Patient Advocate Foundation, PAN Foundation Merge to Expand Patient Support and Clinical Trial Access

The Patient Advocate Foundation and the PAN Foundation have announced a strategic merger to create the nation’s most comprehensive nonprofit dedicated to helping patients navigate, access, and afford care—including participation in clinical trials.¹

Operating under the Patient Advocate Foundation name, the combined organization will consolidate more than 130 disease-specific financial assistance programs, personalized case management, educational resources, and patient engagement initiatives into a single platform. These programs are designed to help patients overcome financial and logistical barriers to treatment, including clinical trial enrollment and ongoing study participation.

“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,” said Nancy Davenport-Ennis, founder of Patient Advocate Foundation and chair emerita of its board. “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. 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.”

Expanding access to clinical trials

The merger is expected to improve access to clinical research by integrating financial assistance with trial navigation support. Patients often face significant barriers when seeking to participate in studies for chronic or rare conditions, including travel, treatment costs, and insurance challenges. The unified organization will provide one-on-one guidance to help patients identify relevant trials, understand eligibility, and cover associated costs.

“This moment marks an important new chapter for our organizations and for millions of patients navigating our nation's healthcare system,” said Alan J. Balch, PhD, executive chairman of the board. “By uniting under one shared mission, we are not simply expanding our reach—we are setting a new standard for patient impact, expanding access to affordable, equitable healthcare, and supporting participation in clinical research at a time when the safety net is under tremendous strain.”

Kevin L. Hagan, CEO of the combined organization and former head of PAN Foundation, highlighted the patient-centric benefits of consolidation.

“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,” he said. “This merger allows us to reach more people, offer more services, and increase our capacity to help patients navigate clinical trials and other treatment options efficiently.”

Unified programs and services

The integration will preserve the organizations’ core offerings, including personalized case management to support trial enrollment, insurance advocacy, disability applications, and access to social services. The combined foundation will continue research and health equity initiatives, generate real-time insights into patient experiences, and advocate for systemic improvements in healthcare access and affordability.

A key milestone will be the launch of TotalAssist, a unified patient assistance program expected to begin enrolling patients in July 2026. Integration planning is underway to ensure seamless continuity for patients, providers, and partners.

As demand for clinical trial participation and access to care continues to rise—driven by rising premiums, restricted coverage, and increasing chronic disease prevalence—the combined Patient Advocate Foundation is positioning itself as a central resource to connect patients with financial support, navigation services, and research opportunities.

Industry perspective on the importance of patient access

Earlier this year, Applied Clinical Trials caught up with Liz Beatty, co-founder and chief strategy officer at Inato, over an exclusive video interview on how sponsors can balance efficiency pressures with patient access.

As competition in this area increases, stakeholders should be utilizing technology to demonstrate verified patient access and readiness.²

“In 2026, I expect sponsors to intentionally recalibrate, not by abandoning efficiency, but by redefining it,” Beatty said in the interview. “We will see sponsors prioritize partnering with community sites, especially in underrepresented populations, embed research more directly at the point of care, and show up differently in communities to meet patients where they are, like we are already seeing today with mobile clinics. This does not have to be a tradeoff. When sponsors are intentional about access, they can actually improve enrollment speed, reduce bottlenecks, and shorten overall timelines.

References

1. Patient Advocate Foundation and PAN Foundation Announce Merger to Create Nation's Most Comprehensive Nonprofit Dedicated to Helping Patients Navigate, Access, and Afford Care. News release. Patient Advocate Foundation. March 3, 2026. Accessed March 3, 2026. https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/patient-advocate-foundation-and-pan-foundation-announce-merger-to-create-nations-most-comprehensive-nonprofit-dedicated-to-helping-patients-navigate-access-and-afford-care-302701547.html

2. Reframing Efficiency to Protect Patient Access in 2026. Applied Clinical Trials. January 8, 2026. Accessed March 3, 2026. https://www.appliedclinicaltrialsonline.com/view/reframing-efficiency-protect-patient-access-2026