Directory Membership Eligibility & Standards
The Independent Patient Advocate Directory is designed to help consumers connect directly with independent professionals who provide patient advocacy, healthcare navigation, care coordination, and related services.
Directory members maintain control of their own practices, services, fees, availability, and client relationships. Membership is subject to the eligibility requirements and professional standards below.
Membership Eligibility - Who May Join
Directory membership is intended for independent professionals who provide services directly to patients, families, caregivers, or their authorized representatives.
Eligible professionals may include:
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Independent Patient Advocates
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Board Certified Patient Advocates (BCPA)
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Registered Nurses and other qualified healthcare professionals
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Certified Senior Advisors (CSA)
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Certified Case Managers (CCM)
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Aging Life Care Professionals and Geriatric Care Managers
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Physicians and Pharmacists providing independent advocacy or navigation services
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Social Workers
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Attorneys providing relevant healthcare advocacy services
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Independent senior housing and care placement advisors
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Medical billing, insurance claims, authorization, and appeals specialists
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Other qualified professionals whose services are consistent with independent patient advocacy
What We Mean by Independent
For purposes of this directory, an independent advocate generally works directly with clients rather than representing the interests of a hospital, insurance company, health plan, or other institution.
Independent professionals typically:
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Operate or work within an independent practice
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Determine the services they provide
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Establish their own fees
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Choose their own caseload and availability
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Contract directly with clients
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Maintain professional responsibility for their own services
An advocate may work collaboratively with healthcare providers, facilities, attorneys, fiduciaries, home-care organizations, and other professionals without losing independent status.
Who Is Not Eligible
The directory is not intended for individuals whose primary role is representing or selling on behalf of an organization whose interests may differ from those of the patient.
Examples may include:
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Hospital-employed advocates acting on behalf of the hospital
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Insurance company or health-plan representatives
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Commission-driven insurance brokers
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Individuals misrepresenting their qualifications or professional role
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Individuals providing services outside the lawful scope of their profession
The directory reserves the right to determine whether a practice is consistent with the purpose and standards of the directory.
Directory Professional Standards
Directory members are expected to conduct their practices with professionalism, honesty, transparency, and respect for client autonomy.
Accurate Profile Information
Members must provide truthful and reasonably current information regarding their:
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Name and business
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Credentials and professional designations
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Experience
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Services
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Service areas
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Professional background
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Contact information
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Referral or compensation arrangements
Members are responsible for updating their profile when material information changes.
Credential Attestation
Members must attest that the credentials, licenses, certifications, degrees, and professional designations displayed on their directory profile are accurate and are held legitimately.
The Independent Patient Advocate Directory does not independently verify every credential or representation made by every member.
Consumers should verify credentials, licenses, certifications, references, and qualifications when appropriate before engaging an advocate.
Criminal Record Attestation
Applicants are required to complete the directory's criminal-record attestation as part of the profile submission process.
The directory may deny, suspend, or terminate membership when information raises concerns regarding patient safety, financial exploitation, fraud, abuse, violence, or other conduct that is inconsistent with professional advocacy.
Referral & Compensation Disclosure
Independent professionals may have legitimate business relationships with healthcare providers, care facilities, home-care companies, senior housing providers, attorneys, fiduciaries, or other organizations.
Receiving compensation from a third party does not automatically prohibit directory membership.
However, members must disclose referral fees, placement fees, commissions, or other compensation arrangements that could reasonably be relevant to a client's decision.
Transparency is required.
Members should not represent a recommendation as completely independent when an undisclosed financial relationship could influence that recommendation.
Client Interests & Professional Independence
Directory members should place the client's stated goals, preferences, and interests at the center of the advocacy relationship.
Members should:
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Respect client autonomy
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Clearly explain their role
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Avoid misleading claims
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Disclose material conflicts of interest
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Maintain appropriate professional boundaries
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Avoid guaranteeing medical, insurance, legal, financial, or placement outcomes
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Refer clients to appropriately licensed professionals when matters fall outside the advocate's scope
Scope of Practice
Membership in the directory does not expand an individual's professional license, certification, or legal scope of practice.
Advocates must work within the boundaries of their education, experience, professional credentials, and applicable laws.
Non-clinical advocates should not diagnose medical conditions, prescribe treatments, issue medical orders, or present themselves as licensed clinicians unless they independently hold the appropriate professional license.
Privacy & Confidentiality
Members are responsible for maintaining appropriate safeguards for confidential client information and complying with privacy obligations applicable to their practice.
Members should obtain appropriate client authorization before sharing confidential information or using third-party technology to process sensitive client information.
Professional Conduct
Directory members are expected to interact professionally with clients, families, healthcare professionals, facilities, and other parties.
Conduct involving fraud, exploitation, abuse, serious dishonesty, intentional misrepresentation, or behavior that creates a significant risk to clients may result in suspension or removal from the directory.
Directory Review
Submission of a profile does not guarantee publication.
Profiles may be reviewed for:
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Completion
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Eligibility
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Consistency with directory standards
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Appropriate disclosures
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Accuracy of required attestations
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Suitability for the Independent Patient Advocate Directory
Approved profiles may be updated by the member, but continued membership remains subject to these standards.
Suspension or Removal
The Independent Patient Advocate Directory may suspend, deactivate, decline, or remove a listing when reasonably necessary to protect the integrity of the directory or its users.
Reasons may include material misrepresentation, failure to meet membership standards, serious professional misconduct, failure to maintain membership, or other circumstances inconsistent with the purpose of the directory.
Consumer Responsibility
The Independent Patient Advocate Directory provides a resource for locating independent professionals.
Listing in the directory is not a guarantee or endorsement of an advocate's services or outcomes.
Consumers should conduct their own evaluation before hiring an advocate, including reviewing qualifications, discussing fees and services, requesting references when appropriate, and verifying professional credentials or licenses.
Ready to Join?
If you meet the eligibility requirements and agree to the directory's professional standards, you are invited to create your listing and join a growing community of independent professionals.