No Free Lunch: Kathleen Witgert at the special policy session in Philly

HIGXYZ22HIGZYX In addition, some areas APHA is looking to members to write position papers are:

• Asbestos disease compensation

• Clean Water Act

• Medicare Reform (Financing, prescription drugs post the Medicare Modernization Act)

• Mid- and late-term abortion

• Pandemic Influenza

• Long-Term Care  (Medicaid/Medicare/Financing)                    

• Women’s health (incl. Aging issues)

• The role of the pharmacist in public health

• Health care financing/reform (Health Savings Accounts, Association Health Plans, tax credits)

• Medical malpractice

• Immunity/liability of companies who develop or produce drugs, vaccines or devices 

• Other immunity/liability concerns (gun manufacturers, alcohol and tobacco companies) 

• Prioritization of public health funding  

How APHA uses written policies

Policies are the foundation of APHA’s advocacy work.  Whenever APHA is asked to participate in briefings, join coalitions, or write letters to policy-makers, the organization looks to its approved policies to support its position.  The Governing Council votes on proposed policies each year at the Annual Meeting.

But where do these policies come from?  They come from us!  APHA issues an annual call for proposed policy statements.  Individual members or Sections respond with draft policy statements on issues that they feel are import and should be addressed by APHA.  These drafts are posted on the web for comment, giving individuals and Sections another opportunity for involvement.  Draft policies and comments are then reviewed by the Joint Policy Committee, which may work with authors to refine policies.  Additional discussion and amendments may take place at the Annual Meeting, prior to the Governing Council’s vote.

At the 2005 Annual Meeting, APHA conducted its first-ever training on “Navigating the Ins and Outs of the APHA Policy Proposal Process.”  At this session, APHA staff and members of the Joint Policy Committee explained the steps and the timeline for the APHA policy process.

What are policies?

APHA policies come in two flavors.  A resolution is a concise statement of the Association’s stance on a particular issue affecting the health of the public.  It describes and endorses a defined course of action, directed toward a particular individual, organization or event.  A position paper is a longer statement describing the Association’s viewpoint on a broad issue affecting the public’s health. It may call for action, though it need not do so. 

What makes a good policy?

The Joint Policy Committee shared the following tips for writing a good resolution or position paper:

·        Work with your Section and Action Board representative.  Reach out to other Sections for comment.

·        Write broadly, so that the policy can be applied to more than one particular situation.

·        Conduct a review of the scientific literature and provide references that support the statements in the policy.

·        Ensure that action statements are externally focused, rather than focused on what APHA should do.

·        Give the policy a short, specific, and reflective title.

Linda Quick, lquick@sfhha.com,  is CHPPD's Action Board Representative, and CHPPD's Policy Committee representatives are Doc Lumpkins, dmlumpkins@comcast.net, and Harry Perlstadt, perlstad@msu.edu.

2006 Policy Development Timeline

December 2005: Call for 2006 proposed new policy statements is issued

Mar 15, 2006, 5pm EST: Proposed new policy statements due to APHA

March 24, 2006: Proposed new policy statements posted on APHA’s Web site for review and comment

April 7, 2006: Last day to submit comments on proposed policies

May 12, 2006: Authors of proposed policies will receive comments from the Joint Policy Committee

June 16, 2006, 5pm EST: Revised policy statements due to APHA

Nov. 5, 2006: Public hearings at the APHA Annual Meeting

Nov. 7, 2006: Governing Council votes on policy statements at the APHA Annual Meeting