Advocacy

There is a large amount of evidence for the effectiveness of policies that reduce the risk for stroke.

Strategies Related to Stroke Advocacy

Support stroke advocacy efforts
- Collaborate with advocacy organizations working on policies to prevent stroke
- Share information, materials, and increase the capacity of state organizations that focus on policies to reduce the burden of heart disease and stroke
- Strengthen the effectiveness of the Justus-Warren Heart Disease and Stroke Prevention Task Force through collaboration on advocacy efforts
- American Heart Association You’re the Cure
  
  Grassroots network actively works on local, state, and federal policies that address stroke prevention and treatment
- American Heart Association’s Advocacy Efforts
  
  American Heart Association and American Stroke Association
- Care4Carolina
  
  Coalition dedicated to closing the health insurance coverage gap and increasing access to affordable, quality healthcare
- Directory of Free & Charitable Clinics
  
  NC Association of Free & Charitable Clinics
- Justus-Warren Heart Disease and Stroke Prevention Task Force
  
  Makes recommendations to improve the stroke system of care through its Action Agenda; applications for new members accepted each August
- NC Academy of Family Physicians
  
  Political action committee that represents the voice of family medicine
- NC Alliance for Health
  
  Statewide coalition that focuses on obesity prevention and tobacco use prevention
- NC Institute of Medicine
  
  Focuses on improving the health and well-being of North Carolinians by informing health policy at the state and local level
- NC Rural Center
  
  Provides advocacy and works with the state’s rural citizens to help their local communities flourish
Support policies to prevent stroke
Advocate for evidence-based tobacco reduction strategies such as increasing state-level funding for tobacco cessation and prevention, raising the tobacco tax, etc.
- Advocacy Fact Sheets by the American Heart Association
  
  On multiple topics including covering preventive services
- NC Alliance for Health
  
  Statewide coalition that focuses on obesity prevention and tobacco use prevention
- New and Emerging Tobacco Products and the Nicotine Endgame: The Role of Robust Regulation and Comprehensive Tobacco Control and Prevention
  
  A Presidential Advisory From the American Heart Association
- Policy Research Division of the American Heart Association
  
  Which includes policy positions, policy reports, etc.
Promote physical activity and healthy food
- NC Alliance for Health
  
  Statewide coalition that focuses on obesity prevention and tobacco use prevention
Support increased access to health care
- Care4Carolina
  
  Coalition dedicated to closing the health insurance coverage gap and increasing access to affordable, quality healthcare
Promote state preventive care regulations and funding within and beyond Medicaid
- Justus-Warren Heart Disease and Stroke Prevention Task Force
  
  Makes recommendations to improve the stroke system of care through its Action Agenda; applications for new members accepted each August
Support wellness visits related to stroke prevention
- Justus-Warren Heart Disease and Stroke Prevention Task Force
  
  Makes recommendations to improve the stroke system of care through its Action Agenda; applications for new members accepted each August
Support efforts to enhance stroke care
Support state and local policies requiring minimum level of stroke knowledge (i.e., high school graduation requirement for minimum CPR knowledge)
- Justus-Warren Heart Disease and Stroke Prevention Task Force
  
  Makes recommendations to improve the stroke system of care through its Action Agenda; applications for new members accepted each August
Promote regulations and funding to support telestroke equipment and services
- Telehealth Resources
  
  NC Healthcare Association (NCHA) resource on state telehealth advocacy initiatives
Support secondary stroke prevention education
- COMPASS Study Patient Handouts
  
  Disease management, insurance, and secondary prevention for patients and caregivers
- COMPASS Study Support Network
  
  For both patients and caregivers
- Post-Acute Coordinators
  
  COMPASS Study transitional care resources, assessments, and trainings
Support equitable funding for rural hospitals
- NC Office on Rural Health
  
  Oversees the Rural Hospital Program and provides funds for telehealth to 20 hospitals (25 beds or fewer) to start telehealth programs
- NC Rural Center
  
  Provides advocacy and works with the state’s rural citizens to help their local communities flourish
Support efforts to enhance post-stroke care
Promote regulations and reimbursement for rehab/recovery services (e.g., neurology services for post-acute patients), education/counseling to prevent stroke recurrence (see Stroke Prevention section), telestroke (see Stroke Care section), etc.
- COMPASS Study Patient Handouts
  
  Disease management, insurance, and secondary prevention for patients and caregivers
- COMPASS Study Support Network
  
  For both patients and caregivers
- Home Health and Outpatient Rehab Providers
  
  COMPASS transitional care resources, assessments, and trainings
- Post-Acute Coordinators
  
  COMPASS Study transitional care resources, assessments, and trainings
Recommend post-stroke patient advocates using Telehealth and other sources so that patients have someone to talk to; include statewide resources
- Directory of Free & Charitable Clinics
  
  NC Association of Free & Charitable Clinics
- Justus-Warren Heart Disease and Stroke Prevention Task Force
  
  Makes recommendations to improve the stroke system of care through its Action Agenda; applications for new members accepted each August
Promote education about and use of secondary stroke prevention services (e.g., cardiac services that could be provided to prevent stroke)
- Directory of County Health Departments
  
  NC Department of Health and Human Services
- Directory of Physicians
  
  By zip code
- Map of Community Health Centers
  
  NC Community Health Center Association
- NC Medicaid Provider Information
  
  North Carolina Division of Health Benefits

Click on each of the five categories for strategies and resources.

Advocacy

Strategies Related to Stroke Advocacy

Advocate for evidence-based tobacco reduction strategies such as increasing state-level funding for tobacco cessation and prevention, raising the tobacco tax, etc.

Promote physical activity and healthy food

Support increased access to health care

Promote state preventive care regulations and funding within and beyond Medicaid

Support wellness visits related to stroke prevention

Support state and local policies requiring minimum level of stroke knowledge (i.e., high school graduation requirement for minimum CPR knowledge)

Promote regulations and funding to support telestroke equipment and services

Support secondary stroke prevention education

Support equitable funding for rural hospitals

Promote regulations and reimbursement for rehab/recovery services (e.g., neurology services for post-acute patients), education/counseling to prevent stroke recurrence (see Stroke Prevention section), telestroke (see Stroke Care section), etc.

Recommend post-stroke patient advocates using Telehealth and other sources so that patients have someone to talk to; include statewide resources

Promote education about and use of secondary stroke prevention services (e.g., cardiac services that could be provided to prevent stroke)