Advocacy
CMSA’s public policy initiative serves to represent member interests on issues affecting care management professionals and their patients' wellbeing. The CMSA Public Policy Committee has determined the following legislative focus for the coming years. If you have a public policy issue for consideration, please contact cmsa@cmsa.org.
Join us for CMSA’s National Day of Advocacy
Wednesday, October 7, 2026
Join CMSA’s National Day of Advocacy on October 7 to share your perspective on mental health, workforce development, maternal and women’s healthcare at the state level, and rural health.
Explore our Advocacy Toolkit for sample emails, phone scripts, legislator contact resources, graphics, and social posts to help you participate.
Complete our Member Engagement Survey to share the issues affecting your practice and help inform CMSA’s advocacy priorities and resources.
CMSA Legislative Priorities
Mental Health
Mental and behavioral health needs can affect care across every setting. Case managers help identify needs, coordinate referrals, connect patients to resources, and support continued engagement in care.
CMSA supports policies and initiatives that strengthen access to mental and behavioral health services, improve integration between physical and behavioral healthcare, and recognize the important role case managers play in coordinating whole-person care.
Maternal and Women's Healthcare - State Level
Women often navigate multiple parts of the healthcare system throughout their lives. During pregnancy and postpartum, coordinating providers, coverage, medications, behavioral health, transportation, and follow-up care can be especially complex. Because many maternal health programs and resources are managed at the state level, policymakers play an important role in improving access and coordination.
Rural Health
Rural patients often face long travel distances, provider shortages, limited specialists, transportation barriers, and fewer local resources. Case managers help bridge these gaps by coordinating care, connecting patients to services, and finding alternatives when local options are limited.
CMSA supports policies and programs that improve access to healthcare in rural communities, strengthen care coordination, expand appropriate use of telehealth and technology, support the rural healthcare workforce, and improve connections between clinical care and community resources.
Workforce Development
A strong healthcare system depends on a prepared workforce. As care becomes more complex, case managers play a growing role in coordinating services, supporting transitions, connecting resources, and helping patients navigate their options.
CMSA supports efforts that strengthen the case management workforce through education, professional development, competency advancement, recruitment, retention, and recognition of case management as an essential component of healthcare delivery.