Policy letters and testimony

The PAN Foundation joined a letter signed by 80 organizations to the Department of Labor, urging them to issue a promised federal rule that would close a harmful loophole in the enforcement of Essential Health Benefits (EHBs) provision of federal law that allows copay maximizer programs for some health plans.

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.