How to Contact Your Legislature

There are many ways to contact your legislator. Email, phone, or in-person are some of the most frequently utilized. Most legislators have a “contact us” option on their website, and the state and federal government sites have “contact your legislator” forms which are great for sending emails. Old-fashioned letter writing is also an option but generally not recommended as these go through thorough safety screenings before reaching the legislator and their staff. Meaning they will take a long time to arrive. Regardless of which method you choose, here are a few tips for effective communication.

• Read through their website and see if they already have a stance on the issue you want to speak to them about - or if they’ve supported any relevant policy previously.
• If you are calling a state or federal legislator, ask to speak to their health policy advisor/liaison. They are an important part of the communication process because they are who follows the healthcare policy for the politician. You’ll want them to be abreast of your concerns and will often be involved with the meeting with your legislator and taking notes.
• If you are sending an email, make sure the subject clearly states what issue you are writing about to help their staff route it to the correct person. For instance, if you are writing to ask for their support for a specific bill the subject line should read “Please support HB/SB XXX”.
• Be short and to the point. They get communication requests from many people every day and have very limited time to devote to you so do not waste it on unnecessary small talk.
  • Introduce yourself. Being a physician carries more weight with legislators than you may realize, and if they know that a physician is contacting them about healthcare-related concerns they will devote a little more energy to you. Even if you have emailed them or called them before, they will not remember who you are or that you are a physician, so reintroduce yourself every time until they make it clear they know who you are.
  • Explain why you are contacting them, why it matters to you, and why it matters to their constituents. You may be contacting them about a general issue and there is no current policy. You also may be asking them to write legislation (if you can bring a suggested draft that’s perfect) or co-sponsor already existing legislation.
• If you are sending an email, only discuss one issue per email (and do not send multiple emails back to back - you do not want to overwhelm them).
• Always leave your contact info. Whether it’s a business card or handwritten or the signature of your standard email. Include phone numbers, emails, and your clinic information.
• Offer yourself to the legislator as a resource they can use on health industry issues.
• Get contact info for whom you spoke with and follow up with them.
• If you speak over the phone or in person, make sure you send a thank you email and recap what was discussed.
• As your relationship with your legislators and their staff is growing, treat them like you would your favorite patient/relative. Answer their calls or return them ASAP. Kindness and support will go a long way to enhancing the relationship and increasing your influence.