With a combined experience of more than 50 years, the two nonprofits have assisted patients in navigating, accessing, and affording health care and also helped improve the health care system for low- and middle-income patients and their families.
Once merged, the organization will operate as Patient Advocate Foundation and will offer all current programs and services of both charities in one place. This includes 130 disease-specific financial assistance funds, personalized case-management services, education, patient advocacy and engagement programs, research, and community engagement.
Both foundations together have granted more than $7 billion in financial assistance, and last year awarded $640 million to nearly 200,000 patients. Their combined care has supported nearly 350,000 patients, regardless of insurance status, income, age, background, or diagnosis.
Patient Advocate Foundation said the merger represents the first of its scale among nonprofit charities.
“Today the strategic vision I had in 1996 to establish Patient Advocate Foundation to improve patient access to, and payment of healthcare services is being expanded through our merger with the PAN Foundation,” Nancy Davenport-Ennis, founder of Patient Advocate Foundation and chair emerita of its board of directors, said in the announcement.
“This merger allows us to amplify our case management and financial aid services, while uniting our mutual engagement in reforming state and federal healthcare programs and services through our research initiatives.”
Following the merger, the new Patient Advocate Foundation will also continue serving as the leading nonprofit authority in case management for patients in need. This includes one-on-one guidance, appealing insurance credentials, applying for disability, and seeking social support programs.
Kevin L. Hagan, president and CEO of the PAN Foundation, has been appointed to serve as CEO of the new foundation.
“By joining forces, we are creating something greater than the sum of our parts—a single, trusted destination for patients who need financial help, guidance, and a clear path through a complex healthcare system,” Hagan said in the announcement.
“This merger allows us to reach more people, offer more services, and increase our capacity to work with healthcare partners and other mission-aligned nonprofit organizations.”
Alan J. Balch, the current Patient Advocate Foundation CEO, will serve as executive chairman of the board of directors of the new organization and will oversee and chart its strategic direction and financial growth.
“This moment marks an important new chapter for our organizations and for millions of patients navigating our nation’s healthcare system,” Balch added in the announcement.
“By uniting under one shared mission, we are not simply expanding our reach—we are setting a new standard for patient impact and expanding access to affordable, equitable healthcare at a time when the safety net is under tremendous strain. Today, we are uniting for patients.”
Last year, both organizations reported a 15 percent rise in financial-assistance enrollments, as more people face unaffordable health care costs, loss of insurance, and increasing cost-of-living expenses.
In addition to advocacy and financial assistance, the new foundation will also offer guides on insurance and clinical trials, as well as resources such as the National Financial Resources Directory and FundFinder. A combined, comprehensive charitable patient assistance program, TotalAssist, will begin enrolling patients in July.
Headquartered in Hampton, Virginia, Patient Advocate Foundation has a 30-year history of providing patients with access and financial assistance for health care.
Founded in 2004, the PAN Foundation is headquartered in Washington. It is also dedicated to offering advocacy and financial help for those seeking affordable health care options.
