White Coats on Call FAQs

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What are MSV’s White Coats on Call Days?
MSV’s White Coat Days are our signature grassroots lobbying days held each year during the General Assembly session in Richmond. White Coat Days ensure the near-daily presence of physicians at the Capitol and give physicians the opportunity to tell their delegates and senators about the challenges facing the practice of medicine and Virginia’s health care system.

Who should attend White Coat Days?
MSV encourages physicians, residents, medical students, physician spouses, medical society staff, and other friends of medicine to participate in White Coat Days.

Where is White Coats on Call held?
Commonwealth Park Suites Hotel
901 Bank Street (corner of Bank & Ninth Streets)
Richmond, VA 23219 (directions)

When are my White Coat Days?
Click here to view the 2012 White Coat Days schedule.

If your schedule precludes you from participating in your district’s designated White Coat Days, you are welcome to join us on any of the other White Coats on Call Days.

How do I find out which MSV District I’m in?
Check out the MSV district map on our Web site at www.msv.org/districtmap.
 
What’s the Schedule of Events on my White Coat Days?
White Coats on Call briefings begin promptly at 8:15 a.m. Participants will be briefed by MSV lobbyists and provided briefing materials on key issues and legislation before being directed to the General Assembly Building to meet with their legislators. Following the legislator visits, MSV provides a complimentary lunch for participants back at the Commonwealth Park Suites Hotel. During the lunch hour, MSV staff will be on hand to hear your feedback on your visits and provide you with stationery that you can use to write thank you notes to your legislators.

Why should I leave behind my busy practice to come all the way to Richmond?
As the saying goes, if you’re in medicine, you’re in politics. Members of the General Assembly need to hear from YOU, their constituents, about how the legislation they’re considering will affect the practice of medicine—from setting Medicaid payment rates, protecting Virginia's positive liability climate, to ensuring quality patient care. Speak up, get involved!

What should I do before I arrive in Richmond?
MSV strongly encourages you to make appointments with your delegate and senator before arriving in Richmond. (Use our Legislator Lookup to find your legislators' contact information.) Don’t forget to bring your white coat to wear while lobbying and a supply of business cards to hand out to legislators and their aides.

What else do I need to know?
For individuals who plan to drive, Commonwealth Park Suites will provide valet parking for $12.00. If you’re arriving by bus, buses will be allowed to pull up in front of the hotel on Bank Street to drop off participants.

Because I live so far from Richmond, I need to spend the night. Where should I stay?
Overnight accommodations are available at the Commonwealth Park Suites Hotel; rooms can be secured under the MSV room block for $112/night plus taxes. To make a reservation, call at 888 | 343-7301 and ask for the MSV rate.

I don’t want to come to Richmond alone. Is anyone else from my area coming?
Many local and specialty medical society executives organize efforts to get physicians to travel to Richmond for their White Coat Days. All physicians are strongly encouraged to call their medical society executive or president to find out about such arrangements.

Questions? Please contact:
govtaffairs@msv.org
800 | 746-6768 EXT 1036
After January 9, 2012, please call the MSV Capitol office at 804 | 343-1185.