This Action Toolkit is designed to help you create change and make a positive impact on the world!
It provides information on how to engage your legislator, how to build a case for your issue, and how to reach out to decision-makers, as well as, include tips on how to be an effective advocate, and tips to consider when communicating with your legislature.
Advocacy can be a powerful way to create change and make a positive impact on the world. Here are some tips for effective advocacy:
Advocating for a cause can be a powerful way to effect change, but it's important to approach it with care to avoid common mistakes. Here are some tips:
By following these tips, you can avoid common mistakes when advocating and increase your chances of success.
It's that easy to become an ACA advocate. When you receive an alert, please respond, the alert may not always be geared to your specialty area. However, responding demonstrates strength in numbers and supports the entire credibility and clout of the profession in the halls of government.
There may be instances when you have a dispute with your health insurance company. For example, the insurance company may deny a claim that you believe should be covered, or you have difficulty getting approval for certain counseling services rendered. In such cases, you have the right to make a complaint.
Insurance is regulated by the states: Insurance is regulated by the states. This system of regulation stems from the McCarran-Ferguson Act of 1945, which describes state regulation and taxation of the industry as being in “the public interest” and clearly gives it preeminence over federal law. Each state has its own set of statutes and rules.
Here are the steps to take if you need to make a complaint about your health insurance in your state:
Step 1: Review Your Insurance Policy
Before filing a complaint, ensure you have a clear understanding of your client’s policy terms and conditions. You may find that the issue at hand is addressed in their policy documents. If you don't have a copy of the insurance policy, request one from the insurance company.
Step 2: Contact Your Insurance Company
The first step is usually to bring the issue to the insurance company's attention. You can do this by calling their customer service number or writing a letter. Make sure to keep a record of all communications and document the dates, times, and the content of your conversations.
Step 3: File a Formal Complaint with the Insurance Company
If the issue is not resolved after initial contact, you may need to file a formal complaint with the insurance company. This process may vary depending on the company. Some insurance companies may have an online form or a specific process for filing complaints. Make sure to include all relevant information, including policy number, claim number (if applicable), CPT Code, and a detailed description of your issue.
Step 4: Contact Your State's Department of Insurance
If your issue is still not resolved after following the insurance company's formal complaint process, you can escalate the matter to your state's Department of Insurance (DOI). The DOI regulates insurance companies and can help resolve disputes between consumers and insurers. You can find the contact information for your state's DOI online.
Though contacting the DOI is step 4, ACA recommends making the complaint to coincide with step 3 in the most extreme cases. You can find this information by checking your states government web page.
Step 5: File a Complaint with Your State's Department of Insurance
Every state DOI has a process for filing insurance-related complaints. This typically involves filling out a complaint form and providing supporting documentation. The complaint form will ask for details about your issue and what steps you have taken to resolve it. Be as detailed as possible and include copies of any communication or documentation relevant to your complaint.
Step 6: Await Investigation and Response
Once your complaint is filed, the DOI will review it and may investigate further. They may contact the insurance company for their side of the story. It may take some time for the DOI to complete their investigation, but they generally will respond with their findings.
Practice Patience When Filing a Complaint
While dealing with insurance disputes can be frustrating, remember that you have rights as a provider, and your client has rights as the policy holder. If you feel the health insurance company has treated you or your client unfairly, don't hesitate to file a complaint. Keep detailed records and be persistent. It's important to stand up for your rights and ensure you're receiving the coverage you're entitled to under your policy.
Also remember to engage with your state Counseling Branch, and Licensure Board for guidance.
Note: This document provides general steps and may not apply to all situations. It's always good to consult with a legal professional or a consumer advocate when dealing with complex insurance issues. Your state’s attorney office may be a resource to you when dealing with insurance concerns.
Engaging with legislators after the session has ended can be an important part of effective advocacy. Here are some ways to engage with legislators during the off-session period:
Remember to be respectful, clear and concise in your communication with legislators and their staff. By staying engaged and informed, you can help to ensure that important issues are addressed and that your voice is heard.
Tracking state and federal legislation can be an overwhelming task, but with the right tools and approach, it can be manageable. Here's a step-by-step guide on how to track state and federal legislation:
Step 1: Determine the Issues of Interest Before You Begin Tracking Legislation
You need to determine the issues that are of interest to you or your organization. This will help you narrow down the bills you need to track, making the process more manageable.
Step 2: Identify the Relevant Committees
Once you've identified the issues of interest, you need to determine which committees are relevant to those issues. In Congress, bills typically go through one or more committees before they are sent to the full House or Senate. Similarly, in state legislatures, bills are typically assigned to a committee for review before they are considered by the full legislative body. By identifying the relevant committees, you can focus your attention on those bills that are most likely to move forward.
Step 3: Identify the Bill Numbers
Once you've identified the relevant committees, you need to identify the bill numbers of the legislation you want to track. In Congress, bills are assigned a number (e.g. H.R. 1234 or S. 5678) that indicates the chamber of origin (House or Senate) and the bill number. In state legislatures, bills are also assigned numbers that vary by state.
Step 4: Set up Alerts or Notifications
To stay informed about the progress of the bills you're tracking, you should set up alerts or notifications. There are many tools that can help you do this, including legislative tracking services, which will send you emails or text messages when there are updates to the bills you're tracking.
Step 5: Monitor the Progress of the Bills Once You've Set Up Alerts or Notifications
You need to monitor the progress of the bills you're tracking. This includes keeping tabs on committee hearings, markups, and votes, as well as any amendments or changes to the bills.
Step 6: Engage with Legislators
Finally, if you want to have an impact on the legislation, you should consider engaging with legislators. This could include writing letters or emails, making phone calls or meeting with legislators or their staff to discuss your concerns or support for the bills.
By following these steps, you can stay informed and engaged in the legislative process at both the state and federal levels.
There are several free systems available to track state and federal legislation. Here are some options:
All of these options provide free tracking of state and/or federal legislation, and each has its own features and benefits. You may want to explore each option to determine which one best fits your needs. You may also utilize the VoterVoice feature below to track legislation of your choice.
An op-ed, short for "opposite the editorial page," is an article written by an individual who is not affiliated with the newspaper or publication. Op-eds are intended to express the writer's viewpoint on a particular topic and they are typically published on the opinion page of a newspaper or magazine. Writing an op-ed can be a powerful way to share your ideas and perspectives with a broader audience, but it can also be challenging. Here are some tips on how to write an effective op-ed:
Overall, writing an op-ed requires careful planning, research and writing skills. By following these tips, you can create a compelling and persuasive piece that will engage readers and help to shape public opinion.
2022 Advocacy Year-In-Review: This PDF provides a brief overview of some of the success ACA achieved on behalf of counselors. To read a more detailed document, click here.
ACA Values and Statements: The ACA Code of Ethics guides counselor values and practice.
Advocating as a Counseling Graduate Student: This is a quick guide for any graduate student or new professional to refer to when advocating.
Advocacy Toolkit: The advocacy toolkit provides members resources on how to execute advocacy efforts and take action on a local, state, and federal level. Please continue to check this resource regularly for updates.
Counseling Compact: The Counseling Compact is an occupational licensure compact crafted for the specific occupation of “licensed professional counselors” (LPCs) only and does not cover licensed marriage and family therapists (LMFTs), licensed clinical social workers (LCSWs) or psychologists.
Legislative Glossary: This glossary provides short definitions of legislative terms used by the American Counseling Association (ACA) Government Affairs & Public Policy team, Members of Congress, legislators, and counseling advocates while advocating on behalf of the counseling profession.
Medicare Reimbursement: Frequently Asked Questions on the passage of the Mental Health Access Improvement Act. Learn more by viewing this video.
Patient/Client Privacy: The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services provided guidance on how federal law and regulations protect client’s medical information, and addresses which private medical information is protected on mobile devices.
Sign-Up For Action Alerts: Your voice matters and needs to be heard in the halls of government. Please sign up to receive updates on ACA Action Alerts, track legislation and find your legislators.
Please refer to this phone script when requesting a meeting with a legislator. Keep in mind the chances are likely the legislator will not have the availability to meet. In this case, you will meet with the legislative assistant in charge of your issue of concern. This is okay, this person understands the legislator’s needs and if your need supports the needs of the legislator and their constituents, the legislative assistant will become an advocate for your issue to the legislator.
------ Phone Script Sample-------
Hello, may I speak with [the legislative assistant in charge of your issue] please?
[If you are transferred to their voicemail]: Hi, my name is [your name] and I am calling to request a meeting with [name of legislator]. I believe they would be interested in hearing about an issue that is important to me and my community.
[If you are speaking directly with the legislature]: Hi, my name is [your name] and I am calling to request a meeting with [name of legislator]. I believe they would be interested in hearing about an issue that is important to me and my community.
I am hoping to discuss [briefly state the issue or topic you want to discuss – If there is a Bill, provide the name of the bill and the Bill Number]. I believe that [name of legislator] could offer valuable insights on how we can work together to address this issue.
Would it be possible to schedule a meeting with [name of legislator] at their earliest convenience? I am available [provide a few dates or times that work for you, and please be flexible, if possible, the legislator’s schedule is tight and may only have one time available. Accept the time offered.].
Thank you so much for your time and consideration. I look forward to hearing back from you soon.
Passing a congressional (or state) bill can be a long and complex process, but here are the basic steps:
It's important to note that the process can vary depending on the specific bill and the political climate at the time. Bills can be expedited or delayed depending on the urgency of the issue, and some bills may never make it out of committee or reach the floor for a vote. However, by following these basic steps and working to build support among members of Congress (or your State Legislature), advocates can increase the chances of successfully passing a bill.
Communicating with a legislator can be an effective way to advocate for a cause or express your opinion on a particular issue. Here are some tips on how to effectively communicate with a legislator:
By following these tips, you can effectively communicate with a legislator and potentially make a difference on an issue that is important to you. Additionally, this video offers tips to persuade your legislators to take action.
Please refer to this template when writing an e-mail or mailing a letter to your legislator. It is highly recommended that you email the legislator. Mailing letters will cause a delay in the appropriate person in the legislator’s office reviewing your request.
-------- Copy and Paste -------
Dear [Legislator's Name],
I am writing to express my concern about [insert the issue you're concerned with]. As a constituent of [insert your city or state], I believe that it is important for our elected officials to take action to address this issue.
[Provide some background information about the issue that you're concerned with. Include facts, statistics, or personal experiences that support your position.]
I believe that this issue requires immediate attention from our legislature. I urge you to take action by [insert action you want the legislature to take].
Thank you for your attention to this matter. I look forward to hearing from you soon.
Sincerely,
[Your Name]
[Mailing Address]
[Phone Number]
[E-Mail Address]
ACA members make a big difference in our efforts to advocate for counseling. Legislators pay attention when they hear from their constituents. If they don’t hear from constituents about issues that affect counseling, they may not act on issues that are important to our community. We use VoterVoice to simplify the process for members to contact their representatives on federal and state issues. Review and add your voice to current campaigns, legislation and calls to action; sign up to receive updates; or learn how to contact your local representatives below.
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