Advocacy Day

Free Webinar for Members and Lobby Day Participants: Becoming a Life Long Advocate for the Profession

Earn one (0.1) CEU with this online course. It is vital that PTs, PTAs, and students of physical therapy make a connection with their legislators, so they understand our priorities as a profession. This includes the importance of advocating for policies that address social determinants of health which affect patient outcomes. This course will teach you:

1. How and where to communicate with legislators
2. How to create a long term professional relationship with your legislator
3. Tips for Meeting with legislators
4. The impact of social determinants of health on the communities we serve
5. Advocacy to remove barriers to care

The APTA Maryland annual physical therapy advocacy day in Annapolis was created to help connect our physical therapy professionals and students with their legislators, and to mentor a new cadre of advocates.

We all have a story and experiences to share. We don’t all have to know the ins and outs of advocacy and politics. The important thing is to make a connection with your legislators, so they understand our priorities as a profession.

Advocacy Day Goals

• Educate the legislators on issues of importance to physical therapy professionals and their patients
• Begin what may develop into a long term professional relationship between legislators and physical therapy professionals and students
• Empower students and new professionals to engage in conversation with legislators

What you can do as your group’s mentor to enhance the advocacy experience:

• Model professionalism
• Encourage the members in your group to do the talking and fill in as needed
• Recognize you may have a mix of PT and PTA professionals and students
• Recognize students’ and new professionals’ anxiety and discomfort
• In between appointments: go into session and observe proceedings; take a tour of the state house; write thank you notes to legislators and their staff;

Get Informed.Familiarize yourself with APTA Maryland’s core legislative priorities affecting the physical therapy profession in our state:

• Proper payment for physical therapy services
• Highlighting the true value of physical therapy
• Fixing delays with insurance credentialing
• Advocating for regulations to address insurers’ response times to providers

Onsite – Annapolis
Bring a photo ID: At the capital you may be asked to present a photo ID. Please remember that we will be going into a government building and may be asked to wait in lines at security.

For District and Virtual Meetings
Dress appropriately: Business attire is expected as we will be representing the profession when we speak with state legislators.

Your legislator may be in session or pulled to another meeting, do not be discouraged.

Be Informed: Review our talking points and research your legislator. Check if they have a history of supporting the profession and issues we value. If not, research opposing arguments to any issues you plan to discuss and be prepared to explain your position.

We will also provide briefing packets to anyone meeting with their legislator on behalf of the chapter and profession.

Be respectful and be on time.

Capture the moment: Take a photo and upload to social media. Tag the chapter and your legislator!

Send a Thank You: Include a photo from your visit if you took one at the meeting. We will send you their email and office address the day of the event.

Fill out our debrief form and let us know if the Chapter can provide any follow up information. You can also e-mail or Call the APTAMD to let us know how your visit went.