HTuB3 - Beyond Hill Days: How Comment Letters Are an Essential Advocacy Tool for Health Centers and their Partners

While legislative advocacy often takes the spotlight, the regulatory process is an equally critical, and arguably more effective, strategy to ensure the long-term success of health centers. In today’s complex and often polarized political climate, proposed regulatory changes can have far-reaching effects on health center operations, financial stability, and the quality of patient care. With the Administration's recent move rescinding the Richardson memo, reshaping the regulatory landscape, now is a critical moment to engage proactively in the rulemaking process.

Active engagement in the regulatory process through comment letters, responses to request for information (RFIs), and collaboration with federal agencies gives health centers the opportunity to shape policies that directly affect their work. By sharing data, real-world insights, and practical feedback, health centers and their partners can help refine proposed rules, prevent unintended consequences, and advocate for policies that support sustainable care delivery.

This session will equip health centers, PCAs, and other stakeholders with practical tools and strategies to strengthen their participation in regulatory advocacy. Speakers from NACHC and other organizations will discuss effective data collection methods, how to shift your arguments to best engage with this administration, provide examples of successful regulatory campaigns, and outline the essential components of building effective and scalable comment letter programs to elevate the health center voice.