Advocacy to Government and Stakeholders

Devon Lefever; Patrick D Kelly; Scott L Zuckerman; Nitin Agarwal; Bharat Guthikonda; Kristopher T Kimmell; Clemens Schirmer; Joshua M Rosenow; Jeffrey Cozzens; Katie O Orrico; Richard Menger

doi:10.1016/j.wneu.2021.01.129

Advocacy to Government and Stakeholders

World Neurosurg. 2021 Jul:151:380-385. doi: 10.1016/j.wneu.2021.01.129. Epub 2021 Feb 3.

Authors

Affiliations

¹ Department of Neurosurgery, Louisiana State University Health Sciences Center, Shreveport, Louisiana, USA.
² Department of Neurosurgery, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nashville, Tennessee, USA.
³ Department of Neurosurgery, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nashville, Tennessee, USA; Department of Orthopedic Surgery, Columbia University Medical Center, New York, New York, USA.
⁴ Department of Neurological Surgery, University of Pittsburgh Medical Center, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA.
⁵ Department of Neurosurgery, Rochester Regional Health and University of Rochester Medical Center, Rochester, New York, USA.
⁶ Department of Neurosurgery and Neuroscience Institute, Geisinger Health System and Geisinger Commonwealth School of Medicine, Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania, USA; Research Institute of Neurointervention, Paracelsus Medical University, Salzburg, Austria.
⁷ Department of Neurosurgery, Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine, Chicago, Illinois, USA.
⁸ Division of Neurosurgery, Southern Illinois University School of Medicine, Springfield, Illinois, USA.
⁹ AANS/CNS Washington Office, Washington, District of Columbia, USA.
¹⁰ Department of Neurosurgery, University of South Alabama, Mobile, Alabama, USA; Department of Political Science, University of South Alabama, Mobile, Alabama, USA. Electronic address: Richard.menger@gmail.com.

PMID: 33548536
DOI: 10.1016/j.wneu.2021.01.129

Abstract

Participation in the health care and government advocacy arena may represent new and challenging perspectives for the traditional neurosurgeon. However, those with a strong understanding of the laws, rules, regulations, and fiscal allocation process can directly influence the practice of neurosurgery in the United States. We seek to shine light on the black box of how health care laws are passed, the influence and techniques of lobbying, and the role and rules surrounding political action committees. This practical review of health care advocacy is supplemented by a blueprint for engagement in the political arena for the practicing neurosurgeon.

Keywords: Advocacy; Government; Lobbying; Policy; Socioeconomics.

Publication types

Review

MeSH terms

Health Policy / legislation & jurisprudence*
Humans
Lobbying*
Neurosurgeons*
United States