Our story
With this strategic merger, Patient Advocate Foundation is the most comprehensive nonprofit in the United States dedicated to helping patients navigate, access, and afford the care they need.
Uniting for patients
Patient Advocate Foundation and the PAN Foundation have come together to expand access to care, simplify support, and strengthen the resources available to patients nationwide.
Patient Advocate Foundation and the PAN Foundation announced a strategic merger in March 2026, creating the most comprehensive nonprofit in the United States dedicated to helping patients navigate, access, and afford care while simultaneously leveraging their complementary expertise to improve the healthcare system for low- and middle-income patients, families, and communities.
The combined organization, operating as Patient Advocate Foundation, brings together the services and impact of Patient Advocate Foundation and the PAN Foundation—two trusted nonprofits with a shared commitment to ensuring patients can navigate and access the care they need, when they need it.
Over our combined 50 years of experience, our organizations have been lifelines for people facing impossible healthcare costs, access barriers, and cost-of-living challenges.
Together, we have more reach, more resources, and a more powerful voice to directly assist and advocate for patients and change policies that create barriers to care. We’re uniting for patients.
Why we came together
The healthcare landscape in the United States is changing rapidly. Rising out-of-pocket costs, shifting policies, and a thinning safety net have placed millions of Americans at risk of delaying or forgoing care.
Throughout our shared history, we have collectively helped 3.8 million patients navigate and access care, granted over $7 billion in financial assistance, and served 350,000 people through personalized case management.
In the last year alone, together we awarded nearly $640 million in financial assistance to nearly 200,000 people nationwide—a 15 percent increase from the prior year. Yet, patient need continues to rise, and their needs are more complex than ever.
By uniting our organizations, we will make it easier for patients—regardless of insurance status, age, income, background, or diagnosis—to get financial help, navigate the healthcare system, and overcome barriers to treatment.
Timeline for integration
March 2026
March – June 30, 2026
Now through 2027
July 1, 2026
Wondering how this will affect you?
Your access to care is our number one priority. All our programs and services, from financial assistance to case management and beyond, are continuing without any disruption. Learn more about what to anticipate with our merger and launch of TotalAssist on July 1, 2026.
Information for:
Programs and services
Our programs and services are continuing without disruption. Patient Advocate Foundation helps patients overcome financial and practical barriers to care by offering:
Patient financial assistance
The nation’s largest and most comprehensive patient financial assistance program
Personalized case management
Free, one-on-one support for patients and their healthcare journeys
Education and resources
Trusted healthcare educational resources and tools
Advocacy
Engaging advocacy to expand access and improve healthcare systems
Research
Insights into the patient experience that inform meaningful change
Community engagement
Health equity-focused community initiatives and partnerships
Connect with our programs and services
All our programs and core initiatives will continue uninterrupted as we complete our integration efforts. Currently, information on our programs, services, and initiatives can be found on our respective flagship websites.
Our legacy
Nancy Davenport-Ennis, Founder of Patient Advocate Foundation and National Patient Advocate Foundation, became involved in legislative reform on behalf of cancer patients while a dear friend of hers, Cheryl Grimmel, was battling both breast cancer and her insurance company. As Cheryl valiantly fought her fight, Nancy established the Virginia Task Force for Insurance Reform, sharing the previously underrepresented patient’s perspective while fighting to reform insurance coverage for cancer patients. Victory for the task force came with the passage of Virginia House Bill 240 sponsored by Delegate Mary T. Christian in 1994.
Nancy Davenport-Ennis, Founder
Nancy worked to pass similar legislation in 17 other states prior to the formal establishment of PAF and NPAF. It was these experiences interacting with patients, families and their care teams that exposed a significant need for one-on-one patient support to help people navigate insurance related access issues.
Cheryl lost her battle with breast cancer in December 1994, and on the night of her funeral, as the rest of the world was ringing in the New Year, Nancy, with the full support of her husband, Jack, wrote business plans for two complementary nonprofit organizations geared toward solving the issues faced by patients like their friend Cheryl and using the lived experiences of patients like Cheryl to effect policy reform. National Patient Advocate Foundation (NPAF) and Patient Advocate Foundation were born in concept and became a reality shortly thereafter.
Cheryl’s strength in the face of her battle serves as an inspiration to those at Patient Advocate Foundation as they work with an on behalf of patients in need.
In the organization’s first year, Nancy, and a part-time volunteer staff of 2 and the Board of Directors provided case management assistance to 157 patients who faced barriers to prescribed care.
Since then, Patient Advocate Foundation has provided direct, hands-on help to more than 3.8 million patients nationwide.
Sign up for announcements about our programs and initiatives, and reminders about the launch of TotalAssist. You’ll be the first to know when changes and new opportunities are on the horizon.
Help center
Use our help center to find answers to questions that impact you, so you can make the most informed decisions.
News
Read the latest news about our merger and programs, access our media kit, and sign up for updates.
Contact us
Reach out with any questions or concerns. We will get in touch with you as quickly as possible.