National Patient Advocate Foundation Inc

Programs: National patient advocate foundation's (npaf) policy consortium provides an interactive discussion forum that convenes key healthcare stakeholders to (1) explore timely policy issues and the data behind these issues, and (2) identify potential health reform solutions and options for collaborative action. Policy consortia meetings occur at least twice annually in washington, dc in may and november. These events feature speakers, moderators, and panelists who are thought leaders in their fields, including academia, policy, advocacy, as well as various subject matter experts. The policy consortium meeting format typically includes keynote remarks and moderated panel discussions that are anchored by presentation of data, and also involve interactive audience participation to elicit new ideas and innovative collaboration opportunities addressing shared priorities for patients. In addition to in person meetings in the spring and fall, follow up communications, such as newsletters, are provided.

patient advocate foundation (paf) is a national non-profit 501(c)(3) organization that seeks to safeguard seriously and chronically ill patients and their families through effective assistance focused on their equitable access to quality care, maintenance of employment, and preservation of financial stability. As the advocacy affiliate of paf, npaf serves as the voice for health system transformation on behalf of paf and the constituencies paf serves. Npaf is focused on creating forums for issues discussion, volunteer training and activities that draw a broad array of stakeholders from the healthcare communities together to foster education and engagement at the community, state, and national levels. Npaf has developed and deployed a series of strategies for accomplishing this goal through its advocacy program, patient action league (pal), regulatory education and action for patients (reap) initiative, and the direct representation of the public policy interests of the patients and families served through paf. Npaf's integrated national and state advocacy agenda has cultivated and maintained a strong volunteer network of patient advocates and created opportunities for their activation on key patient issues through education, advocacy skills training, and advocacy engagement in national and state forums for health reform on behalf of patients and their families. We have invested considerable staff effort and organizational resources in building innovative new aspects of this advocacy program to enhance and expand volunteer skills training, issues understanding, foster deeper volunteer relationships and connections, and also offer a broader range of volunteer engagement opportunities in the community, state, and national levels. The patient action league (pal), established in 2012, is a field-based component of our national advocacy education and training program, offering volunteers a regional forum for training, networking, and action planning. Activities include opportunities to: 1. Participate in state and national issues briefings and advocacy activities focused on promoting person-centered care delivery for patients in all care settings2. Expand the reach of their community alliance and coalition participation and advocacy effectiveness through training, events, and advocacy activities dedicated to furthering npaf's person-centered care agenda3. Equip npaf volunteer advocates to recruit and support engagement of new volunteers in the network and build stronger connections among the advocates to provide powerful and effective voices in healthcare system reform and transformation. Pal hosts regional meetings across the country to educate and inform patient advocates, foster vibrant exchange of information and opportunities to network with stakeholders and thoughtleaders, and develop regional engagement and action plans promoting person-centered healthcare reforms. . The regulatory education and action for patients (reap) iniative, created in 2010 , is an npaf-led coalition of more than 60 member organizations formed to share information and education on key policy and regulatory issues and identify opportunities for collective communication on pertinent health reforms. Reap convenes the nation's leading patient advocacy and public health organizations to focus exclusively on prioritizing the needs of patients in the policy implementation and regulatory arena, and advocate for the implementation of policies that will improve outcomes, affordability and access to health care for patients and their families across the country. Npaf staff directs and executes operations of the coalition.