Current O&P News and Events
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Sep 17
O and P PAC
O&P PAC Makes Your Voice Heard
By Thomas F. Fise
The future of the O&P industry and profession depends on decisions made by Congress. The AOPA O&P PAC, the only PAC representing our industry and profession on Capitol Hill, brings your critical issues to Congress.
The O&P PAC is a voluntary, not-for-profit, bipartisan organization that makes contributions to federal candidates for office and political committees who influence the key legislative and regulatory policy issues with an impact on O&P practitioners, facilities, suppliers and patients, as well as reimbursement/and payment policies and clinical research on orthotic and prosthetic cases.
Specifically, the PAC provides increased access to members of Congress so we can tell our story. The PAC increases visibility and recognition of O&P on Capitol Hill, helps ensure the reelection of our friends in Congress, and combines individual contributions for a greater impact.
Groups of individuals who have common interests in legislative and government policies frequently establish political action committees (PACs) in order to protect their public policy interests. The Orthotic and Prosthetic Political Action Committee (O&P PAC) benefits by:
Supporting candidates who share actioners’ and their patients’ views on public policy, reimbursement/ payment, and clinical research issues. PACs enable groups with common interests to support candidates for federal office by making contributions to their campaigns. Under the present political system, candidates need to raise substantial sums of money to run for federal office. Political advertising, which costs hundreds of thousands or even millions of dollars for each campaign, has become the most potent campaign weapon. In order to buy the media air time necessary to run a successful campaign, candidates need to solicit contributions from individuals and/or PACs. By making contributions to candidates’ campaigns through its PAC, the O&P PAC helps elect candidates who share its views on a wide range of public policy matters, including many which relate directly to the future viability of O&P practices and suppliers, as well as new technologies in patient care.
Strengthening prospects on issues of fundamental, common interests shared by O&P professionals and their patients. The reality behind PACs is that they provide groups interested in government, legislative, or regulatory issues with additional access to policymakers. There is no doubt that members of Congress appreciate the efforts of individuals and PACs who assist them during their campaigns—essentially helping them land new jobs or keep their current jobs. There is nothing nefarious or underhanded about this practice. Money contributed must be disclosed to the public and PACs must comply with federal law. Members treat contributors no differently than persons who assist them in other crucial ways, such as taking time off to volunteer on their campaigns. Such supporters and contributors frequently enjoy access to members and administration officials that other individuals do not have. This access enables O&P practitioners, facility owners, suppliers, patients, and their advocates to present their positions effectively on matters of public policy. Often, a fundraising event, away from Capitol Hill, is the best forum to present ideas to a member. Thus, PAC contributions greatly assist and enhance government relations efforts. The practical reality is that O&P professionals enhance their opportunities to present their views to members and administration officials if they have contributed through the O&P PAC to members’ campaigns.
Providing a vehicle for the O&P professional and patient community to speak out on issues of public concern. The courts have consistently equated money in the electoral systems with political speech. According to this rationale, campaign contributions and expenditures by PACs enable these committees—the O&P practitioners, facility owners, supplier personnel and patients, as well as their advocates—to express views on issues affecting their connected practices and the public. When the O&P PAC makes a contribution or expenditure on behalf of a candidate, it then voices its support for the positions of that particular candidate.
O&P is a niche profession, and a strong PAC helps level the playing field so AOPA can compete with much larger associations for scarce health-care dollars to benefit the O&P industry and its patients. To continue and expand AOPA’s legislative success, the O&P PAC has set a fund-raising goal of $100,000 this year.
More Frequently Asked Questions About the AOPA O&P PAC
1. Who can contribute to the O&P PAC?
O&P practitioners, facilities, suppliers, patients, administrative personnel, family members, and any others who have a commitment to the viability of O&P patient care-oriented practices may make contributions to the O&P PAC not to exceed $5,000 in any one election year. All contributors must be identified and the O&P PAC cannot accept corporate checks or any anonymous donations.
2. From whom is O&P PAC soliciting donations?
The O&P PAC solicits donations from O&P practitioners, facility owners, supplier personnel, patients, administrative personnel, family members, and others with a commitment to O&P patient care and practice viability who have given written consent to solicit from individuals in their organizations.
3. What records must the O&P PAC maintain?
The O&P PAC must keep records of all consent for solicitation forms. The O&P PAC records must contain the name and address of any person making a contribution in excess of $50, plus the occupation and employer of any person making contributions that total in excess of $200 per calendar year. The O&P PAC must identify on its reports to the Federal Election Commission persons whose contributions for the calendar year aggregate in excess of $200.
4. Who governs the O&P PAC?
The O&P PAC is governed by a volunteer Board member with a Treasurer designated by the Board.
5. How may I contribute to the O&P PAC?
Return a completed consent for solicitations form and a personal check with your contribution. Visit http://www.aopanet.org/hot_op_issues/getinvolved/oppac/faq/authcard.php.
6. Do modest contributions to the O&P PAC make a difference?
Yes. Federal law limits both the amount of money an individual may contribute to a PAC and the amount a PAC may contribute to a candidate. The PAC must collect contributions from as many people as possible because individuals may not contribute large sums of money, even if they can afford it. Because candidates are limited to the size of contributions they can accept from individual PACs, they must collect money from a substantial number of sources. Even a small contribution from a PAC to a candidate is often appreciated. Even though individual contributions of $100-$250 appear to be a small amount of money, when taken collectively with many other similar contributions to the O&P PAC, they can play a major role in the PAC’s success.
7. Why should O&P professionals and their patients commit their resources to a strong O&P PAC?
It makes sense to run a PAC operation that strategically identifies and supports members on key committees favorably inclined to fairness in reimbursement and patient-oriented interests held in common by orthotic and prosthetic professionals and the patients they serve. Keep in mind that hospitals, physicians, insurance companies, and other health-sector entities contribute enormous sums of money to political candidates, which makes it critically important that orthotic and prosthetic interests also actively participate.
Finally, if for no other reason, an association in the health-care field should operate a strong PAC simply to remain competitive with rivals in areas where public policy considerations affect business/practice concerns.
During the 2006 election cycle, PACs contributed record sums of money to candidates and national party committees. With continuing belt-tightening in health-care spending, O&P professionals can ill afford to have more well-heeled groups with competing interests contribute a significantly greater amount of money to key members and national party committees. A strong PAC is an important protection for access by O&P professionals on key public policy issues that directly affect their practices and patients.
Thomas F. Fise is AOPA's executive director.
Learn more about the O&P PAC and contribute!
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