National Patient Advocate Foundation

06/16/2026

During our recent Policy Consortium, Rebekah Angove of Patient Insight Institute shared a profound truth about why so many patients suffer in silence under the weight of healthcare costs:

“Patients really worry that [talking about financial hardship] is going to affect the quality of the care they receive... They don't want to be seen as somebody that is in financial hardship. Maybe they're going through something, but that isn't the core of their identity.”

This highlights exactly why the healthcare system must change how it approaches affordability. Financial hardship is a health issue, but patients shouldn't have to carry the burden of bringing it up—or fear that being transparent will compromise their medical care.

When community health workers and needs navigators proactively treat financial health as a vital sign, they remove that stigma. They take the administrative and paperwork burdens off the patient, ensuring that safety net supports like Medicaid and Community Health Centers are accessible without compromising a patient's dignity.

The full recording of this vital conversation is now live on YouTube. Watch the panel featuring insights from Rebekah Angove, PhD of Patient Insight Institue, Erin Prendergast, MPH of NHCAC, Sam Becknel, and Becky Barnes of Patient Voices Matter as they discuss solutions for integrating financial health into the standard of care.

📺 Watch the Full Recording Here:https://youtu.be/adq-Ig0StYo

🗣️ The Data Shows the Risk. Your Story Shows the Reality. If you have navigated these hurdles yourself, we want to hear from you. Tell us why financial health is a priority in healthcare now, or share your perspective on the importance of safety net supports like Medicaid and CHCs.

Share your story here: 🔗 https://national-patient-advocate-foundation.boast.io/form/share-your-story

Financial hardship is a health issue — and for millions of patients...

06/11/2026

Thank You for Joining the June Policy Consortium!

What an incredible and timely conversation. A huge thank you to everyone who tuned in for today's session, Financial Health is a Vital Sign, and to our phenomenal speakers—Erin Prendergast, MPH, Sam Becknel, Jr., Rebekah Angove, and Becky Barnes, MSW—for sharing their expertise, leadership, and powerful perspectives.
We dove deep into how our nation’s network of Community Health Centers (CHCs) and the 330,000+ healthcare professionals working within them serve as frontline innovators. Tailored to local populations and the distinct access challenges they encounter, CHCs and community health workers deliver hands-on needs navigation to help patients find and use social and safety net support programs, financial assistance, and other community-based resources to ease affordability challenges.
With Medicaid coverage and safety net programs squarely in the crosshairs of policy discourse, hitting these topics head-on is a timely necessity. We must continue exploring strategies and solutions that build financial health directly into care plans.

The Conversation Doesn't End Here: Your Voice Matters

Policy discussions are driven by data, but healthcare practices are transformed by real human experiences. We want to hear from you.

Please take a moment to share your perspective with us on two critical areas:
Tell us why financial health is a priority in healthcare now... How have the far-reaching and complex costs of care impacted you, your family, or the patients you serve?
Share your perspective on the importance of safety net supports... How have programs like Medicaid or Community Health Centers (CHCs) helped protect access to care in your community?

🗣️ Share your perspective and story here: 🔗 https://national-patient-advocate-foundation.boast.io/form/share-your-story

📺 Missed a section or want to rewatch? The full webinar recording will be available to everyone in the coming days. Be sure to follow our page to be the first to get the link when it drops!

06/08/2026

We are thrilled to feature commentary from the National Association of Community Health Centers at NPAF's June 10 Policy Consortium.

Tailored to local populations and the access challenges they encounter, our nation's network of Community Health Centers (CHCs) and the 330,000+ health care professionals working within them are frontline innovators delivering hands-on "needs navigation" services to help patients find and use social and safety net support programs, financial assistance and other community-based resources available to help ease affordability challenges.

CHCs are responsive to their patients' most pressing cost, coverage and care continuity concerns. Don't miss the chance to hear from NACHC's Director of Federal Policy, Erin Prendergast and other speakers explore strategies and solutions that build financial health into care plans. With Medicaid coverage squarely in the crosshairs of policy discourse, this topic is a timely necessity to hit head-on.

Wednesday, June 10, 2026
4:00 PM – 5:00 PM ET

Virtual Event

Secure your spot and register today:
https://www.npaf.org/events/june-2026-policy-consortium/

06/03/2026

The Data Shows the Risk. Your Story Shows the Reality:
Medicaid Work Requirements

As this joint statement warns, these new reporting rules threaten to create massive paperwork burdens and cause devastating coverage losses for millions of families. But numbers on a page only tell part of the story—your lived experiences show the reality.

Read the statement here: https://www.lung.org/media/press-releases/fy26-work-requirements-coalition-statement

We are once again collecting stories about how complex work reporting requirements are impacting your access to healthcare. If you are struggling to sort through these changing rules, please know you are not alone. These administrative hurdles don't improve health, they only reduce access to necessary care.

Help us push back against these barriers and protect access by sharing your experience.

Share your story here: https://national-patient-advocate-foundation.boast.io/form/share-your-story

Join the Discussion at the Policy Consortium
Want to dive deeper into how administrative hurdles and the far-reaching and complex costs of care impact families? Join our upcoming virtual session where we discuss navigating the safety net and protecting whole-person care.

Wednesday, June 10, 2026
4:00 PM – 5:00 PM ET
https://www.npaf.org/events/june-2026-policy-consortium/

Today 48 non-profit, non-partisan patient organizations issued a statement in response to the interim final rule implementing the new Medicaid work reporting requirement provisions in Public Law 119-21.

05/27/2026

We are thrilled to introduce two of the voices leading our discussion at the June 10th Policy Consortium. Our speakers bring a powerful blend of professional expertise and lived experience to the table:

Speaker Profile: Becky Barnes
In addition to serving as a longtime NPAF grassroots advocate, Becky is a Kentucky Certified Community Health Worker, rural patient advocate, and PhD student in Social Work at the University of Kentucky. As the Founder and Executive Director of the Patient Voices Matter Foundation, she brings over 15 years of patient advocacy experience dedicated to reducing healthcare disparities and improving healthcare access across Eastern Kentucky and Central Appalachia. Becky has also participated in activities with the Patient Centered Outcomes Research Institute and National Organization of Rare Diseases to elevate patient voices in healthcare research, policy and systems navigation.


Hear her story 🔗 https://act.npaf.org/a/npaf-june-policy-consortium

05/25/2026

What exactly is a Community Health Worker (CHW), and why are they vital to the future of health care?
CHWs are frontline public health professionals who have a deep understanding of the communities they serve. They serve as a critical link between clinical settings and social services. By focusing on the social and economic factors that influence wellness, they ensure that a patient’s "prescribed" care plan is actually an "achievable" one.

At our upcoming Policy Consortium, we’ll explore how CHWs work alongside Needs Navigators to identify and mitigate the financial barriers that often go unaddressed in traditional doctor visits.

Join the conversation on June 10th. 🔗 https://act.npaf.org/a/npaf-june-policy-consortium

05/15/2026

Financial hardship is a health issue — and for millions of patients and families, it's the barrier standing between them and the care they need.

Registration is now live for the next NPAF Policy Consortium!

This Policy Consortium will continue the conversation we started in March, focused on the shifting policy landscape and its impact on financial health.

In this June convening, we’ll bring in the perspectives of community health workers and needs navigators — who already treat financial health as a vital sign — and highlight what the broader healthcare system can learn from them.

Join this discussion to hear lived experience insights and research findings grounded in the voices of the people most affected by the gap between medical care and financial reality.

📅 Date: June 10, 2026
⏱️ Time: 4:00 PM ET
🔗 https://www.npaf.org/events/june-2026-policy-consortium/

05/08/2026

As we observe Mental Health Awareness Month this May, it is crucial to recognize that the burden of healthcare costs is a weight on the mind. When families are forced to choose between a life-saving prescription and basic necessities like groceries or rent, the healthcare system is failing its core mission.

This impossible choice creates a psychological toll that manifests in ways that actively sabotage medical outcomes:

Skipping Care: This isn't just about missing one pill; it’s the dangerous cycle of rationing doses or canceling follow-up appointments to save money. This creates a constant state of anxiety and "medical guilt" that erodes mental well-being.

The Stress Paradox: The body cannot heal effectively under the weight of chronic debt. Worrying about bills triggers physiological responses—such as elevated cortisol levels—that can worsen underlying conditions and lead to burnout or depression.

Preventable Setbacks: Financial hardship often leads to a "snowball effect." A minor health issue becomes a crisis simply because the initial intervention was out of reach, leading to a sense of hopelessness that makes it even harder to manage one's health.

Needs Navigation can ease these complex cost concerts, learn more about it here:

https://www.npaf.org/resources/needs-navigation-issue-brief-2/

Have you or a loved one experienced stress due to the costs of care? Let us know in the comments.

04/30/2026

🌟 Volunteer Spotlight: Celebrating National Volunteer Month!

This National Volunteer Month, we’re celebrating the heartbeat of NPAF: our incredible volunteers. Today, we’re shining the spotlight on Emma Romano, our lead fact-checker for the Volunteer Media Working Group!

In a world where healthcare information can be overwhelming, Emma is our frontline defender of accuracy. Her work ensures that the resources we share are reliable, evidence-informed, and truly helpful to patients and caregivers.

Why Emma Volunteers:
The Power of Truth: Emma knows that getting the facts right is essential to helping patients navigate their care journeys with confidence.

Empowering Decisions: She is driven by the belief that every patient and caregiver deserves access to clear, educational materials to make informed decisions about their health and well-being.

Advocacy in Action: Emma turns her passion for accuracy into a vital service, ensuring our community has the tools they need to manage the far-reaching and complex costs of care.

We are so grateful for Emma’s sharp eye, dedication, and heart for our mission. Thank you, Emma, for all you do to support our community!

Join us in the comments to give Emma a huge thank you for her hard work this National Volunteer Month! 👇

04/27/2026

As we wrap up National Volunteer Week, we at the National Patient Advocate Foundation (NPAF) are pausing to honor the heart and soul of our mission: Our Volunteers. Advocacy is more than just a series of policy goals; it is a movement fueled by the courage of individuals who turn their personal hurdles into a collective force for change. From navigating the far-reaching and complex costs of care to championing Needs Navigation as a structural solution, our volunteers are the bridge between lived experience and evidence-informed policy.

At NPAF, our community is built on three core pillars that guide everything we do:
Authenticity: We believe in showing up as our full selves. Our advocacy is rooted in the real, unvarnished stories of patients and caregivers.
Connection: We break down the isolation of the healthcare journey by building a supportive community where every voice is heard and valued.
Action: We don't just talk about the problems—we drive measurable change through legislative advocacy, national campaigns, and grassroots organizing.

Your Voice is the Catalyst for Change

The healthcare system can often feel overwhelming, but you don't have to navigate it—or try to fix it—alone. We are looking for passionate individuals to join our nationwide network of advocates. Whether you are a patient, a family caregiver, or a healthcare professional, your perspective is the key to creating a more equitable, affordable, and person-centered system.

Why Volunteer with NPAF?
Amplify Your Impact: Translate your personal journey into advocacy that influences national health policy.

Find Your Community: Join working groups dedicated to media, policy, and outreach alongside peers who truly "get it."

Lead the Way: Gain the tools and training to become a leader in the patient advocacy movement.

Ready to take action?

This National Volunteer Week, turn your passion into purpose. No matter how much time you have to give, there is a place for your voice here.

👉 Become an NPAF Volunteer Today: https://linktr.ee/NPAF