CEOs play key advocacy role in health policy issues

CEOs have always played an important role in influencing health policy legislation. But in these times many CEOs view it as an essential part of their jobs. "It's terribly important to educate and sensitize legislators to the indigent care problem and hospital problems in general," says James Mongan, M.D., executive director of the Truman Medical Center, Kansas City, MO. Mongan, who has testified several times at the federal level on behalf of the American Hospital Association, believes that advocacy on the part of patients is a legitimate, constructive way to contribute to the public policy debate. "My sense is that there is a certain amount of hunger to talk to the people who are running the hospital facilities." Activity at the state level is also an important legislative arena for CEOs. Lobbying efforts at the state and local level pay dividends, according to executives who are actively involved in shaping state legislation.