About DMAA Advocacy

Policy makers know DMAA: The Care Continuum Alliance as the voice of chronic disease prevention and care and turn to DMAA member leaders and staff for the information and resources they need to guide the decision making process. Through its Government Affairs Committee, DMAA answers that call with expertise that contributes to the process while always protecting the interests of its members.

The Committee, open to all association members, works to support state and federal legislative initiatives that promote evidence-based population health improvement. At the federal level, DMAA responds to emerging legislative proposals and regulatory policies of potential consequence to its members and other stakeholders. DMAA also works with state lawmakers and regulatory officials, educating them on the effectiveness of chronic condition care and its benefits to Medicaid and other populations.

In 2007, DMAA:

• Advocated budget neutrality as the performance threshold for Medicare Health Support—a change federal officials ultimately approved.
• Joined an industry action to oppose Medicare Advantage cuts that threatened care for the chronically ill and disadvantaged populations.
• Testified before the American Health Information Community's Chronic Care Work Group and won appointment of two prominent population health professionals on the panel.
• Briefed Capitol Hill staff on the evolution of population health improvement and its successful application in federal programs, such as Medicaid.
• Participated in Confidentiality Coalition efforts to preserve HIPAA provisions permitting exchange of protected health information for care coordination and disease management.
• Saw its desire for a broadened definition of covered technologies and donors reflected in an IRS ruling on hospitals that provide health IT to staff physicians.
• Strengthened its advocacy presence with the addition of a former top congressional aide and seasoned government affairs professional as public policy director.