Lobby Initiative
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Rationale for a Lobbyist:
This message is of great importance to all of our
members and, we believe, to the viability of
neuropsychology in the State of New York. As you all
know, NYSAN has been very active and successful in
confronting and advocating for many of the issues
facing neuropsychology is New York. We have done
this with effort and hard work from our leadership
and members, and by developing collaborative efforts
with other state, regional and national
organizations. In the past we have also relied on
the dues from our membership and the generosity of
other organizations to fund the costs that are
associated with these advocacy efforts. Many of
these funding sources, however, are no longer
available to our organization and so we need to
develop alternatives in order to remain effective.
Given the changing healthcare environment
and other exigencies, the NYSAN board recognizes the
need to advance our own legislative agenda in Albany
to protect and advance the practice of
neuropsychology. We have been advised that these
next few years in New York’s legislative process
will be as important as any have been since the
development of Scope in 2003. There are many
professional groups/entities positioning themselves
to improve their viability and “get their message
out” to key political figures. These politicians
will make decisions, which will impact the delivery
of psychological and neuropsychological services for
the people of New York. We feel it essential that we
have a voice in these discussions. NYSAN wants to
position ourselves with legislators so they can make
the most informed decisions when it comes to
neuropsychology's role in this changing healthcare
environment.
The NYSAN board has concluded
that engaging a lobbyist to provide representation
for us in matters of importance to our field is
essential. A NYSAN lobbyist can improve overall
awareness of neuropsychology in Albany, build our
credibility among our state legislators, and advance
legislative issues that will support and advance the
practice of clinical neuropsychology. This decision,
however, comes with significant cost and our
membership fees certainly cannot cover these costs.
Current key issues that could be addressed
by a NYSAN lobbyist are: the use of bachelor’s
versus master’s level psychological assistants;
separate licensure for neuropsychologists, diagnosis
of concussion, the practice of applied behavior
analysis, the use of health and behavior codes,
licensure exemptions, and licensing of school
psychologists to name a few. A lobbyist will also
alert NYSAN to emerging issues that could affect
NYSAN’s legislative agenda in Albany and provide
strategies to avert negative consequences such as
neuropsychologists being removed from return to play
decisions following concussions in school athletes
but school nurses being defined as integrally
involved in return to play decisions and cognitive
testing.
Among the groups that we have
consulted with in this process were
neuropsychologists from Louisiana who have made
significant progress in their state, including
independent licensure for neuropsychology. They
clearly defined for us that the progress that they
have realized was only possible because of the
personal relationships that they have developed with
their legislators, the activism of its members and
the financial commitment that the members have made
to getting their agenda accomplished.
Neuropsychologists in Louisiana contributed $2500.00
each for the last 10 years to advance their agenda.
They repeatedly emphasized that, “It takes money to
make money. It is a matter of politics and money. If
you raise the money and have a reasonable agenda
then you will succeed.” This is certainly true in
New York as well.
NYSAN is at a choice point
wherein decisions need to be made quickly regarding
our allocation of person hours and financial
resources. NYSAN will need to secure finances to
support the engagement of a lobbying firm to further
extend and advocate for NYSAN’s interests. We are
advised that we will need representation for several
years, particularly given the expected legislative
activities that are in play. We also understand that
a one year commitment will fall short of any
reasonable goal. We believe that at this time,
possibly like no other time in our history, a lack
of commitment or apathy toward our professional
goals will be potentially devastating to our field
and our future. Given the coming changes in
healthcare delivery/reimbursement models, a failure
to engage in the political arena will likely result
in the continued and increasing restriction of our
practice such that many neuropsychologists will not
be able to have a viable livelihood in this
specialty in the not too distant future.
Having given this significant consideration, the
NYSAN board believes that a commitment from our
membership amounting to the cost of one hour of
clinical service per month over a several year
period (like neuropsychologists in Louisiana) would
allow us to pursue this course of action and more
successfully and reasonably address the many
challenges facing our field today and in the future.
If you question or doubt your ability to commit
funds at this time, please consider what your
financial standing will be in a few year’s time if
your scope of practice and ability to achieve
appropriate reimbursement for your services are
progressively restricted by people who know nothing
about neuropsychology.
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TO NYSAN IN SUPPORT OF OUR LOBBYING EFFORT!
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