Advocacy Update

Policymaking and Advocacy in a Time of a Crisis

Jacqueline M. Kocinski, MPP

There is an adage that suggests that high stakes and high speed are not an ideal combination. Yet, in the wake of the outbreak of the novel coronavirus earlier this year, legislators and regulators at all levels of government were immediately called upon to make decisions of great importance in the absence of the kind of protracted deliberation that typically characterizes the policymaking process. At the same time, advocates had to quickly adjust to ensure their concerns were heard and addressed. As the COVID-19 pandemic continues, this new reality poses both challenges and opportunities for advancing AAHPM's policy priorities.