Policymakers continue to explore “Most Favored Nation” policies in a stated attempt to lower the cost of medicines. Unfortunately, these efforts do nothing to actually reduce costs for the millions of patients who rely on medicines to manage chronic diseases. Most Favored Nation RESOURCES > MOST FAVORED NATION Most Favored Nation Policymakers continue to explore “Most Favored Nation” policies in a stated attempt to lower the cost of medicines. Unfortunately, these efforts do nothing to actually reduce costs for the millions of patients who rely on medicines to manage chronic diseases. Broader consideration of the consequences of these types of policies on patient access and innovation, as well as a more realistic focus on the real drivers of cost in the system, such as insurance practices and pharmacy benefit managers, must remain a priority. Case Study: Rare Disease Under MFN U.S. Patients with Rare Diseases Benefit from Earlier Access to Treatment Compared to Years of Delay Faced by U.K. Patients Fact Sheet: Learning from Mistakes Learning from Europe's Mistakes: Why Most Favored Nation Pricing Threatens American Patients Case Study: Cancer Treatment Delays New Case Study Highlights the Risk of Severe Treatment Delays for U.S. Patients Fighting Cancer Due to MFN GLOBE/GUARD: "What They Are Saying" Leading voices from patient, provider, and other stakeholder communities are raising serious concerns about the impact of the proposed GLOBE and GUARD prescription drug pricing models on patient access in America. Analysis: Patients Paid the Price New Analysis: Patients Paid the Price When Europe Controlled Drug Costs The QALY Paradox: An Unintended Consequence Of Most Favored Nation Drug Pricing By Dominique Seo, Kenneth E. Thorpe, T. Joseph Mattingly II February 18, 2026 MFN: "What They Are Saying" Leading voices from patient, provider, and other stakeholder communities are raising serious concerns about the impact of the “Most Favored Nation” pricing proposal on patient access in America. PBM Reform, Not MFN Why PBM Reform, not MFN, is a Viable Path to Affordable Drug Access A Tale of Two Patients Same diagnosis. Different countries. Very different outcomes. Two people — one in the U.S., one in England — have the same symptoms at the same time, but disparities in drug access affect how quickly they get diagnosed and what treatment options are available. Explore how different two people's outcomes and quality of life can be just because of where they live. Paula & Pippa HER2-positive breast cancer Sam & Simon Small cell lung cancer (SCLC) Chronic Choices, Critical Voices YouTube Series To shed some light on concerns about the Most Favored Nation proposal and its impact on people living with chronic conditions, the Partnership to Fight Chronic Disease (PFCD) is hosting short discussions with health and policy experts to address challenges to patient access, discriminatory value metrics like the QALY, and threats to future innovation. PFCD's Ken Thorpe sits down with Daneen Sekoni , Vice President of Policy and Advocacy at Cancer Support Community , to discuss what proposed Most Favored Nation (MFN) drug pricing policies could mean for people living with cancer. They explore the importance of timely access to innovative cancer treatments, the potential impact of importing foreign pricing policies, implications for health equity, and how policymakers can address affordability without jeopardizing access to the next generation of breakthrough therapies. PFCD's Vice President of Policy Candace DeMatteis speaks with former Congressman and physician Dr. Michael C. Burgess about the real-world impact of government drug pricing mandates, formulary restrictions, foreign pricing models, QALYs, physician autonomy, and the future of patient-centered care for people managing chronic and rare diseases. PFCD's Vice President of Policy Candace DeMatteis and Alliance for Aging Research's Director of Public Policy and Government Relations Adina Lasser examine the “Most Favored Nation” drug pricing proposal and what it could mean for older Americans who rely on Medicare. They discuss the flaws of the quality-adjusted life year (QALY) and explore better policy solutions to lower drug costs without undermining innovation, access, or long-term health outcomes. PFCD's Vice President of Policy Candace DeMatteis and Global Colon Cancer Association CEO Andrew Spiegel dive into the real-world consequences of the federal government’s proposed “Most Favored Nation” (MFN) drug pricing model for cancer patients. They explore how importing foreign price controls could restrict access to cutting-edge treatments, slow innovation, and jeopardize the U.S. leadership in cancer research. In this conversation, PFCD ’s Ken Thorpe and Caregiver Action Network CEO Marvell Adams examine how “Most Favored Nation” drug pricing could reshape access to medicines for Medicaid beneficiaries. They discuss the potential ripple effects on caregivers, including added burdens from restricted access or disrupted care, and consider the broader equity implications for vulnerable populations. The discussion also explores practical policy alternatives that protect affordability while preserving innovation and reliable access to lifesaving treatments. Hear what National Organization for Rare Diseases CEO Pam Gavin has to say about the impacts of adopting "Most Favored Nation" and foreign reference pricing on people's access to lifesaving therapies for rare disease. Listen to what former Congressman Larry Bucshon, MD thinks as he sheds light on concerns about the proposal and its impact on people living with chronic conditions, particularly related to patient access, discriminatory value metrics like the QALY, and threats to future innovation. PFCD Statements and Comment Letters December 19, 2025 The Partnership to Fight Chronic Disease (PFCD) released the following statement in response to the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) announcement of mandatory demonstration projects that would implement Most Favored Nation (MFN) drug pricing in Medicare Parts B and D. August 1, 2025 The Partnership to Fight Chronic Disease (PFCD) issued the following statement in response to President Trump’s most recent efforts to impose “Most Favored Nation” (MFN) drug pricing, which poses considerable risks to patient access, particularly to people living with one or more chronic diseases. May 12, 2025 The Partnership to Fight Chronic Disease (PFCD) issued the following statement in strong opposition to President Donald Trump’s "Most Favored Nation" (MFN) executive order, which aims to tie prescription drug prices in the U.S. to those in foreign countries May 5, 2025 The Partnership to Fight Chronic Disease (PFCD) today called on Congressional leaders and the Trump Administration to ensure that treatment access for people living with chronic diseases in Medicaid remains a priority across new policies that aim to make America healthy now and in the future.

Partnership to Fight Infectious Disease is a group of patients, providers, community organizations, business and labor groups, and health policy experts working to advance awareness and action on antimicrobial resistance. PFCD in the States As lawmakers continuously review changes to our health care system, it is incumbent upon leaders on both sides of the aisle to acknowledge the single largest driver of health care spending — chronic disease — and present a concrete plan for addressing this human and economic threat. Ninety cents of every health care dollar spent is spent on treating people with chronic disease. Chronic diseases are the leading causes of death and disability. One in two Americans lives with at least one chronic condition and almost three in four older Americans have one or more than one chronic condition. The good news is that most chronic diseases are preventable or manageable. With a health care system that better detects, treats, and manages chronic disease, we can change our nation’s health care story, improve the lives of millions of Americans, and strengthen our economy by tackling chronic disease. Join us in the #Fight4Health and demand leadership on the issue from all our policymakers. PFCD worked with GlobalData on a microsimulation analysis to assess chronic disease trends in the U.S. and across the states. The fact sheet data highlights averages of annual outcomes from 2025–2039.For more information about the study and methodology, read the Burden of Chronic Disease in US Children and Adults: Model Technical Document . U.S. Chronic Disease Fact Sheet U.S. Childhood Health Fact Sheet U.S. Health Equity Fact Sheet

The Partnership to Fight Chronic Disease (PFCD) is an internationally-recognized organization of patients, providers, community organizations, business and labor groups, and health policy experts committed to raising awareness of the number one cause of death, disability, and rising health care costs: chronic disease Resources RESOURCES > SUPPORT FOR THE ENSURING PATHWAYS TO INNOVATIVE CURES (EPIC) ACT > SIGN-ON LETTER TO CONGRESS RE. CMS NCD WITH CED FOR ALZHEIMER'S TREATMENTS Sign on Letter to Congress re: CMS NCD with CED for Alzheimer's treatments The Partnership to Fight Chronic Disease (PFCD) and several of our partners are working together to raise awareness and call for reconsideration of the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) National Coverage Determination with Coverage with Evidence Development for an entire class of new, FDA-approved treatments for Alzheimer's Disease. This decision has ripple effects beyond just the Alzheimer's community and sets a dangerous precedent for other people living with chronic conditions. We have drafted a SIGN ON LETTER and welcome organizations to join us in calling on Congress to take action in requesting CMS to reverse this decision that compromises patients, families, caregivers and providers managing this progressive, debilitating disease. Name Organization Title Email Address Submit Thank you. Your message has been sent.

October 1, 2026 (WASHINGTON, D.C.) The Partnership to Fight Chronic Disease (PFCD) today expressed serious concern following the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services’ (CMS) release of the final rule implementing the Global Benchmark for Efficient Drug Pricing (GLOBE) Model, a mandatory Medicare payment model affecting certain medicines administered under Medicare Part B. “Americans need relief from high health care costs, but we should not confuse lowering what the government pays for a medicine with lowering the cost of caring for patients,” said Ken Thorpe, honorary Chair of the Partnership to Fight Chronic Disease and professor of health policy at Emory University. “For millions of Americans living with chronic disease, timely access to the right treatment can prevent disease progression, disability, emergency room visits and costly hospitalizations. Any policy that puts that access at risk could create unintended consequences that ultimately increase the burden of chronic disease.” GLOBE uses international drug prices to help determine Medicare payment levels for certain Part B medicines. PFCD has consistently warned that importing foreign pricing policies into Medicare risks importing the access restrictions and treatment delays that patients in other countries can face as well. “For someone living with cancer, an autoimmune disease or another serious chronic condition, a medicine is not simply a line item in the Medicare budget,” Thorpe continued. “It may be what keeps that patient stable, functioning and out of the hospital. Once a physician and patient have found a treatment that works, government policy should not create new financial incentives that could disrupt that care.” PFCD is particularly concerned about the implications of implementing a sweeping, mandatory payment policy through the CMS Innovation Center. A model of this magnitude could affect patients, physicians and the development of future treatments well beyond the immediate savings projected for Medicare. With roughly three in four American adults living with at least one chronic condition, the United States urgently needs policies that address the full cost of chronic disease, not policies that simply shift costs from one part of the health care system to another. “Patients should be the measure of whether health care reform succeeds,” Thorpe said. “If a policy saves Medicare money but makes it harder for patients to get the medicines that keep them healthy, prevent hospitalization or slow the progression of disease, that is not meaningful health care savings.” PFCD urges CMS to closely examine the potential impacts of GLOBE on patient access, continuity of care, physician decision-making and future medical innovation before implementation. Policymakers should instead prioritize reforms that lower patients’ out-of-pocket costs by strengthening prevention and early diagnosis and improving coordinated care for people living with one or more chronic conditions. “America can and should make health care more affordable,” Thorpe concluded. “But we should do it by reducing the enormous human and economic burden of chronic disease, not by making effective treatments harder for patients to access.” ###

For millions of women, midlife brings changes with effects far and wide. Perimenopause and menopause can intersect with cardiovascular disease, diabetes, obesity, bone health and other chronic conditions, all marking an important opportunity to talk about prevention, treatment and what women need to maintain their health and quality of life. Those conversations are especially important for those who face both a disproportionate burden of chronic disease and barriers to accessing high-quality, culturally responsive care. Over the past several years, the Partnership to Fight Chronic Disease (PFCD) has been proud to partner with California State Senator Dr. Akilah Weber Pierson for discussions that address the intersection of a variety of health issues and chronic conditions, particularly those impacting black women. This year “Thriving Through the Change: Menopause, Chronic Disease Risk, and Black Women’s Health,” is a free luncheon seminar at the Southeastern Live Well Center in San Diego that will take place on Monday, September 21. This event will explore the unique experiences of Black women during perimenopause and menopause, including how health care access barriers and social determinants of health affect women during midlife, how chronic diseases can make menopause more challenging, and the importance of culturally relevant health information. Midlife is a critical window for chronic disease prevention and management Menopause is a natural transition, but it occurs at a time when women’s risks for several chronic conditions can change. HealthyWomen notes that declining estrogen during perimenopause is associated with changes affecting cardiovascular health, while metabolic syndrome, which includes risk factors such as high blood pressure, high blood sugar and abnormal cholesterol, is more common after menopause. Heart disease remains the leading cause of death among women in the United States, and Black women face particularly high cardiovascular risk. The disparities extend beyond heart disease. Black women are 90 percent more likely to have diabetes than white women, illustrating why menopause cannot be considered in isolation from the broader chronic disease landscape. Menopause symptoms themselves can also affect everyday health and well-being. As many as 8 in 10 women in midlife experience vasomotor symptoms, such as hot flashes and night sweats, yet only about 1 in 4 receives treatment. Women of color are more likely to report these symptoms and may experience them for longer periods than white women. Sleep disruption associated with these symptoms can diminish quality of life and is linked with conditions including hypertension, diabetes and obesity. Access is part of the health equation Knowing what is happening in your body is important. Being able to do something about it is just as important. Preventing and managing chronic disease requires a health care system that allows women to receive regular primary and preventive care, appropriate screenings and diagnoses, specialty care when necessary, and access to treatments that they and their health care providers determine are appropriate. The Alliance for Women’s Health and Prevention has made that connection central to its work, emphasizing that early and equitable access to screening, diagnosis and preventive interventions can improve women’s health and longevity. Its 2026 policy agenda specifically calls for broad access to routine primary care, culturally competent care, meaningful access to specialty care and new approaches, including telehealth and collaborative care teams, that can improve access in medically underserved communities. For Black women, ensuring that care is both accessible and responsive to their experiences is particularly consequential. The American Heart Association has identified the menopause transition as an important period for cardiovascular health and has highlighted persistent racial disparities in cardiovascular disease among Black women. The goal should not simply be to treat illness once it has progressed. It should be to give women the information, care and treatment options they need to recognize risks earlier, manage existing conditions effectively and make informed decisions with their health care providers. Bringing the conversation into the community “Thriving Through the Change” is designed to help create exactly that kind of dialogue. By bringing together community members, health leaders and policymakers, PFCD and Senator Weber Pierson are creating a space to talk openly about menopause within the broader context of chronic disease, and to make sure the experiences of Black women are part of the discussion.

For many patients, access to treatment is about more than whether a therapy is covered. It is also about what it takes to realistically fit that care into their lives. On July 30, the Partnership to Fight Chronic Disease (PFCD) hosted a Congressional Hill Briefing examining the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services’ (CMS) proposed treatment of fixed-dose combination (FDC) therapies under the qualifying single-source drug (QSSD) definition in Medicare’s Drug Price Negotiation Program. The discussion focused on the patient impacts related to how a proposed change could treat two separately FDA-approved products as a single qualifying single-source drug, even when one product contains an additional active ingredient that enables a different route of administration, such as moving from an intravenous infusion to a subcutaneous injection. These kinds of distinctions can have a meaningful impact on patients. More convenient treatment options can reduce the time patients spend traveling to and receiving care, as well as the burden on family members and caregivers. For older adults and people living in rural or underserved communities, reducing these barriers can make a significant difference in their ability to stay on course with prescribed treatment. During the briefing, patient and community advocates shared what these barriers can look like in real life. As PFCD's Vice President of Policy and Advocacy Candace DeMatteis emphasized the importance of policymakers more fully considering the patient experience when evaluating changes to Medicare’s drug negotiation framework. Innovation is not only about developing new medicines; it can also mean finding better ways for patients to receive the treatments they need. Anna Howard of the American Cancer Society Cancer Action Network highlighted the significance of understanding patients as people with lives, responsibilities, and challenges beyond their treatment. For patients living in rural communities, accessing care can mean traveling several hours to reach a cancer treatment facility. When a therapy offers a less burdensome way to receive treatment, that difference matters. Burton Eller of the National Grange shared the story of a rancher in his 60s battling stage three cancer who was driving to Fort Worth three days a week for infusions, a schedule that consumed much of the week for both him and his wife. Stories like these underscore why Medicare policy should account for the real-world impact of how care is delivered. Policies that unintentionally discourage investment in new formulations or routes of administration could limit future treatment options and make it harder for patients to benefit from innovations designed to make care more accessible. PFCD, joined by 50 patient, provider, and health organizations, recently submitted comments to CMS urging the agency to reconsider its proposed approach to FDC therapies. As CMS considers changes to the Medicare Drug Price Negotiation Program, policymakers should ensure that the framework continues to support patient-centered innovation and recognizes the importance of expanding how and where patients can receive care. Read the full comments to CMS from PFCD and 50 other organizations HERE.