On Wednesday, May 6th, several ASPN
members visited Capitol Hill to inform
their Members of Congress about the ASPN
and important issues affecting pediatric
nephrologists. The day was a resounding
success.
Sharon Perlman, ASPN Public Policy
co-chair, along with Bill Schnaper and
Barbara Fivush met with the Senate
Finance Committee staff to discuss
pediatric subspecialty workforce issues
and overall health care reform.
Sharon then took new Public Policy
Committee member Hillary Hotchkiss to
meet with Congressman Bill Young's
office and Senator Mel Martinez's health
advisor. Hillary made the visit
memorable by discussing how a 3 year old
on dialysis could be sitting next to a
90 year old amputee, really getting to
the heart of the issue.
New Public Policy Committee member
Jonathan Heiliczer made an impression by
getting the mother of a young transplant
patient on the phone when he met with
Senator Bob Menendez's staff.
At the end of the day, ASPN President
Lisa Satlin, Bill Schnaper and Sharon
Perlman met with staff from the House
Ways & Means Committee, where they took
the opportunity to educate staff on
pediatric ESRDβs role in Medicare. The
conversation was very focused on the
workforce for primary care, but Bill was
ready with the precursors of adult
kidney disease starting in childhood,
taking the obesity/hypertension angle
and making the argument for the need for
more pediatric nephrologists.
It was a great day - ASPN made great
points on the Hill and will continue to
use those new connections to discuss
health care reform and how it impacts
pediatric nephrologists. Special thanks
should go to those ASPN members who took
the time to visit the Hill: Sharon
Perlman, Bill Schnaper, Barbara Fivush,
Manju Chandra, Doug Silverstein, Hillary
Hotchkiss, Lisa Satlin, and Jonathan
Heiliczer.
Weβre looking forward to
doing this again next year!
Kathryn G. Schubert
Vice President
Cavarocchi Ruscio Dennis Associates,
L.L.C.
600 Maryland Ave SW Suite 835W
Washington, D.C. 20024
(202) 484-1100
www.dc-crd.com
