Advocate with us

Together, we can improve healthcare access, affordability, and equity for all.

As an advocate with the PAN Foundation, you join a passionate community of individuals dedicated to driving positive change for people living with life-threating, chronic, and rare diseases.

Here, you’ll gain a better understanding of the key issues impacting patient access to affordable, equitable healthcare in the U.S. We’ll also offer opportunities for you to take action such as participating in our online calls to action, joining us for our annual Advocacy Action Summit, and contributing to our storytelling opportunities.

Join us in advocating for a future where everyone can access quality healthcare without barriers. Your journey as an advocate for improved healthcare access and affordability starts here.

Act now

Advocate for policies that improve healthcare access and affordability for all 

Woman holding a mic speaking at PAN advocacy event

Across the US, patients with chronic diseases are continuously impacted by harmful policies and threats to their healthcare access. Learn more about these issues and take action today. 

Our current initiatives

Protect patients from harmful step therapy protocols

Congress must act to improve step therapy protocols and ensure patients can access lifesaving medications prescribed by their health care providers. Urge your representatives to support the Safe Step Act (H.R. 2630/S. 652) that would improve step therapy protocols.

Increase diversity in clinical trials

Clinical trials should include people with a variety of lived experiences and living conditions, as well as characteristics like race and ethnicity, age, sex, and sexual orientation, so that all communities can benefit from scientific advances. Congress should enact meaningful policies that promote diverse enrollment in clinical trials.

Streamline prior authorization protocols

Some Medicare Advantage plans have started requiring prior authorization for routine and essential healthcare services and prescriptions, delaying patient access to care, and potentially leading to irreversible disease progression. Urge your representatives to support the Improving Seniors’ Timely Access to Care Act (H.R. 8702/S. 4532).

Expand access to comprehensive dental services

Since Medicare’s inception in 1965, routine dental care has been excluded from coverage, despite the growing and significant need by beneficiaries. Nearly 24 million people – about half of all Medicare beneficiaries – lack dental coverage and almost half did not visit a dentist within the past year.

End copay accumulator programs 

The Help Ensure Lower Patient (HELP) Copays Act (H.R. 830/S.1375) would prohibit the use of harmful copay accumulator adjuster programs (CAAPs), which are used by private insurance plans to prevent third-party copay assistance from counting towards a patient’s deductible and out-of-pocket maximum.

Join our Advocacy Action Summit

The PAN Foundation’s annual Advocacy Action Summit and our Virtual Day of Action offer opportunities for advocates to rally for equitable healthcare for all. Together, we champion legislative priorities that directly impact the lives of millions of patients and elevate the voices of those affected by chronic, rare, and life-threatening illnesses.

Share your story

Use your voice to inspire others! Many of our most passionate advocates and changemakers are patients and healthcare professionals just like you. Share your experience and give hope to others in the PAN community.

Get to know PAN voices

One of the best ways to advocate for access to affordable and equitable healthcare is to get to know the patients who are directly impacted by this issue.

Learn about key issues

Knowledge is power. That’s why the PAN Foundation helps you understand the complexities of healthcare access issues with in-depth explainers on Medicare reforms, copay accumulators, alternative funding programs, and more. Our guides are accessible to anyone, including patients, family and caregivers, healthcare providers, advocates, and policy makers.

Celebrate our victories

Millions benefit from key Medicare reforms

Advocating for equitable and affordable healthcare access works. Read about how our efforts, with the support of our advocates and allies, resulted in key Medicare reforms that expanded healthcare access and capped annual out-of-pocket medication costs for people with Medicare Part D.

Advocates from across the country meet with legislators on Capitol Hill

In 2023, a passionate coalition of more than 40 patients, family members, and caregivers representing 15 states and one U.S. territory brought their message to Capitol Hill, engaging in 160 powerful legislative meetings. This historic event marked the PAN Foundation’s inaugural in-person Advocacy Action Day.