Advocacy is never one conversation. It’s a commitment to showing up again and again until the system works better for patients.

This quarter, that commitment took us to Capitol Hill where our advocates met directly with lawmakers to share what it means to live with a rare or chronic condition—and how Accessia Health’s programs make a difference when financial barriers stand in the way of care. Those conversations matter. They put real experiences in front of the people who write and influence our nation’s healthcare policies.

As progress continues on key bipartisan legislation like the Safe Step Act, HELP Copays Act, Improving Seniors’ Timely Access to Care Act, and Accelerating Kids’ Access to Care Act, there’s a sense of cautious optimism. These bills have the potential to make care more timely, affordable, and equitable for patients across the country.

At the same time, the ongoing government funding debates in Washington are a reminder of how fragile healthcare access can be when policy stalls. That’s why our advocacy can’t slow down. We’re focused on ensuring that the voices of patients, providers, and caregivers continue to shape federal priorities that improve real outcomes—not just statistics.

To our patient advocates, partners, and supporters — thank you for your time, expertise, and courage in leading this work. You remind us that policy isn’t abstract. It’s personal.

There’s still work to do, and your voice matters more than ever.

Accessia Health recently visited Capitol Hill for key meetings with Senators and Representatives. We'd like to first thank our patient advocates for taking time out of their schedules to attend and share their stories on how the work of Accessia Health has helped them alleviate the financial stress that comes with having a rare disease or chronic condition. 

With the hopeful progression of the Safe Step Act, HELP Copays Act, Improving Seniors' Timely Access to Care Act, and the Accelerating Kids Access to Care Act, we can see the approval of more treatments, timely authorizations, and increased transparency and accountability focused on improving patient care, access, and outcomes.

We appreciate congressional offices and representatives from across the country for sitting down to meet with us. The thoughtful conversations had stands as a reminder of the importance of constituent feedback. It was great to see that many of the offices we visited were already familiar with the above policies and voiced their support for passing.

Finally, we'd like to recognize our Washington correspondents team at the Health and Medicine Counsel for collaborating with us for a successful Hill Day. Their guidance, organization of meetings, and expertise was incredibly valuable for all team members participating, and we thank them for their unwavering dedication to ensuring that we were able to communicate effectively across the board.

Government Shutdown and Continuing Resolution (CR)

Congress returned from its August recess, and both the House and Senate made progress on their regular spending bills for Fiscal Year (FY) 2026. These include the annual Labor-HHS-Education bills that fund medical research, public health programs, and patient care. However, lawmakers could not agree on a continuing resolution (CR), which is a temporary funding measure that keeps federal agencies open while final spending bills are completed. Without that agreement, the government has shut down. This shutdown is now the second longest in U.S. history; the longest lasted 34 days.

The Issue

Passing any funding measure requires bipartisan agreement. Right now, Democrats are refusing to move forward with a CR unless Republicans agree to lower healthcare costs before open enrollment begins. Republicans, in turn, are accusing Democrats of failing to govern effectively. With the November 4 election approaching, the political pressure to reach a deal and reopen the government continues to grow. Federal employees have been furloughed, many are working without pay, and agencies are running out of money to provide basic services.

FY 2026 Labor-HHS-Education Appropriations Bills

Both the House and Senate have advanced their annual spending measures to fund healthcare and education programs. Both chambers have also resisted the administration’s proposal to significantly cut funding and reorganize federal agencies. Below is a summary of key items from each proposal:

The Issue 

The House and Senate will now work to resolve differences between their proposals and adopt a final compromise bill. Throughout this process, we will continue to advocate for the highest possible funding levels and key committee directives that advance research and strengthen public health.

• Improving Seniors Timely Access to Care Act

Bipartisan legislation addressing prior authorization and improving care has been introduced in the Senate (S. 1816) and recently reintroduced in the House as a companion bill (H.R. 3514). The Senate bill has 63 cosponsors, and the House bill has 218 cosponsors. [Additional information can be found here.]

• HELP Copays Act

The Senate has reintroduced bipartisan legislation to prohibit copay accumulator and maximizer programs, helping patients fully use copayment assistance. S. 864 currently has 11 cosponsors. A House companion bill is expected soon. [Additional information can be found here.]

• Accelerating Kids Access to Care Act

This bipartisan legislation makes it easier for children in Medicaid and CHIP to see physicians, especially specialists, across state lines. The Senate bill is S. 752, and the House bill is H.R. 1509. The legislation currently has nearly 40 Senate cosponsors and nearly 90 House cosponsors.

• 340B Drug Discount Program Reform

The Senate Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions (HELP) Committee recently held a hearing on reforms to the 340B Drug Discount program. [Additional information can be found here.]

Accessia Health, a national charitable patient assistance organization, is dedicated to eliminating healthcare barriers for people with rare or chronic health conditions. Comprehensive services include personalized case management, financial assistance, education, and legal aid support. Our flexible funding model goes beyond copays, allowing individuals to pay for other essential medical expenses including insurance premiums, screening and diagnostics, therapy services, travel costs and more. Accessia Health works to ensure that every individual has access to the care they need to lead a healthier life. 

Accessia Health exists through generous donations like yours.

Please consider making a gift to provide health and hope to patients nationwide.