Advocacy

Colorado Advocacy

Why does advocacy matter?

When done effectively, advocacy influences public policy by providing a conduit for individuals and organizations to voice an opinion. These efforts can, in turn, sway public opinion, garner press coverage, and ultimately provide policymakers an opportunity to respond to constituents’ needs.

Are nonprofits allowed to advocate?

YES! There are lots of ways nonprofits can advocate to improve policies, programs, and services for healthcare IT —without without running afoul of any federal laws or jeopardizing their tax-exempt status.

What does Chapter Advocacy do?

Chapter advocacy efforts consist of two main events:

Connecting with and educating legislative stakeholders during Advocacy Day in the Spring
We:
- Represent Colorado at a national and global level with other chapters that are part of CATF (Chapter Advocacy Task Force).
- Assess the impact of Colorado state bills that are up for review and connect with influencers in and around the State House to offer our viewpoint on their impact and potential.
- Connect with other healthcare and healthcare IT associations and organizations that have the mission of improving healthcare in America through IT.
- Weave advocacy through all the educational events that Chapter offers.

How can Chapter members get involved?

Interested in optimizing health engagements and care outcomes through information technology across the State of Colorado? We are looking for individuals who:

Like to research bills and legislation, parse out the important aspects and summarize for others
Are interested in organizing or participating in "road trips" to the state house, town halls, and initiative-related events
Feel curious about Colorado State government processes and how you can make an impact
Are looking to expand themselves professionally within the HIT industry through education and relationships at the local level

If any of these characteristics sound like you, we'd love to have you. Please contact colorado.info@himsschapter.org to learn more.

Advocacy vs. lobbying: What’s the difference?

Advocacy is the process of stakeholders making their voices heard on issues that affect their lives and the lives of others at the local, state, and national level. It also means helping policymakers find specific solutions to persistent problems. Most nonprofits can and do engage in as much advocacy as possible to achieve their goals.

Lobbying, on the other hand, involves activities that are in direct support of or opposition to a specific piece of introduced legislation. While nonprofits can engage in some lobbying, the IRS has strict rules about what portion of their budget can go toward these activities. There are also prohibitions on any use of federal funds for lobbying.

Examples of advocacy vs. lobbying

Advocacy

Telling your member of the Colorado legislature how a federal grant your organization received has helped your constituents.
Educating a member of the Colorado legislature about the effects of a policy on your constituency.
Inviting a member of the Colorado legislature to visit your organization so that he/she may see firsthand how state funding or a policy affects day-to-day operations and the difference it makes.

Lobbying

Asking your member of the Colorado legislature to vote for or against, or amend, introduced legislation.
Emailing a “call to action” to your members urging them to contact their member of the Colorado legislature in support of action on introduced legislation or pending regulations.
Preparing materials or organizing events in support of lobbying activities.

How can you be an advocate?

You can be an advocate by educating policymakers about the needs of your organization and the people you serve, and developing a relationship where you act as trusted voice on policy issues and a helpful resource with Colorado legislative casework. You also can organize supporters on issues of importance and educate a wider audience on your accomplishments.Some examples include:

Emailing or calling your elected officials.
Organizing meetings or site visits with your legislators and their staff.
Making your views known to policymakers and your community through traditional and social media.

Keep in mind that these activities cross the line into lobbying if they call for action on introduced legislation or a pending regulation.

Effective advocacy is a mix of:

Identifying the right audience (the policymaker).
Find your legislators using HIMSS free lookup service, Legislative Action Center, or https://leg.colorado.gov.
Having a persuasive message (clearly stating what you want to achieve and how it relates to the policy).