Presentation

11/9/2016 1

BCAN and Lobbyit.com

BCAN and Lobbyit.com

• Lobbyit.com is BCAN’s representative in Washington
• Lobbyit.com was founded in 2009, represents over 40

clients across broad spectrum on policy areas

• Lobbyit is working in three main areas

1. Advocating to increase research funding (DOD) 2. Raising awareness of BCAN and bladder cancer 3. Organizing a “Hill Day” and briefings on the Hill

• What can I do to help?
• Write your Congressman and ask him to support
• ur efforts
• Participate in the Hill Day, or work with Lobbyit

to set up district visits

The Current Health Care Climate

Federal Developments

2016 Congress in Full GOP Control

• Senate: Republicans 54 seats, Democrats 44,

Independents 2

• House: Republicans 247 seats, Democrats 188
• Bipartisan cooperation? Unlikely, 27% of R’s
• ptimistic, 20% of D’s (Pew, 1/15)
• Agenda driven by issues that have expired or

are looming

• Political bills (ACA, Immigration, gun

control)

11/9/2016 2 Federal Developments

• 114th Congress - Most Diverse ... But
• About 20% women and 17% non-white BUT Still 80% male and 80%

white

• Record 104 women legislators BUT only 3 hold committee leadership

positions (down from the 113th)

• Key Committee Leadership
• Senate Armed Services
• Chair: John McCain (R-AZ)
• RM: Jack Reed (D-RI)
• Senate HELP
• Chair: Lamar Alexander (R-TN)
• RM: Patty Murray (D-WA)
• House Armed Services
• Chair: Mac Thornberry (R-TX)
• RM: Adam Smith (D-WA)
• House Energy & Commerce, Health Subcommittee
• Chair: Joe Pitts (R-PA)
• RM: Gene Green (D-TX)

Federal Developments

Cancer “Moonshot”

• Initiative led by White House and Vice

President

• Convened 400 cancer researchers, oncologists,

nurses, patients, advocates to kick off June 29, 2016

• Mission is to double the rate of progress in cancer

research and treatment, striving to accelerate 10 years of achievements into 5

• President Obama has requested around $1 billion
• ver two years
• FDA created new oncology center of excellence
• Dr. Richard Pazdur to lead

NDAA and Defense Spending

• Bladder cancer is included within DOD’s CDMRP PRCP
• NDAA currently stalled, however Chairman McCain has

vowed that he will send something to the floor in November

• Largest health research budget in the federal

government

• Pentagon recently drafted a paper strategizing against

Republican budget cuts

Hillary Clinton and Healthcare

• Secretary Clinton intends to:
• Defend and build upon the Affordable Care

Act.

• Lessen out-of-pocket expenses.
• Encourage states to expand Medicaid.
• Invest in making enrollment easier.
• Expand access to healthcare to all families,

regardless of immigration status.

• Fight drug companies on rising prescription

drug prices.

• Protect access to women’s reproductive

healthcare.

11/9/2016 3 Donald Trump and Healthcare

• Mr. Trump wants a full repeal of the Affordable Care

Act and replace it with the following policies:

• Allow sale of insurance across state lines.
• Make premium payments fully deductible from

tax returns for individuals.

• Allow individuals to use Health Savings Accounts.
• Require price transparency from all providers.
• Block-grant Medicaid to the states.
• Remove barriers to entry into free markets for

drug providers. Consumers would have access to drugs from overseas.

115th Congress Outlook

• The GOP is expected to keep its majority in

the House of Representatives.

• It is not out of the question for Democrats

to gain a majority in the Senate.

• What we may see from the next Congress:
• Increased defense spending
• ACA depends on the next President and

Senate.

• Mental health will take a front seat,

continuing the bipartisan efforts of the 114th Congress.

• Medicare reform?

How You Can Advocate and Influence Advocacy

• Three main ways
• Participate in BCAN’s Hill

Day

• Utilize BCAN’s Advocacy

Portal

• District Visits with Local

Congressional Delegations

11/9/2016 4 BCAN’s Hill Day

May to Coincide with National Bladder Cancer Month

• Patient advocates from throughout the U.S.

descend on Washington for a day of lobbying the hill on our priorities

• Advocates meet with their own Congressional

delegation as well as with important Members in leadership within the relevant committees

• Priorities include raising awareness,

advocating for additional DOD funding

Advocacy Portal

• Advocates can “Lobby from Afar”
• Functionality on federal, state and local

government

• On BCAN’s website, click “get involved”,

then “make your voice heard”

• 607 messages sent to 286 Members and

Senators

• Current Campaign is to Support Defense

Research Funding

District Visits

• Each Congressional office also has local

(district staff) www.house.gov/representatives/find

• If you cannot make it to D.C., great idea to

sit down with district staff, and possibly the Member when they are in the district

• Tell your story!
• BCAN always has an advocacy effort
• ngoing, we will provide talking points

for our ultimate goals but they need to hear from you!

11/9/2016 5 Contact Information

• Brandon Farris
• bfarris@lobbyit.com
• 202-713-8297