Amid rising healthcare costs and shrinking government coverage, two major patient assistance charities have announced a strategic merger they say will help ramp up aid.
The Patient Advocate Foundation and Patient Access Network (PAN) unveiled the plan Tuesday. The pair said they will operate under the former’s name, and are working to integrate their legacy programs ahead of the July launch of a unified financial assistance program.
The partners said their combination creates the country’s “most comprehensive nonprofit dedicated to helping patients navigate, access and afford their care.” That entity includes more than 130 disease-specific financial assistance funds, as well as personalized case management, education, advocacy, research and health equity-focused community partnerships.
“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,” Nancy Davenport-Ennis, founder of Patient Advocate Foundation and chair emerita of its board, said in the announcement." Each of these steps builds on our initial mission to assure that no patient faces their illness alone, trying to navigate today’s complex healthcare delivery system.”
The Patient Advocate Foundation was founded in 1996 and is accompanied by its advocacy affiliate, the National Patient Advocate Foundation. In its 2024 annual impact report, the nonprofit said it distributed $335 million of direct financial assistance to patients.
PAN was founded in 2004 and, according to its annual report for the same year, awarded more than $332 million in financial assistance to over 86,000 people.
As a duo, and including 2025’s numbers, the pair said they have together helped 3.8 million people access care, granted more than $7 billion in financial assistance and provided case management support to over 350,000 to date.
In the past year, that included $640 million of support to nearly 200,000 people. The organizations, in their announcement, noted a 15% increase in financial assistance enrollments, which they said reflect growing financial healthcare and cost-of-living pressures—and an expectation of growing demand for the support they can provide, fueled by policy changes and increasing chronic disease burden.
“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,” Kevin Hagan, president and CEO of the PAN Foundation, and now upcoming CEO of the combined organization, said. “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.”
Hagan will take on his new role beginning July 1. Alan Balch, Ph.D., currently CEO of the Patient Advocate Foundation, will also shift roles on July 1 to become the board of directors' executive chairman.
In online FAQs and press materials, the organizations said there will be no disruption of services during the integration, and that those currently receiving a grant from either organization will see eligibility and funding parameters remain the same through the end of their grant period.
New applications or renewals before July 1 can be submitted through either organization’s existing programs. “On or about July 1,” will mark the launch of a new program, called TotalAssist, that will handle all new enrollments and renewals from each of the organizations’ legacy programs.