PAN Summit hosts 75 patient advocates in D.C. to urge Congress to improve healthcare access and affordability
PAN’s third annual Advocacy Action Summit brought together patient advocates from 28 U.S. states for powerful collective action, attending over 300 legislative meetings to advocate for equitable, affordable healthcare access.
From September 7-9, 2025, the PAN Foundation hosted its third annual in-person Advocacy Action Summit in Washington, D.C., including a day on Capitol Hill meeting with Congressional offices and a corresponding Virtual Week of Action.
This year’s event brought together 75 passionate patient advocates from 28 U.S. states to the nation’s capital. Collectively, they attended over 300 legislative meetings on Capitol Hill to share their stories and advocate for three policy areas that expand timely access to affordable, equitable healthcare, including making the enhanced Affordable Care Act tax credits permanent, streamlining utilization management practices like prior authorization and step therapy, and expanding access to obesity treatment.
Meanwhile, across the country, thousands of members of the PAN community came together for our virtual Week of Action. As of Thursday, September 11, over 2,300 grassroots advocates sent over 7,500 emails to lawmakers advocating for the same policy issues as the PAN delegation on Capitol Hill.
Together, we are raising our collective voices on behalf of millions of patients across the country. If you want to join us in calling for change, there’s still time to review our policy priorities and contact Congress today.
“It was an honor and privilege to host 75 passionate and inspiring patients and families for this transformative experience to share their stories and ask their members of Congress to improve healthcare access and affordability for all,” said PAN Foundation Chief Mission Officer Amy Niles. “These advocates are living with a range of serious illnesses and travelled from all corners of the country. But what they have in common is their willingness to use their voices and their personal experiences to make a difference for others.”
Legislative action
This year, in-person and virtual advocates asked Congress to support three key issue areas across four policy priorities, including a request to:
Make enhanced ACA tax credits permanent:
These credits help many Americans afford health insurance through the ACA Marketplace, but they are set to expire at the end of 2025. If Congress doesn’t act, many could face higher premiums and lose coverage, which could lead to them delaying or skipping necessary care. + Learn more and take action
Streamline prior authorization requirements for patients:
Streamline prior authorization procedures and reduce unnecessary health care delays by supporting the Improving Seniors’ Timely Access to Care Act (H.R. 3514 / S. 1816). + Learn more and take action
Reintroduce the Safe Step Act:
Help patients avoid dangerous delays to care by reintroducing the Safe Step Act—a critical piece of legislation that targets step therapy protocols by building in exceptions to “fail-first” requirements. + Learn more and take action
Expand access to obesity care:
Support the Treat and Reduce Obesity Act (H.R. 4231/ S. 1973) to expand Medicare coverage to include FDA-approved anti-obesity medications and reduce healthcare costs for both patients and taxpayers. It would also expand Medicare access to healthcare providers and evidence-based programs that are best suited to prevent and treat obesity, including intensive behavioral therapy. + Learn more and take action
Annual advocacy awards
Advocacy Impact Award
This year’s 2025 PAN Foundation Advocacy Impact Award went to an experienced advocate and member of PAN’s Patient and Family Advisory Council, Tim McDonald. This award is given to individuals who have demonstrated dedication to increasing affordable healthcare access and uplifting the patient voice through their advocacy work.
After a long journey with colorectal cancer, Tim is cancer-free and enjoying life with his wife, children, and grandchildren—and now he wants to help other people facing serious illness advocate for themselves. Tim is passionate about fighting for affordable healthcare, helping to advocate for PAN’s policy priorities on social media, encouraging others to take action through video messages and launching his own podcast, and joining us for his second year at the Advocacy Action Summit.
During his remarks, he spoke about the power of sharing stories and experiences as a way to impact change. Expressing that “to me, that’s what advocacy is. It’s sharing our story.”
I have a tattoo on my arm of a ripple. That ripple represents every time that I share my story, I know that I’m making an impact. And if I keep sharing that ripple, I’m going to create a wave that is going to have an impact on shores that I might never see, but I’m trusting that’s going to happen.”
Tim McDonald
Grassroots Champion Award
This year, we introduced a new award to honor an advocate who has gone above and beyond in their grassroots advocacy work. The 2025 PAN Foundation Grassroots Champion Award went to Scott Bartholomew, who, since 2024, has sent over 47 messages to Congress through PAN’s grassroots advocacy campaigns.
After starting to experience symptoms as early as 1994, Scott was eventually diagnosed with multiple sclerosis in 2000. By 2001 he had a slight limp, by 2002 he was using a cane, by 2003 he was using crutches, and by 2005 he was relying on a scooter—using it full-time the following year.
Before his diagnosis, Scott enjoyed hiking, scuba diving, skiing, golfing, and riding his motorcycle. Today, he and his wife, who serves as his caregiver, live by the motto, “We’re still going to do things that bring us joy, it’s just going to go a little slower.”
When accepting his award, he shared his passion for advocacy, laughing that “I’m surprised that I sent that many emails, but I guess that they just added up over that time frame.”
Learn more and get involved
- Sign up for email alerts—stay connected and learn more about opportunities to advocate
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.