About NHC Membership
WHO WE ARE
Created by and for patient organizations more than 100 years ago, the National Health Council (NHC) brings diverse organizations together to forge consensus and drive patient-centered health policy. We promote increased access to affordable, high-value, sustainable health care.
OUR MEMBERSHIP
Made up of more than 150 national health- related organizations and businesses, the NHC’s core membership includes the nation’s leading patient organizations. Other members include health-related associations and nonprofit organizations including the provider, research, and family caregiver communities; and businesses representing biopharmaceutical, device, diagnostic, generic drug, and payer organizations.
MEMBER BENEFITS
The National Health Council delivers a wide range of member services to help you succeed.
The National Health Council provides access to deep policy resources and expertise on a broad range of complex issues that impact all people with chronic conditions. Our efforts have yielded the inclusion of multiple provisions in landmark legislation and subsequent regulatory implementation of the Affordable Care Act, 21st Century Cures, PCORI Reauthorization, FDA User Fee Reauthorization Acts, and more. View a list of our current issue areas on our website.
The NHC shares its relevant policy work, such as comment letters, working documents on policy positions, and white papers, with members ahead of deadlines, allowing you to utilize our materials for your own policy positions and responses.
BUILD YOUR NETWORKExpand your network with the broader health community through participation in our action teams, affinity groups, conferences, and ad-hoc briefings. Members of your organization can join our policy-focused action teams or our affinity groups, which are networking group for those in similar organizational positions. Our conferences and meetings are also excellent opportunities for both education and networking, especially our annual marquee conferences: Health Leadership Conference, Science of Patient Engagement Symposium, and Washington Representatives Retreat.
Enhance your organization’s public profile and outreach to the broader health community by submitting content for the NHC’s weekly, member newsletter, the NHC Insider; highlighting your organization on the NHC Putting Patients First blog; and promoting job openings in your organization on the NHC Job Bank.
STRENGTHEN ORGANIZATIONAL GOVERNANCE AND OPERATIONS
Gain knowledge on current issues facing the nonprofit sector, such as changes in charity rating systems, innovative fundraising techniques, relationships with the for-profit sector, and impacts of recent tax reform. Strengthen your organization’s governance and board processes through networking, education, and participation in benchmarking surveys.
The NHC member patient organizations utilize our Standards of Excellence Certification Program® to maximize mission impact. The 38 Standards cover the areas of governance, human resources, programs, fundraising, finance, accounting and reporting, and evaluation. Technical assistance is available to all organization, but certification is required for patient organizations.
The NHC has released a new report on Inclusive Workplaces. Read the full report here.
Membership Categories
Voluntary Health Agencies (VHAs) are defined as 501(c)(3) organizations composed of individuals, both lay and professional, voluntarily and democratically organized. Their mission is to combat a particular disease, disability, or group of diseases and disabilities, or to improve and protect the health of a particular group of people. They receive a substantial amount of financial support from voluntary contributions from the public at large. They engage in programs, such as research, education, advocacy, and service to individuals and communities.
Patient advocacy groups must meet the National Health Council minimum Standards of Excellence to be accepted into membership.
Professional associations are health-related organizations consisting primarily of individuals, or of state and local groups of individuals, meeting stated qualifications of training or experience. Other membership associations are health-related associations of individuals or institutions, including alliances and coalitions. Members of this category are expected to demonstrate a broad base of funding either from many individuals or multiple institutions.
Nonprofit Organizations with an Interest in Health are organizations engaged in or concerned with health issues that support the mission of the National Health Council.
Business and Industry members are for-profit companies engaged in the sale of health-related products or services, such as pharmaceutical, biotechnology, and medical device companies. This category includes any subsidiaries or related entities, such as foundations, affiliated with an organization that would otherwise be classified as a Business and Industry member.
Associate Members are organizations that are considered to be primarily vendors. Associate Members have all member privileges, except they are not allowed to be represented on the NHC’s Board of Directors or Nominating Committee and cannot vote at meetings of the entire membership.
Our Members
View the list of NHC member organizations.
Resources
View NHC member resources.