Regular Member
A Regular Member is a person interested or involved in health care financial management. All prospective members (except full-time students) join HFMA as regular members.
Student Member
A Student Member is a person who, during the academic year, is a full-time college student at an educational institution which normally maintains a regular faculty and curriculum, and has an organized body of students at the place where its educational activities are carried on, or is a full-time intern, resident, or co-op student affiliated with an accredited educational program, and is not employed full-time. Regular Members pay the full dues rate. Student Members pay at a reduced rate. When a student leaves school, he/she is reclassified as a Regular Member and must pay full dues in accordance with the Regular Member rate. When the Student Member converts the membership, the application fee is waived.
Advanced Member
An Advanced Member is a person who has earned 20 Founder’s Award points for membership and volunteer service. Advanced members are notified of this change from regular membership status by National HFMA.
National Life Member
A National Life Member (not to be confused with Chapter Life Member) is a Regular or Advanced Member upon whom life membership has been conferred by the National Board of Directors. To be considered, the member must have served as an HFMA National Officer or Director or as a member of a HFMA National committee. National Life Membership is conferred to recognize meritorious service to HFMA or an outstanding contribution to the health care financial management profession. A National Life Member is exempt from all further dues and assessments. This status may not be conferred on a member while he or she is serving as an elected Officer or Director of HFMA National.
Retired Member
A member who is approved as a Retired Member or Chapter Life Member retains his/her primary classification (Regular, Advanced) and all the rights and privileges of that status.
Any HFMA member in good standing who has completely retired from an active career, or who has attained the age of 70, may apply for Retired Member status. To apply for that status, a member should notify HFMA’s Director, Member Service Center, via a personal letter submitted through the chapter president. If approved, the Retired Member pays dues at a reduced rate (currently $35/year) yet retains all rights and privileges of the person’s primary classification.
Chapter Life Member
Chapter Life Membership may be conferred upon the member to recognize outstanding chapter accomplishments. To initiate the process, a member must be a Retired Member in good standing. The Chapter’s Board of Directors must act to recommend conferral of Chapter Life Membership on the Retired Member. The Chapter President should write a letter to the Director, Member Service Center: confirming chapter board action; explaining, based on the individual’s biographical information, why the chapter is recommending Chapter Life Membership; enclosing a chapter check for $175 covering five years of retired dues ($35 per year), and recommending that HFMA’s Board of Directors approve the conferral of Chapter Life Membership. If approved by the National Board, the Chapter President will be notified and a Chapter Life Member certificate will be processed and sent to the Chapter President. A Chapter Life Member is exempt from all further dues.
Voting Power
Of these four categories, only Regular, Advanced, and National Life Members have voting rights on HFMA National issues, e.g., electing leaders and voting on proposed Bylaws revisions.