State Activities & Engagement: Your Inside Track to Influence! (On-Demand Webinar)-State Engagement Webinar (RECORDING)

Video Transcription

Video Summary

In the IHS webinar titled "State Activities and Engagement, Your Inside Track to Influence," Christine Seitz, IHS's Manager of Government Affairs, discussed the vital role of advocacy for hearing aid specialists. Her presentation highlighted IHS's efforts in supporting hearing aid specialists through advocacy and policy initiatives, such as drafting bills and amendments to protect their scope of practice. She emphasized the importance of being proactive in influencing state legislation and regulations, stating that most lawmakers are not aware of the intricacies within hearing healthcare professions.<br /><br />Christine detailed the legislative process, urging attendees to get involved by building relationships with decision-makers, participating in public hearings, and keeping up with legislative changes. She highlighted the need for collective action, such as advocacy days, to demonstrate support. Notably, she mentioned successful advocacy efforts that prevented harmful bills in states like Indiana and Georgia.<br /><br />Attendees were encouraged to communicate effectively with legislators, keep their advocacy focused on professional issues, and address opposition by understanding their argument while presenting data and personal stories as counterpoints. IHS provides resources such as the Advocacy Toolkit to assist specialists in these efforts. The overall message stressed the critical nature of advocacy in ensuring high professional standards and improved patient care.

Keywords

advocacy

hearing aid specialists

legislation

state engagement

policy initiatives

IHS

government affairs

advocacy toolkit

professional standards