Advocacy

"Grassroots advocacy" is patients, community leaders, local residents, and any Community Health Center supporters telling / educating their local, state, and national government officials about important issues, ideas, and opinions.  Grassroots advocacy is very effective when several individuals of an organization with a similar message write letters or e-mails and make phone calls to these government officials about key issues.

Getting involved in grassroots advocacy is easy.  It involves sending messages to your representative members of the Indiana General Assembly and Congress about important health care issues, attending Health Center events, or writing a letter to the editor or your local paper expressing the importance of supporting health centers. 

The issues that IPHCA champions align with its mission to advocate for quality health care for all those residing in Indiana and to support the development of community oriented primary care initiatives, that are: affordable, available, accessible, appropriate, and acceptable.  Every year, IPHCA's Board of Directors determines key policy positions for the Indiana General Assembly. IPHCA partners with the National Association of Community Health Centers on national policy issues.

IPHCA is available to provide grassroots advocacy training for organizations throughout Indiana.  IPHCA also provides a Legislative Day where member organizations and individuals visit their Indiana General Assembly representatives to discuss key issues.  IPHCA also leads a delegation to visit Congressional representatives every year at the National Association of Community Health Centers Policy and Issues Forum.

Health Reform

FQHC Health Reform Background and Talking Points  (posted 3/26/10)

FQHC Health Reform – Thanks Letter  (posted 3/26/10)

Indiana GOP Wants to Block Federal Health Reform Mandates  (posted 2/1/10)

Bayh Rejects Rush Job on Health Care  (posted 2/1/10)

Health-Care Bill Still Needed, Some Indiana Democrats Say  (posted 1/27/10)

Health Center Related Provisions of House and Senate Health Reform Bills  (posted 1/21/10)

Health Care Reform Bill Q&A  (posted 1/7/10)

Rough Seas Ahead in Senate for Health-Care Bill  (posted 12/1/09)

Senate Health Plan Would Lower Premiums for Some  (posted 12/1/09)

With Dissension in the Ranks, Health Care Bill Moves Ahead  (posted 11/30/09)

Health Care Reform Update for 11-12-09  (posted 11/24/09)

NACHC’s Health Care Reform Spotlight  (posted 11/18/09)

The House Makes History on Health Care  (posted 11/18/09)

Reform Bill: Is it ‘Dead on Arrival’ in Senate?  (posted 11/18/09)

A Long Road to Reform  (posted 11/18/09)