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The Special Diabetes Program
Background:
In December 2002, the United States House of Representatives unanimously approved an extension and increase for the Special Diabetes Program. The bill passed by the House, H.R.5738, would provide $150 million per year in mandatory funding for each part of the program and would extend the program for five years (FY04-FY08). The program currently provided $100 million per year for juvenile diabetes research and $100 million per year for treatment and prevention programs for Native American populations. Funding was to expire in 2003.
The bill was pending in the Senate. But Senator Don Nickles (R-OK), the next Senate Budget Committee Chairman, was opposed to an increase and extension of mandatory funds for the Special Diabetes Program and put a hold on the bill. With less than 48 hours left in the session, I was tasked with putting enough pressure on the Senator to induce him to drop his hold on the bill.
Action Plan:
Timing was absolutely critical to the success of this program. I cleared my schedule for the next 48 hours and began calling other supporters of this issue to create a virtual team, with shared responsibility for getting the word out.
I took responsibility for stimulating 20 phone calls from Oklahoma elected officials. I was able to fax or e-mail talking points to each of them, explaining the importance of the program. Most were shocked that Senator Nickles had put a hold on the bill, especially since the Special Diabetes Program is an example of a federal program that has delivered real results. For example, monies from this program have been used to fund human clinical trials in the area of islet cell transplantation. Nearly 80% of the 120 individuals who have received islet cell transplants no longer need insulin to live.
After securing the Oklahoma officials’ initial acceptance to make the calls, I followed up with them every three hours until I had some response from Senator Nickles’ office. Other parts of my team were tasked with finding health care-related groups that would call the senator’s office.
The net result was an overwhelming buzz that got the Senator’s attention. Within 36 hours of my beginning this assignment, Senator Nickles released his hold on the bill, and it passed overwhelmingly.
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