Since its founding, Copic has emphasized the importance of legislative advocacy in medicine and health care delivery. The organization notes that changes in the political landscape have made navigating the legislative process more challenging, increasing the need for collaboration with partners such as the Colorado Medical Society to address issues affecting physicians and promote improvements in health care.
Copic’s Public Affairs team leads its long-term legislative advocacy efforts. This team manages relationships and resources focused on key topics like professional review, licensing, new duties and requirements, and liability. According to Copic, “As the political landscape changes, our commitment to this work remains a foundation for how Copic’s mission is put into action and used to protect and strengthen health care.”
The organization describes legislative advocacy as a complex task involving coordination, relationship building, and a multi-faceted approach. Activities range from analyzing newly introduced legislation to presenting policy information to physician leaders. Advocacy continues throughout the year but intensifies during legislative sessions.
Engagement is identified as critical for success. This includes building community awareness about Copic’s dedication to protecting access to quality care and preserving physician-patient relationships. Engagement also involves working with stakeholders such as elected officials, advocacy partners, community organizations, and insured physicians through various forms of communication.
Monitoring proposed legislation is central to Copic’s advocacy work. Each year, many bills are introduced that could affect health care delivery. The Public Affairs team works with legal and medical experts within Copic to analyze these proposals in detail—scrutinizing language, researching impacts, considering consequences, and incorporating different viewpoints. This process includes close collaboration with groups like the Colorado Medical Society and Colorado Hospital Association.
“Our work tracks alongside the progression of bills through the legislative process,” Copic states. “As we monitor changes, we are weighing in with recommendations and having discussions with legislators and partner organizations to ensure that decisions about health care in Colorado are well-informed and consider the relevant perspectives.”
Copic highlights its “4 Cs” framework for guiding advocacy: Convening (bringing together diverse stakeholders), Collaborating (leveraging collective strengths), Coordinating (aligning people and ideas), and Communicating (sharing expertise). An example cited is the Humanitarian Award presented annually by Copic together with the Colorado Medical Society to recognize volunteer physicians making an impact locally.
“Convening is about how Copic serves as a catalyst to connect diverse stakeholders – from rural physicians and patient advocates to hospital administrators and insurance providers,” according to Copic.
On collaborating: “This collective view generates insight and action beyond what occurs when individual organizations operate on their own.”
Describing coordinating: “For Copic, this includes connecting physicians…with their legislators…strengthen[ing] awareness on key issues.”
On communicating: “Copic’s access to information…is valuable in identifying risks…The knowledge we gain from legislative advocacy is disseminated across the health care community in actionable ways that support better outcomes.”
