Policy letters and testimony

The PAN Foundation submitted a letter on behalf of the patients and families we assist to Senator Bernie Sanders in support of S.939, the Medicare Dental, Hearing, and Vision Expansion Act. The need for dental, hearing, and vision coverage is great. Older adults who do not get the dental, hearing, and vision services they need, or who have to delay needed treatment because of cost, are at greater risk for avoidable hospitalizations, isolation, falls, and more.

The PAN Foundation submitted testimony to the Maryland Senate Finance Committee urging them to adopt SB 773, which importantly requires health plans to count the value of copay assistance toward patient cost-sharing requirements. Adoption of the bill would bring much-needed relief to financially vulnerable individuals by ensuring that all payments—whether they come directly out of a patient’s pocket or with the help of copay assistance—count towards their out-of-pocket costs.

The PAN Foundation submitted testimony to the Maryland House Health and Government Operations Committee urging them to adopt HB 1246, and to remove Section 1.(c) that requires unnecessary notification requirements. HB 1246 importantly requires health plans to count the value of copay assistance toward patient cost-sharing requirements.

Expanded telehealth flexibilities for Health Savings Account-eligible plans were first enacted in 2020, helping millions of Americans access the care they need. Congress failed to address this popular provision which expired at the end of 2024. The PAN Foundation joined a broad stakeholder letter to Congress–representing 300+ employers, patient advocates, health care companies, consumer groups, and more–urging them to pass legislation that would make these telehealth flexibilities permanent.