HOW TO
Advocating for Health Policies
‘T
is the season for advocacy. Organized medicine organizations like Maricopa County Medical Society work with partner associations, lobbyists, and elected representatives to ensure physicians are heard and priority items to improve medicine and public health are enacted and funded appropriately. For physicians living in Maricopa County, the two most likely groups to influence are the county Board of Supervisors and the Arizona State Legislature.
B OA R D OF S U P E R V I S OR S Each of the five elected supervisors represents one of the county’s five districts. The supervisors set the agenda for county priorities, oversee publicly funded programs, and approve department budgets. In response to the rise of COVID-19 cases in 2020, the Board of Supervisors required everyone in Maricopa County to wear face coverings in public settings. One department the Board oversees is the Maricopa County Department of Public Health, which protects county residents from food-borne illnesses, disasters, toxic exposures, and injury. They also address prevention of chronic diseases. During the COVID-19 pandemic, the county health department played a large role in tracking cases, communicating with doctors about ways to reduce the spread of SARS-CoV-2, and administering vaccines. Physicians may attend meetings of the Board of Supervisors, submit comments for the public record, and seek meetings with their respective supervisors to discuss health priorities.
BILL TRACKING: Search online by bill number to track
the latest information for anything proposed in either the House or Senate chambers. REQUEST TO SPEAK (RTS): This system allows the
public to register an opinion on any bill and request to speak in a committee. You must register for an account in person at one of the RTS kiosks at the Capitol. Then, you can participate remotely. Staff at Maricopa County Medical Society can help you through the process. Call us at 602-252-2015. | Check out azleg.gov for more information.
Arizona Senate
16
14
Arizona House
31
29
A R I Z ON A S TAT E L E G I S L AT U R E Arizona’s part-time legislators must pass a budget and consider a wide range of bills, some of which touch healthcare.
28 n
A R I ZO N A P H Y S I C I A N M A G A Z I N E
16 Republicans, 14 Democrats
31 Republicans, 29 Democrats
