OIG Advisory Opinions and Bulletins

Information about this website: Following the March 2026 merger of Patient Advocate Foundation and the PAN Foundation, this website is now a part of Patient Advocate Foundation and remains active during our website transition.

Where to find information during our transition:

• About the merged organization: uniting.patientadvocate.org
• Financial assistance: totalassist.org
• Additional direct patient services and resources: patientadvocate.org
• Education: panfoundation.org and education.patientadvocate.org
• Clinical trials education: clinicaltrials.panfoundation.org
• Advocacy: npaf.org
• Research: patientinsightinstitute.org

The U.S. Department of Health and Humans Services Office of Inspector General (OIG) issues advisory opinions and advisory bulletins outlining how independent charitable patient assistance foundations can operate and still maintain compliance with federal laws, regulations, and guidelines. In 2007, the PAN Foundation received its original OIG Advisory Opinion stating that we can provide cost-sharing assistance to Medicare Part D patients. PAN received an OIG Modification Letter in 2015 acknowledging our compliance with key disease fund requirements.

Patient assistance programs have long provided important safety net assistance to…patients, many of whom have chronic illness and high drug costs.

U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Office of Inspector General

PAN’s OIG Advisory Opinions and Advisory Bulletins

• OIG Advisory Opinion 07-18 – December 19, 2007
• Modification of OIG Advisory Opinion 07-18 – October 11, 2011
• Modification of OIG Advisory Opinion 07-18 – October 26, 2015
• OIG Special Advisory Bulletin on Patient Assistance Programs for Medicare Part D Enrollees – November 22, 2005
• OIG Supplemental Special Advisory Bulletin: Independent Charity Patient Assistance Programs – May 30, 2014

All referenced documents are also available on the OIG website under Advisory Opinions and Special Advisory Bulletins.