1. Advocacy in Action presented by the Texas Association for Home Care & Hospice Advocacy Team

2. Outline What is TAHC&H? TAHC&H Advocacy
What is a Political Action Committee?
State PAC, Campaigns and Candidates
Why contribute to the PAC?
Payroll Deduction
PAC Council and further involvement
Questions
Topics covered in presentation

3. What is TAHC&H? Texas Association for Home Care and Hospice
Mission: To advocate for ethical practices, quality and economic viability of licensed providers of home and community support services in Texas.
Represents over 1,200 agencies across Texas
Provide education, value added services, expert resources, public awareness and advocacy
Your company is a member, you are a member
The Texas Association for Home Care & Hospice is a trade organization established in It’s mission is to advocate for ethical practices, quality and economic viability of licensed providers of home and community support services in Texas
TAHC&H represents over 1,200 agencies and their employees.
TAHC&H fulfills this mission through education, information, expert resources, public awareness and advocacy.
As a member, you can receive weekly newsletter of industry news, post discussions or questions on connect.tahch.org, and participate in advocacy efforts such as our PAC.

4. Advocacy at TAHC&H Grassroots Lobbying PAC
Home care workers who call, write and meet with their legislators
Lobbying
Make policy recommendations to lawmakers
PAC
Support and educate lawmakers on campaign trail
Advocacy means representing the industry and its member interests to state and federal elected officials and regulators. We bring people in the industry together through committees made up of members from agencies all over Texas and who provide different services to identify the issues and the best solution.
TAHC&H advocacy consists of three main parts: grassroots advocacy, lobbying, and PAC (or political action committee).
Grassroots advocacy are relationships between constituent members and their legislators. Our lobbyists (5 at TAHC&H) meet with many legislators and regulators on a regular basis.
Our PAC supports and reinforces relationships built through grassroots and lobbying.

5. Texas Homecare & Hospice PAC
Created to support elected officials who hold considerable power over home care and hospice
Administered by TAHC&H staff
All PAC contributions go directly towards candidate campaigns
Funded through personal contributions from members only – corporate funds prohibited!
Our Political Action Committee affects change in government through the election process by raising awareness of our industry priorities to candidates on the campaign trail when they have more time to learn about issues.
TAHC&H created the Texas Home Care & Hospice PAC in 1980 to support home care and hospice friendly candidates.
In this presentation we are going to talk about what a Political Action Committee (or PAC) is; the activities of the TX Homecare & Hospice PAC; why you should get involved in politics; where your money goes when you contribute to the PAC; and how to contribute through payroll deduction.
^ TAHC&H member/PAC contributor at a campaign event with Congressman Henry Cuellar

6. What is a Political Action Committee?
A Political Action Committee (PAC) is a group who pools their resources to support candidates who help their cause
PACs influence elections
Texas Homecare & Hospice PAC is a general PAC, not a super PAC, and reports finances, contributions, and disbursements to candidates on a monthly basis
PACs are a regulated, transparent way for groups of individuals who share a common interest to pool their resources to financially support candidates in their election campaigns. That is, politicians who are most likely to understand and support issues unique to that industry.
Home care and hospice advocates can support more candidates together than any one individual can. The PAC also helps to unify our message as an industry.
^ Cast your ballot this November based on who supports home care!

7. Campaigns Cost Money Advertisements can cost millions of dollars
For example, Governor Abbott spent $12 million on his 2014 campaign
Candidates are perpetually fundraising
Candidates always remember who has supported them in election times
Candidates receive contributions from a wide range of industries and individuals who are wanting to elect someone that will understand their issues and effectively represent their interests while in office.
Campaigns spend increasingly amounts of money on advertisements, voter outreach efforts, campaign events, campaign offices and campaign staff salaries.
The home care and hospice industry in Texas supports campaigns in Texas through the Texas Home Care and Hospice Political Action Committee. The campaign cycle is a key part of the democratic process; and one of many ways in which TAHC&H conducts advocacy and connects with potential legislators.

8. Who does the PAC support?
Supports candidates from both parties
Candidates are chosen based on one or more of the following criteria:
Leadership in policy-shaping role
Membership on key committees
Voting record on issues of interest
History of support for TAHC&H legislative priorities
The PAC meets with about 80 candidates per year- 95% of the candidates go on to win their elections!
In the election cycle, the PAC gave almost $400,000 to candidates
Donations from our PAC to political campaigns are bipartisan and based on a variety of criteria, including their political and voting history, the candidate’s personal background and knowledge (for example if an individual has a background in health care), and their ability to affect change in the legislature on our issues based on committee appointments.
We have a 95% success rate in picking candidates who win elections.
^ PAC contributors attend a golfing fundraiser for State Representative John Zerwas, MD

9. Why Contribute to the PAC?
If you’re in health care, you’re in politics!
Health care is changing rapidly and we need to ensure that home care is represented in new or changing health care models
We compete with other healthcare interests for Medicare/Medicaid funding & legislative fixes
Campaign involvement offers exclusive chance to engage and educate lawmakers
The most important reason to contribute to the PAC is because the politics of home care and hospice impact your livelihood. The PAC is an essential part of the democratic and political process in the United States, and if we do not make a big wave, we will be left behind. The larger the PAC is, the more power the industry has in the political process.
Healthcare is changing at an unprecedented rate. All agencies, including private pay, are hurt when regulations make services more expensive. Contributing is an easy way to help secure a bright future for you, your family, and your patients.
Agencies that serve medicare/medicaid are especially under threats due to budget shortfalls. Politicians and regulatory bodies are imposing rate cuts and regulatory burdens without knowing the burden on businesses to provide quality services that are actually more affordable in the home.
Moreover, the campaign trail is a time when candidate’s ears are wide open to hearing about issues in their district and Texas. They are much more available than during legislative sessions or right before a vote on legislation when they have many competing interests vying for their time.
All contributions received go directly to candidate campaigns.
Contributions are not tax deductible
^ PAC contributor Becky Terrell met with State Representative JD Sheffield, MD at his hospital

10. PAC Payroll Deduction
Power in numbers: PAC is sustained by grassroots contributions
Payroll deductions are automatically taken from a paycheck and require only one time effort on your part
PAC payroll contributions go to the state fund unless otherwise designated
PAC payroll deduction is the easiest way to contribute to the PAC.
It is automatic and lasts as long as you are an employee at your home health agency, so it requires little effort to make a big impact.
The PAC has about 400 contributors annually. About 250 employees from 14 companies are contributing through payroll deduction across Texas- those donations alone raised over $60,000 in 2015.
There is a simple form to fill out where you can decide how much to contribute per paycheck. If you include your , you will receive quarterly newsletters about PAC activities and not-too-frequent action alerts about important legislation or proposed rules.
PAC contributions generally go to state fund. Upper level management may give to the federal PAC. For questions about eligibility, contact
^ PAC contributors with U.S. Rep. Pete Olson in Washington, DC

11. PAC Payroll Deduction
Ability Homecare employees in San Antonio after giving to PAC >
"I feel it is important to advocate for our industry. The few extra dollars a pay period are nothing when it comes to security in the future. I have the best job in the world and I hope to keep at it for many years to come. I get to work with some amazing kids! All of whom inspire me more than they know.” 
- Jenny Obregon, PAC payroll deduction contributor at Ability Homecare in San Antonio
Payroll deduction contributors often report feeling happy to be involved in the political process and future of the industry!

12. Annual Suggested Levels
Suggested Annual Contributions by Position: Attendants, Assistants, Social Workers $50-$250 Nurses, Therapists $250-$500 Directors $500-$1,500 Administrators $1,500-$2,500 Executives $2,500-$5,000 Owners $5,000-$10,000 Contributions or gifts to the Texas Homecare & Hospice PAC are not tax deductible
Contributors have given anywhere from $50 to $20,000
Some people consider their donation a “Starbucks per pay period”
Contributions or gifts to the Texas Homecare & Hospice PAC are not tax deductible

13. Being a contributor
Quarterly newsletter You can receive quarterly newsletters about PAC activities and also not-too-frequent action alerts about important legislation or proposed rules.
Eligible to attend campaign events PAC contributors represent the industry at campaign events in their district. if you are interested.
Ways to contribute: payroll deduction, monthly credit card payments, online, or fax/mail/call in a one time contribution.
Remember to provide home address, occupation, agency & for updates. This information is not shared.
Every contribution is important!
Contributing to the PAC is easy. You can receive newsletters and are eligible to attend campaign events on behalf of the PAC. Members can also make one time contributions online or over the phone or monthly credit card contributions.
Contributors must provide home address, occupation and employer to legally give to the PAC. We report who are contributors are monthly but personal information is not publicly available. This information is not shared with outside organizations.
Care stronger means everything counts.
Keep in mind, contributions are not tax deductible and can only come from TAHC&H members and their families. If you have any questions about eligibility, contact Elyse Fulton at the TAHC&H office

14. Further Involvement Vote Volunteer on political campaigns
Attend local campaign events
Become a TAHC&H Advocate on tahch.org
Get to know your legislators!
Make a phone call
Write a letter or
Owners/administrators – work with your clients to invite legislators on a home care visit
There are many things you can do to make home care and hospice stronger.
Vote for candidates who understand and support our industry.
Join the TAHC&H Advocates grassroots program and be alerted when we need to make a call or submit a letter or .
Schedule a meeting or invite your legislator to watch you at work in the community.
To learn more about the PAC, the Advocates program, and the issues that affect you and your patients, talk to your administrator, contact us here at TAHC&H, and get your voice heard by legislators.

15. The Texas Association for Home Care & Hospice
Questions
Questions about the PAC or how your company is affected by legislative activities? Talk to an administrator or manager at your company or call us here at TAHC&H
Elyse Fulton, Fundraising & Advocacy Coordinator or
The Texas Association for Home Care & Hospice
3737 Executive Center Dr. Ste. 268
Austin, TX 78731
(512) x 5
Toll Free: 1 (800) x 5
Questions about the PAC or how your company is affected by legislative activities? Talk to an administrator or manager at your company or call us here at TAHC&H
Marina Hench, Director of Public Policy
Elyse Fulton, Fundraising & Advocacy Coordinator