Every physician and patient in Indiana needs legislators who understand the complex issues of health care. People we elect and send to our Statehouse enact laws that ultimately affect what happens in medical offices every day. But making sure physician friendly legislators are elected, retained and informed requires resources – and that’s where YOU and IMPAC come in.

IMPAC is the ISMA’s nonpartisan political action committee (PAC). It exists with financial contributions – independent of ISMA dues dollars. ISMA dues cannot be used for political activities.

Here are answers to questions you may have about IMPAC.

Q: Who can contribute to IMPAC?

A: IMPAC can accept contributions from physicians, residents, medical students, their spouses and friends of medicine. Any contribution to IMPAC is welcome.

Q: Are state political campaigns similar in cost to national races?

A: Political campaigns for Congressional and Statehouse representatives are expensive and track a rising cost slope similar to presidential elections.

Q: How many ISMA members contribute to IMPAC?

A: At our annual convention, the ISMA had 304 IMPAC members, representing a steady decline since 1996 when we had 1,659 members. During convention weekend, 56 contributors were added, bringing our new membership to 360 with more than $16,000 raised in two days.

Q: How does our PAC compare to others like us?

A: Available information from the LAW-PAC, for example, shows 252 contributors, but their average contribution is $744! Our IMPAC average contribution is $245. The LAW-PAC has 83 contributors who give $1,000 or more every year; we have two IMPAC members who contribute $1,000.

Q: Can a PAC really make a difference to medical practices?

A: Yes. We need to look only to Kentucky for proof.

In 2011, their legislature passed a bill giving Kentucky optometrists the authority to perform eye surgery. The optometrists collected $327,650 in contributions to state legislators and hired

18 lobbyists to work on the effort. The bill moved from introduction to law in two weeks!

IMPAC needs resources to fight similar challenges in our state where several allied providers are seeking expansion of scope of practice.

Q: How do I become an IMPAC contributor?

A: For other questions about IMPAC or to make a contribution, call the ISMA at (800) 257-4762 or (317) 261-2060 or contact the IMPAC Board member for your district listed here.

Also see IMPAC’s Five Star Contributors.