The National Association of Healthcare Advocacy Consultants (NAHAC) is a professional organization for people working in the field of healthcare advocacy. The mission of this Association is twofold:

• To promote the field of healthcare advocacy
• To ensure consumer protection through development of professional standards and best practices in the field of healthcare advocacy

The Association recognizes that there are currently people with many types of experience and training who assist the public with healthcare advocacy. These include medically trained healthcare advocates, advocates in non-profits, individuals who have learned “on the job” helping a friend or family member, researchers and educators in the field of healthcare advocacy, and advocates working in the fields of public policy and legislation. Each of these groups brings a unique contribution, specialization or focus to this growing field, and each is critical to the development of the profession. NAHAC embraces this multiplicity of approaches, recognizing that, in the end, the public will have a wide choice of services and advocates and this diversity of approaches enhances the profession.

What are the qualifications to join?

NAHAC membership is open to those who are interested in the field of healthcare advocacy. They may be medical professionals, consumer advocates, people in academia and research and people involved in policy and legislative efforts.

What are the benefits of joining?

Listing in the on-line National Directory of Healthcare Advocacy Consultants.

Access to a national database of people doing healthcare advocacy all over the country.

Networking opportunities.

Participation in the annual Conference.

The first annual conference will Be November 14th, 2009 in Berkeley, CA; the second year Conference will be held on the East Coast, exact date and location TBA.

Participation in the development of ethical standards and best practices for the profession.

Continuing Education courses listings.