Published: February 28, 2019

New congress, new contacts

Successful legislative advocacy starts with a solid grassroots foundation. Members of Congress want to hear from their constituents—physicians and patients—about how healthcare decisions made on Capitol Hill affect them. American Academy of Otolaryngology–Head and Neck Surgery members have a powerful voice on a wide range of topics, including reimbursement issues, scope of practice expansions, and hearing health proposals.


Successful legislative advocacy starts with a solid grassroots foundation. Members of Congress want to hear from their constituents—physicians and patients—about how healthcare decisions made on Capitol Hill affect them. American Academy of Otolaryngology–Head and Neck Surgery members have a powerful voice on a wide range of topics, including reimbursement issues, scope of practice expansions, and hearing health proposals. Given the ambitious legislative agenda for the 116th Congress, the strength of the Academy’s key contacts network via PROJECT 535 is more important than ever!

New Project535 Logo

First launched in 2015 by the Board of Governors, PROJECT 535 is a key contact network of physician members who volunteer to establish one-to-one relationships with members of the U.S. House of Representatives and U.S. Senate to strengthen the Academy’s overall advocacy efforts. PROJECT 535 participants engage in regular, issue-oriented messaging to their Members of Congress about the Academy’s federal legislative priorities. This additional layer of constituent-based outreach amplifies the Academy’s position when healthcare issues are debated.

PROJECT 535 participants can expect to email or call their federal lawmakers on a quarterly basis—sometimes more, sometimes less, depending on the Congressional calendar and agenda. AAO-HNS staff provide the relevant background information and talking points—everything you need to make your voice heard.

Signing up for PROJECT 535 is easy! Visit www.entnet.org/advocacy or email the Academy’s Advocacy Team at govtaffairs@entnet.org for assistance. The commitment is minimal, but the impact is immense!


More from March 2019 – Vol. 38, No. 2