Medic Now Foundation Inc.

06/02/2026

The future doesn't change because people talk about problems.
It changes when people show up, roll up their sleeves, and go to work on solutions.

On May 31, 2026, the Medic Now Foundation Inc. Board of Directors came together to discuss how we can better support veterans, service members, and military families facing healthcare barriers.

As America prepares to celebrate its 250th Anniversary, that mission remains as important as ever.

The board's collective experience spans military commands, healthcare systems, homeland security operations, financial oversight, engineering leadership, and media communications. More important than individual accomplishments is the shared commitment to building solutions that support military families.

A special thank you to Bryan Wille and the team at the Volunteers of America Massachusetts-VOAMASS Plymouth Area Veterans Center for hosting our meeting.

We also continued planning for the Medic Now Foundation's 2026 Salute to Service Celebration on November 7, 2026, which will honor service, sacrifice, and America's 250-year legacy.

Pictured left to right:
Todd Harmer, Christopher Plonka, Michael P. Duggan, Debra Ann Langley, Dr. Stephen J. Drewniak, and Nick Morganelli.

If this mission speaks to you, please like and follow the Medic Now Foundation and help us continue breaking barriers in military healthcare.

05/19/2026

Care Completion Across Systems
On May 15th, the Medic Now Foundation Inc. hosted a Massachusetts working session in Plymouth focused on continuity of care and the last mile of care after approval.

During the session, we examined national trends, Massachusetts frontline observations, and real-world Healthcare Cost Assistance Program (HCAP) observations related to the “Care Completion Gap,” the last mile between being approved for care and successfully completing it.

The discussion explored an important question across healthcare and support environments:

What happens when access exists, but completion becomes vulnerable to disruption?

Using real-world HCAP observations throughout Massachusetts, the session examined how small, routine cost barriers may affect care progression during the final stages of care ex*****on.

The session included participation from representatives and leaders across:

• The Massachusetts House of Representatives
• The Massachusetts Office of the Veteran Advocate (OVA)
• Local Veterans Service Offices
• Veterans Inc.
• Veterans of Foreign Wars Massachusetts (VFW) leadership
• Community-based veteran support organizations

Thank you to:
• Donna Rodriguez, Office of State Rep. Michelle Badger
• Susan Moran, Office of State Rep. Kathy LaNatra
• Paul Furbush, Massachusetts Office of the Veteran Advocate
• Truc DeCosta, Massachusetts Office of the Veteran Advocate
• Jim Ricker, Veterans Inc.
• Denis Russell, VFW Post 1822 Plymouth
• Michele Alegria, Carver Veterans Service Officer
• Roxanne Sprague Whitbeck, Plymouth Veterans Service Officer

Special thanks to Bryan Wille and Volunteers of America Massachusetts-VOAMASS, Plymouth, for hosting the session.

The feedback and perspectives shared by leaders from across Massachusetts were invaluable and reinforced the importance of continuing conversations around continuity of care, care progression, and real-world barriers affecting care completion.

The Medic Now Foundation looks forward to continuing the conversation.

05/01/2026

Big news is coming.
Over the past few years, something has happened in that room…every single time.

For a few hours, everything else fades.

People come together, not because they have to, but because they want to.

Different backgrounds. Different paths. One shared respect for those who served.

And there’s something about doing that in America’s Hometown that makes it hit differently.

No noise.
No division.

Just a room full of people remembering what it means to stand together.

That’s what stays with you.

And we’re building it again.

SAVE THE DATE — November 7

The 2026 Salute to Service

More to come.

04/24/2026

April is the Month of the Military Child.
More than 1.6 million military-connected children are part of the story of service in this country.

They grow up navigating constant change, new schools, new communities, new systems.

While resilience is often recognized, continuity is often overlooked.
That matters, especially in healthcare, where even small disruptions can impact whether care is completed.

At Medic Now Foundation, we remain focused on supporting military families by addressing the real-world barriers that can interrupt care at the point it matters most

04/10/2026

It’s not the diagnosis that breaks care...it’s the cost.

It happens every day.
Care is approved.
The plan is in place.

Everything should move forward.
And then it doesn’t.

Because of a small, immediate cost.

At the Medic Now Foundation, we built HCAP to step in at that moment, before a delay turns into something bigger.

That small intervention can change everything.

👉 Support care when it matters most: https://aqfaaaug.donorsupport.co/page/FUNFLVTMXQD

04/08/2026

Nearly half of women veterans have had to cancel a medical appointment because of childcare.

Not because care wasn’t available.

Because something got in the way.

For many, the challenge isn’t getting into care.

It’s being able to follow through.

Read the full brief:

A closer look at what happens after care begins Nearly half of women veterans have canceled a medical appointment because of childcare Not because care wasn’t available. Not because they didn’t...

04/03/2026

You could feel it before anyone said a word.

Some rooms don’t need convincing.
They’ve already seen what happens when care doesn’t get completed.

That’s why the Veterans of Foreign Wars Massachusetts made a decision.

To stand alongside the Medic Now Foundation as their 2023–2024 Special Project of the Year.

Not for recognition.
Because they’ve seen the same reality.

Care is there.
But completing that care isn’t always.

Not because it isn’t needed.
Because sometimes the smallest barriers show up at the worst possible time.

One team.
One fight.

Working together to ensure care is not only available, but completed.

03/27/2026

He doesn’t move.

The salute is held by Tim Chambers during our Salute to Service Celebration in Plymouth.

Cars pass. Conversations stop.

For a moment, everything slows down around a single act of respect.

Not for attention.

For those who never made it home.

But here’s what most people don’t see

When the salute ends, life doesn’t pause.

Veterans return to a system designed to deliver care, but real-world barriers can still interrupt completion.

We see it in the quiet moments, care delayed or disrupted by small, time-sensitive costs.

Often, it’s $20. $30. $50.

The salute honors service.
What happens next is on all of us.

If you’re in a position to support this work, now is the time.

03/25/2026

Women have always served.

But too often, they still face barriers when it comes to finishing their healthcare.

This issue of The Breaking Barriers Brief looks at a challenge most people don’t see: what happens after someone starts care, but can’t complete it.

Because access isn’t the finish line.

Completion is.

Take a moment to read and share.
https://www.medicnowfoundation.org/blog

03/20/2026

The Medic Now Foundation recently participated in the Central Massachusetts Veterans Coalition (CMVC) Networking Meetup, where President & Founder Michael Duggan joined Veteran Service Officers (VSOs), municipal agents, and community partners from across the region.

Hosted by Paul M. Furbush II of the Office of the Veteran Advocate and held at the R.E. & J.W. Manning VFW Post 1027 in Hudson, the meeting brought together frontline leaders supporting veterans at the local level.

Michael appreciated the opportunity to spend time with attendees and engage directly with those working within the system.

Moments like this reflect the level of coordination and commitment happening across the Commonwealth.

Conversations like this continue to highlight a consistent operational reality:
Even when care is approved, small out-of-pocket costs can still delay or prevent care completion.

This can reflect a point-of-care access gap.

Through the Healthcare Cost Assistance Program (HCAP), the Medic Now Foundation works alongside VSOs and community providers to help address this friction point and support care completion when financial barriers arise.

Following the discussion, Michael shared:
“Being in that room, you can see the commitment across every organization, people showing up every day to do the work. When we stay aligned and support each other, that’s how we make sure no veteran falls through the cracks.”

We are grateful to Paul Furbush, the CMVC, and the many VSOs and partners across Massachusetts for the opportunity to be part of the conversation.