Virginia’s General Assembly

One of VHHA’s core functions is to act as your representative and advocate before the Virginia General Assembly on policy issues affecting the delivery, quality, accessibility, and cost effectiveness of health care. Some of the tactics employed include:

Grassroots and Grasstops Mobilization

In today’s highly polarized political environment, hospital leadership, employees, and surrogates are the most effective voice for achieving policy solutions that benefit Virginia’s hospitals, our patients, and the communities we serve. Through the Hospital Grassroots Network, VHHA engages all levels of our health care workforce and businesses and other stakeholders in the legislative process. Key components of VHHA’s grassroots strategy include Muster, which enables supporters to quickly communicate with their elected leaders, attend grassroots advocacy days at the Capitol, and frequent educational and networking opportunities on hospitals and health care throughout Virginia.

Grassroots Advocacy Days

Grassroots Advocacy Days are held during the Virginia General Assembly Session. They provide an opportunity for members to visit Richmond during the session to lobby issues facing hospitals and health systems. We encourage you to go deep within your organization, bringing nurses, doctors, and department managers to Richmond to meet with your elected officials. Putting a face with the issues helps our legislators in their decision-making process. We encourage every hospital and health system to participate.

Lobbying

VHHA’s Government Affairs team works closely with the Virginia Hospital and Healthcare Advisory Council – comprised of member government relations staff and lobbyists – to educate our elected leaders on issues impacting hospitals and health care and to advocate on behalf of policies that benefit our members, our patients, and the communities we serve. The team also works closely with our peer associations in the health care arena to coordinate on legislative priorities and key messages. These year-round efforts culminate each January when the General Assembly returns to Richmond.

HosPAC

HosPAC is VHHA’s political action committee. HosPAC was created to achieve legislative and political action to preserve quality health care in Virginia. As one of the largest PACs in Virginia, HosPAC’s purpose is to provide members with a means for organized and effective political action, to support candidates who will work to improve quality health care supported by the Virginia hospital and health system community, and to promote efficient and responsible government.