Presented by:
- Corey Greenblatt, MPH, Manager of Policy and Advocacy
- Sarah Shaw, BIPOC Patient Advocate, Community Outreach Manager
- Conner Mertens, Patient Advocate, Community Outreach Manager
- Zoe Rothblatt, MPH, Patient Advocate, Community Outreach Manager
- JP Summers, Advocacy Fellow
If you live with a chronic illness, you know all too well about the challenging U.S. health care system, especially when it comes to accessing affordable, timely treatments and care for your condition. You may have spent hours on the phone battling denials, been forced to try and fail treatments, or even faced unreasonable copayments for life-saving medications.
Your stories have the potential to impact legislation at the federal level and in states around the country. The Global Healthy Living Foundation’s 50-State Network works side-by-side with hundreds of patients, sharing their stories with key decision-makers to inspire change in our healthcare system.
The 50-State Network team hosted a training session on the basics of advocacy to educate patients on how to be an effective advocate.
Fast Facts from the Webinar
- Your Stories Have Power
Health care policy can be confusing. By personifying and attaching your lived experience to your advocacy, those in position of power can see the real repercussion of their decisions.
- Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion is Necessary for Patient Advocacy
Policymakers need to see and hear how chronic illness and pain is represented. If not represented properly, this can lead to gaps in funding, access and care for underserved, marginalized and underrepresented patient communities.
- Pick One or Two Issues for Your Advocacy Meeting
The issues don’t need to have a bill yet; they can just be a concern or an issue you want to share with your legislator. By picking one or two issues, you can devote your attention to those in detail.
- Use the Three Ps to Tell Your Story
To tell a story effectively, use these three Ps: Preparation, Practice, and Precision. For preparation, know your audience and tailor your story to them. To practice, tell your story to a friend, family member or colleague ahead of time. Remember to stay on topic and be precise.
- Ask the 50-State Network for help
If getting involved in advocacy seems too difficult and you want help, GHLF is happy to help you prepare and set up the meeting with your legislators. Email us at advocacy@ghlf.org.
Want to Get More Involved with Patient Advocacy?
The 50-State Network is the grassroots advocacy arm of CreakyJoints and the Global Healthy Living Foundation, comprised of patients with chronic illness who are trained as health care activists to proactively connect with local, state, and federal health policy stakeholders to share their perspectives and influence change. If you want to effect change and make health care more affordable and accessible to patients with chronic illness, learn more here.
This webinar was made possible, in part, with funding from Amgen.
