PAN announces 2026 healthcare policy and education priorities
The PAN Foundation, a leading charitable foundation and healthcare advocacy organization, today announced its healthcare policy and education priorities for 2026.
Through these priorities, PAN outlines the legislation we will champion and our approach to patient education as we work to increase equitable access to healthcare for all.
The PAN Foundation will continue to address longstanding healthcare access challenges by asking Congress, the administration, and regulatory agencies to:
Protect access to care through the Affordable Care Act and Medicaid.
Expand access to comprehensive obesity care.
Increase participation in clinical trials to reduce barriers to care and foster better health outcomes.
Mitigate the impact of restrictive utilization management practices on patients by streamlining practices such as prior authorization and step therapy.
Prohibit harmful insurance programs that create barriers to care, like copay accumulators.
In addition, we will advocate for other policy solutions throughout the year that lower a patient’s total cost of care and enhance overall access to treatment. And, we will play a leading role in educating people about key topics, including but not limited to:
- How to navigate the financial assistance landscape and find help with out-of-pocket healthcare expenses.
- Better understand key Medicare topics including open enrollment, the annual Part D cap, the Medicare Prescription Payment Plan, and Extra Help.
- The importance of participation in clinical trials to ensure treatments are safe and effective for everyone, including those from underrepresented groups.
- The negative impact of alternative funding programs on patients and why employers should not use them through their employer-sponsored health plans.
“At the PAN Foundation, we are proud to advocate for policy solutions that expand access to care and to deliver education that empowers people along their healthcare journey,” said PAN Foundation Chief Mission Officer Amy Niles. “Alongside thousands of patient advocates and our many partners nationwide, we remain committed to ensuring everyone has access to affordable, equitable healthcare.”
We also continue to offer patient insights and perspectives with national research and polling through our Center for Patient Research. Recent research examined the state of patient access, the challenges people enrolled in Medicare face in accessing obesity medications, awareness and understanding of Medicare open enrollment and Medicare Part D reforms, and what patients want policymakers to keep in mind when it comes to healthcare.
Read our complete list of 2026 policy positions
Learn more about our educational initiatives
About the PAN Foundation
As a leading charitable foundation and healthcare advocacy organization, the PAN Foundation is dedicated to accelerating access to treatment for those who need it most and empowering patients on their healthcare journeys. We provide critical financial assistance for treatment costs, advocate for policy solutions that expand access to care, and deliver education on complex topics—all driven by our belief that everyone deserves access to affordable, equitable healthcare.
Since 2004, our financial assistance programs have helped more than 1.3 million people to start or stay on life-changing treatment. In addition, we’ve achieved major policy victories that increase access to care, mobilized patient advocates to call for change, and educated people nationwide on critical healthcare-related topics. We’re committed to working towards a future where equitable health outcomes are a reality for all. To learn more, visit panfoundation.org.