APMA News - July/August 2017 - 38

Report from the APMAPAC Chair
By Barney A. Greenberg, DPM

We Need to Be The Best We Can Be!
In this time of uncertainty in health care, we as a profession
Only 20 percent of us have been politically active related to
need to be the best we can be to keep up with the ever-changissues that affect our entire profession. Just think-if only 20
ing landscape. We, and I say "we" because I mean all 12,000percent of a team participated in a game, how could they win?
plus of us in this great association,
It is amazing that our profession has
need to be politically active.
come so far politically with a mere 20
We
must
join
in
to
help
We now have two pieces of legispercent of our team participating. Will
our profession grow to
lation in the US House of Represenyou help us achieve greater legislative
tatives: the VA Provider Equity Act
success for the entire team?
its full potential for parity
(HR 1542) and the Helping Ensure
I challenge you to elevate our proin the health-care world.
Life- and Limb-Saving Access to Pofession to a 100-percent politically
active machine.
diatric Physicians (HELLPP) Act (HR
How do we reach our full potential?
1058). These two podiatry-specific bills have the potential
to put our profession on par with allopathic and osteopathFirst and foremost, if you have not acted when called upon-
ic medicine.
for whatever reason-please recognize that without all of us
I say "potential" because there is a lot of work remaining
working together, we cannot be the best we can be. We need
for all of us as this legislation works its way to passage. Withyour participation.
Each of us needs to take at least one of the following steps
out all of us digging in and participating in political action, we
(and preferably more than just one) for us to be successful:
cannot be successful. We must join in to help our profession
1. Visit www.apma.org/eAdvocacy and write to your US
grow to its full potential for parity in the health-care world.
representatives and senators about our issues. All of
the information you need is at your fingertips, and prewritten messages are available for you to use.
2. While you are on the website, make a meaningful donation to APMAPAC.
3. If you already are politically active, encourage your
colleagues to join the team.
4. Call the offices of your federal legislators and speak
with staff or the legislator about our profession.
5. Go to a fundraiser and make a personal donation to
your legislators' campaigns.

Did You Know
APMA offers discounts on
services from companies
like Bank of America,
Lenovo, and others?
Visit www.apma.org/save
for details.
38 APMA News July/August 2017

It is a very difficult task to get everyone to participate;
however, it is a very easy task to become politically active.
If each and every one of us gets involved, our profession
can become the best we can be.
n
Contact Dr. Greenberg at pac@apma.org.

PURPOSE: The American Podiatric Medical Association Political Action Committee's purpose is to raise and disburse funds to candidates for federal office who
support the legislative priorities and goals of the podiatric medical profession.
IMPORTANT: Any contribution amounts noted here are suggested amounts. You may
contribute more, less, or not contribute without concern of being favored or disadvantaged. Occupation/employer information is required for aggregate annual contributions of more than $200.00 by the Federal Election Campaign Act. Federal election
law does not permit corporate contributions to be used for donation to candidates for
federal office. Political contributions are not deductible for income tax purposes.

http://www.apma.org/eAdvocacy http://www.apma.org/save

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of APMA News - July/August 2017