The National Association of Spine Specialists brings together spine care providers and patients as a unified voice in the fight for sound health policy. NASS’ Advocacy program utilizes members and staff to stress the importance of policies that preserve patient access to high quality, evidence-based specialty care. The Advocacy Committee and staff make their best effort to address each issue that arises. Association members include over 5,500 health care professionals in more than 23 specialties.

Washington Presence
NASS maintains a Washington, D.C. Office  to ensure that members are represented on Capitol Hill and have the inside beat on federal policymaking. Association staff frequently meet with lawmakers, legislative staff and administrative officials to weigh in on health care policies as they are crafted.

The Association is an active member of the Alliance of Specialty Medicine—a nonpartisan coalition of 12 medical societies representing over 100,000 specialty physicians. The Alliance provides surveys, white papers, statistics, testimony, briefing materials, position letters and other resources on key health care issues.

State Policy Tracking
More and more, health care policy is being decided at the state level. From efforts to reform the medical liability system, to policies that define scope of practice and physician ownership, the Association tracks state health policy developments and identifies key issues that may potentially impact members. Association staff meet regularly with their counterparts in other medical societies to share information and strategies addressing state-level concerns. E-mail action alerts provide members with facts and means to weigh in on these issues when time is of the essence. 

By-Laws of National Association of Spine Specialists