Overview
TCAA is a non-profit, 501(c)(6) trade association that engages in advocacy on behalf of its members nationwide. In conjunction with its Washington, DC-based lobbying team, TCAA and its members educate federal policymakers on the importance of trauma care and the need to take action in response to the increasing challenges facing trauma centers and systems.
Each year, TCAA develops its federal advocacy agenda in conjunction with its Board of Directors and Advocacy Committee, which is comprised of government relations officers, physicians, trauma program managers and other professionals from the nation's leading trauma centers. The Advocacy Committee is led by Russ Molloy, Esq. JD, VP of Government Relations, Meridian Health - Jersey Shore University Medical Center, and David Jaffe, MPA, President, David E. Jaffe & Associates, LLC. Advocacy Committee members convene on a monthly basis via teleconference to strategize about the latest developments on Capitol Hill and throughout the federal government as they relate to TCAA's agenda, and attend TCAA's annual Lobby Day in Washington - typically held in February or March of each year.
Federal Advocacy Agenda
Trauma Care Funding
As the health care system undergoes dramatic health care payment and delivery system reform, TCAA is working on a bipartisan basis to urge members of Congress and the Administration to provide adequate funding for trauma care.
As a result of TCAA's advocacy efforts and those of its trauma advocacy partner organizations, the Public Health Service Act (Sections 1201-4, 1211-32, 1241-46 and 1281-2) authorizes a total of $224 million in funding for trauma and emergency medical services programs and activities. These provisions of law received strong bipartisan support over the many years of their development and are summarized below:
National Trauma Center Stabilization Act: The National Trauma Center Stabilization Act includes two grant programs:
⇒ Trauma Care Center Grants. $100 million per year for federal grants to trauma centers to provide operating funds to maintain their core missions, compensate for losses from uncompensated care and provide emergency awards to centers at risk of closure.
⇒ Trauma Service Availability Grants. $100 million per year channeled through the States to address shortfalls in trauma services and improve access to and the availability of trauma care.
Trauma Care Systems Planning and Development Act: The Trauma Care Systems Planning and Development Act is authorized at $24 million for the following programs:
⇒ Trauma Care Systems Planning Grants. $12 million per year for Trauma Care Systems Planning grants to support state development of trauma systems.
⇒ Regionalization of Emergency Care Systems. $12 million per year for pilot projects to design, implement and evaluate innovative models of regionalized emergency care systems.
TCAA is working to secure funding for these programs through both the annual appropriations process on Capitol Hill, as well as the Administration's discretionary funding allocation process. (See below for how you can get involved.)
TCAA Advocacy Initiatives
TCAA is also closely examining and providing feedback on the many regulations being issued by the Department of Health and Human Services. As we provide feedback through formalized public comment periods, TCAA is urging the Administration to pay careful attention to the unique aspects of the full continuum of trauma care services. Examples of some of TCAA's recent advocacy efforts are provided below.
How to Get Involved
The key to building a broad, bipartisan base of support in Congress and throughout the Administration is the involvement of TCAA members. TCAA urges you to participate in the following activities, which have been designed to grow our champions and network of committed supporters.
- Monthly Advocacy Committee Conference Calls- Open to all, these calls occur the second Friday of every month at 2:30 pm EST.
- SoftEdge- Located on TCAA's homepage, this legislative advocacy software allows you to send a pre-drafted letter to your members of Congress on TCAA's most current advocacy issue. Visit the homepage today to send a letter to your member of Congress urging them to support trauma funding through the appropriations process.
- Action Alerts- TCAA's lobbying team sends out periodic emails urging you to take action by communicating with your members of Congress on timely issues. These emails have sample letters, talking points and all the information you need to reach out to your legislators.
- Annual Lobby Day in Washington, DC- These one-day events are typically held in February or March of each year and include a breakfast briefing with TCAA's lobbying team, followed by Capitol Hill visits with your legislators.
Advocacy Tools and Resources
Lobbying Materials
The following materials provide background information on trauma care and TCAA's advocacy agenda, and were used on Capitol Hill during this year's Lobby Day, which was held on February 16, 2011.
