Patient Advocate Qualifications
Patient Advocate
Qualifications
BACKGROUND
Patient advocate qualifications vary. Some are trained as nurses or doctors, pharmacists or other clinicians.
Others come from the business side of healthcare, with expertise in billing and insurance.
Some were in your shoes, patients or caregivers who had to learn the hard way how to fight for what they needed from the health care system. And they turned that passion and experience into a career.
Search our national directory to learn more about our patient advocates and their qualifications.
EXPERIENCE
Some advocates have been practicing advocates for years. Others have years of healthcare experience. It’s fair to ask how long an advocate has been practicing. Read our Guide to Hiring an Advocate for help selecting an advocate.
Credentials
Some have Board certification in patient advocacy or other certificates and credentials. Some credentials that patient advocates have include:
- Board-certified Patient Advocate (BCPA)
- Certified Case Manager (CCM)
- Care Manager, Certified (CMC)
- Certified Geriatric Care Manager (CGCM)
- Registered Nurse (RN)
- Medical Doctor (MD or DO)
- Lawyer (JD)
- Social Worker (MSW)
- Doctor of Osteopathy (DO)
- Chiropractor
- Nurse Practitioner (NP)
- Aging Life Care Expert
- Senior Care Manager
Advocate
Costs
Independent advocates typically charge by the hour or by the service. Rates vary widely depending on the complexity of the situation, the services provided, the location, and the advocate’s expertise or credentials.
Some advocates ask you to pay for a block of time in advance (called a retainer) and some offer monthly subscriptions to make sure you have ongoing access to them. Most will give you a good-faith estimate before asking for any payment.
If you hire a private advocate, expect to pay anywhere from about $100 to as much as $400 or $500 per hour, out of pocket.
Learn more about patient advocate costs.
At Umbra Health Advocacy, we offer specific services for a set price, based on the complexity of the issue and the expertise needed to solve it. You can always add more time or buy additional services if you need to. Our rates fall within the range of what you'd pay a private advocate. The difference is we'll do the legwork for you to find the right match and stand by the quality of the work.
If you are interested in getting the help of an advocate, please tell us more about your situation and someone will reach out to tell you about how we can help and the costs.
Employers
Many employers now offer patient advocacy and health concierge services to employees. The healthcare system is complex and our advisors can provide real support during a stressful time and deliver cost savings to employers.
Umbra Health Advocacy offers employer plans. Please contact us for more information.
