Patient Advocate Foundation honored with the 2026 Fierce50 Social Impact award 

Patient Advocate Foundation has been named a 2026 Fierce50 Social Impact Honoree, a prestigious recognition from Fierce Pharma, Fierce Healthcare, and Fierce Biotech honoring organizations and leaders driving meaningful change across healthcare.

Fierce50 recognized Patient Advocate Foundation for the impact of its work helping patients navigate, access, and afford care while working to improve the healthcare system for all, augmented by its strategic merger with the PAN Foundation in 2026, which created the nation’s most comprehensive healthcare access nonprofit.

“Patient Advocate Foundation was created to help people when the healthcare system fails them. While we are proud to provide direct assistance to millions of patients and families, our vision has always been larger than any one program or service,” said Alan J. Balch, PhD, Executive Chair of Patient Advocate Foundation. “We strive to transform the policies, practices, and systems that create barriers to care so that fewer people need our help in the future. This recognition honors not only the lives we’ve impacted today, but also our commitment to creating a healthcare system that is more accessible, affordable, and equitable for everyone.” 

Founded in 1996, Patient Advocate Foundation has spent more than three decades helping patients overcome financial, insurance, and practical barriers to care while ensuring that patients have a voice in improving the healthcare system. In 2026, Patient Advocate Foundation and the PAN Foundation announced a strategic merger to create a comprehensive organization capable of supporting patients across every stage of their healthcare journey. 

Over a combined 50 years, the organizations have helped 3.8 million people access care, granted over $7 billion in financial assistance, and provided personalized case management support to over 350,000 patients and their families. In 2025 alone, they awarded $640 million in financial assistance to nearly 200,000 people. Together, the organizations have expanded their reach, enhanced patient services, and strengthened their ability to address the growing affordability and access challenges facing patients nationwide. 

“This recognition affirms the bold vision behind bringing together two organizations united by a common purpose: ensuring that no patient has to choose between their health and their financial well-being,” said Kevin L. Hagan, CEO of Patient Advocate Foundation. “By combining our strengths, expertise, and resources, we have created a more powerful organization that can serve more patients, address more barriers to care, and amplify the patient voice in healthcare.” 

The Fierce50 honor recognizes organizations whose work extends beyond traditional healthcare delivery to create lasting, meaningful impact for patients, families, and communities. For Patient Advocate Foundation, that impact is measured not only in the millions of patients served, but also in the organization’s ongoing commitment to building a healthcare system that is more accessible, affordable, and patient-centered.  

Patient Advocate Foundation is the nation’s most comprehensive nonprofit dedicated to helping patients navigate, access, and afford their care while improving the healthcare system for all. We provide financial assistance to help patients afford treatment and cost-of-living needs, personalized case management to navigate complex healthcare and social needs challenges, and a wide array of resources to empower people to take charge of their health. 

Since our founding in 1996 and joining forces with the PAN Foundation in 2026, we have helped more than 3.8 million people access and navigate care, granted over $7 billion in financial assistance, provided personalized case management support to over 350,000 patients, and elevated the patient voice to drive improvements in the healthcare system.