Survey Summary:
The 2024 Government Affairs Survey, conducted by The Academy Advisors, was distributed to Government Relations Officers (GROs) from a representative sample of 32 leading health systems across the U.S. The survey focused on analyzing staffing, compensation, responsibilities, and budget allocations within GA/Public Policy departments. Respondents, primarily at the Vice President level or higher, represented large, non-profit, integrated delivery networks (IDNs). These organizations ranged from medium-sized and regional systems to some of the largest national IDNs, allowing for a comparative analysis of GRO resources across varying scales.
Survey Snapshot:
Demographic Data: Survey data showed health systems managing an average of 16 hospitals, with smaller systems (under $4B) typically overseeing 13 hospitals, mid-sized ($4B-$8B) managing 15 hospitals, and larger ($8B+) overseeing a median of 36 hospitals.
Team Structure & Function: Most departments operate with compact, focused teams, relying on 2 to 4 professionals (46%), minimal administrative support (0-1), and single executive oversight (81%), with common reporting lines to the CEO (36%) and Chief External Affairs Officer (30%).
Compensation: Executive roles typically command salaries between $260K and $340K, with professional staff like managers and directors earning $150K to $200K, and administrative positions ranging from $80K to $100K.
Budget & Resources: Government Affairs (GA) and Public Policy departments displayed varying budget projects for 2024. Nearly a quarter of respondents (21%) allocated less than $100k, while just over a third (34%) had budgets ranging between $100k and $500k. Larger allocations were also prevalent, with 45% of systems setting aside more than $500k, and nearly a third (31%) earmarking over $750k.
Policy & Advocacy: Survey results suggest health systems are directing the bulk of their consultancy budgets toward state-level advocacy, typically allocating between $250k and $400k annually. Federal and local advocacy efforts are funded more modestly, often below $120K and $50K respectively, indicating a strong focus on state policy impact.
This snapshot represents data from 32 health systems, 576 hospitals, and 41 states - covering 1.2 million employees with an average net patient revenue of $4.6 billion.