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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 Privacy Policy Last Updated: February 6, 2026 Your privacy is important to us at Partnership to Fight Chronic Disease (collectively “PFCD,” “we,” “us,” or “our”), and we are committed to safeguarding, preserving, and respecting your privacy rights. This online privacy Policy (the “Policy”) describes how we collect, use, disclose, and secure the personal information we gather about you through our website, https://www.fightchronicdisease.org (the “Site”), when you use our sites, apps, and when you otherwise interact with us (collectively, the “Services”). For purposes of this Policy, personal information means data that classifies as personal information, personal data, personally identifiable information, or similar terms under applicable data privacy and security laws and regulations. It does not include data excluded or exempted from those laws and regulations, such as aggregated, anonymized, or deidentified data. Nothing in this Policy will constitute an admission or evidence that any particular data privacy or information security law or regulation applies to PFCD generally or in any specific context. In providing our Services, PFCD may collect personal information on behalf and as a service provider for third parties. This Policy does not govern any information we collect on behalf of third parties, and you should consult their privacy policies to become familiar with their data collection and usage practices. You agree to receive recurring automated informational text (e.g., SMS and MMS) messages from Partnership to Fight Chronic Disease, including text messages that may be sent using an automatic telephone dialing system, to the mobile telephone number you provided when signing up or any other number that you designate. All the different types of messages you may receive (Informational messages, vote reminders, shall be known collectively as the "Programs." Consent to receive automated informational text messages is not a condition of any purchase. PFCD maintains strict privacy policies, ensuring that personal information of our users and members is not sold, rented, released, or traded to others without prior consent or a legal obligation. Personal information includes name, email address, phone number, and other contact information. SMS Opt-Out: If you are receiving text messages from us and wish to stop receiving them, simply respond with “STOP” to the number from which you received the message. Once we receive your message, you will no longer receive further text messages from us. 1. Cost Msg & Data rates may apply. Please consult with your carrier for rate information. 2. Message Frequency Message frequency will vary. We reserve the right to alter the frequency of messages sent at any time, so as to increase or decrease the total number of sent messages. We also reserve the right to change the phone number from which messages are sent. Not all mobile devices or handsets may be supported and our messages may not be deliverable in all areas. Our service providers and the mobile carriers supported by the program are not liable for delayed or undelivered messages. 3. Cancellation If you do not wish to continue participating in any Program or no longer agree to these Terms, you agree to text the applicable Short Code (or regular long code phone number where applicable) or directly reply to any mobile message received from a Program with STOP, END, CANCEL, UNSUBSCRIBE, or QUIT in order to opt out of that Program at any time. You may receive an additional mobile message confirming your decision to opt out. You understand and agree that the foregoing options are the only reasonable and exclusive methods of opting out. You also understand and agree that any other method of opting out, including, but not limited to, texting words or phrases other than those set forth above or verbally requesting to be removed from our list, is not a reasonable means of opting out. You may be subscribed to multiple Programs across different Short Codes or regular long code phone numbers, and therefore you must separately text or reply STOP to each Short Code or long code phone number from which you wish to unsubscribe. 4. Support For support regarding the Program, text “HELP” to the applicable Program’s Short Code or long code or email us at info@fightchronicdisease.org . Please note that the use of this email address, or texting “HELP” to the Program’s Short or long Code is not an acceptable method of opting out of the program. Opt-outs must be submitted in accordance with the procedures set forth above. Our Disclaimer of Warranty The Programs are offered on an "as-is" basis and may not be available in all areas at all times and may not continue to work in the event of product, software, coverage or other changes made by your wireless carrier. We will not be liable for any delays or failures in the receipt of any mobile messages connected with any Program. Delivery of mobile messages is subject to effective transmission from your wireless service provider/network operator, and is outside of our control. We are not liable for delayed or undelivered mobile messages. 5. Privacy Policy We respect your privacy. We will only use information you provide to transmit your mobile messages and respond to you, if necessary. This includes sharing information with our program partners, message content providers, phone companies, and vendors who assist us in the delivery of mobile messages. EXCEPT AS SET FORTH IN THIS SECTION, WE DO NOT SELL, RENT, LOAN, TRADE, LEASE OR OTHERWISE TRANSFER FOR PROFIT ANY PHONE NUMBERS OR CUSTOMER INFORMATION COLLECTED THROUGH PROGRAMS TO ANY THIRD PARTY. No mobile information will be shared with third parties/affiliates for marketing/promotional purposes. All the above categories exclude text messaging originator opt-in data and consent; this information will not be shared with any third parties. Nonetheless, we reserve the right at all times to disclose any information as necessary to satisfy any law, regulation or governmental request, to avoid liability, or to protect our rights or property. When you complete forms online or otherwise provide us information in connection with a Program, you agree to provide accurate, complete, and true information. You agree not to use a false or misleading name or a name that you are not authorized to use. If in our sole discretion, we believe that any such information is untrue, inaccurate, or incomplete, or you have opted into a Program for an ulterior purpose, we may refuse you access to the Program and pursue any appropriate legal remedies. This Privacy Policy and Terms and Conditions is strictly limited to these texting Programs and has no effect on any other privacy policy(ies) that may govern the relationship between you and us in other contexts. 6. You Consent to This Policy You should read this Policy carefully, so that you understand our privacy practices and our Terms of Use. By accessing, browsing, downloading, or otherwise using the Services, you confirm that you have read, understood, and agreed with this Policy. If you do not agree to this Policy, you may not use the Services. This Policy and the Terms of Use apply regardless of how the Services are accessed and will cover any technologies or devices by which we make the Services available to you. We may provide you with additional privacy notices where we believe it is appropriate to do so. It is important that you read this Policy together with any other privacy notice or terms we may provide on specific occasions, so that you are fully aware of how and why we are using your data. This Policy supplements these other notices and is not intended to override them. If you have any questions or concerns about our personal information policies or practices, you can contact us in the methods described in the “Contact Us” section below. 7. Types of Information We Collect We collect information you voluntarily provide directly to us, information that we collect automatically when you interact with the Services, and information collected from third parties. The categories of personal information that we collect and the purposes for which we collect that information are described below. (a) Categories of Personal Information We Collect The following list describes the categories of personal information we collect. Text Message Opt-In Information includes your opt-in consent to receive marketing messages from us through short codes or similar means. We collect this information for providing the Services, marketing and advertising our products and services, and for administrative purposes Analytics Information. We collect certain analytics information automatically as you navigate our Services. This includes cookies, tracking pixels, tags or similar tools, which may collect information about your browser, device, geolocation, and interactions with the Services, Site, or emails. For more information, please view the “How We Use “Cookies” and Other Tracking Technologies” section below. We collect this information for the purposes of account creation and management, advertising and marketing, analytics and research, customer service, and website security and maintenance. Contact Information includes name, zip code, email address, and phone number. We collect this information when you provide it directly to us, through publicly available sources, or from other public action committees or political organizations. Petition, Campaign, and Voting Information means information relating to you engagement with us, petitions, or campaigns, as well as public voter data. We collect this information from publicly available sources, or from other political action committees or political organizations. Social Media Information includes information that you post by sharing on a blog or another social media platform. We collect this information when you provide it directly to us. Please note that your comments will be visible to the public, so you should never share personal information that you would like to keep private. User-Generated Content. If you post, upload, comment, or otherwise submit content on the Services, we may collect certain information about you such as your name and email address and products you may have purchased. Be aware that as a default, any information you post on the Services, including without limitation reviews, comments, and text, may be available to and searchable by all users of the Services. We collect this information for the purposes of account creation and management, advertising and marketing, analytics and research, customer service, and website security and maintenance. (b) How We May Collect, Use, or Share the Information We may also reserve the right to collect, use, or share personal information for the following purposes: To Provide the Services. We will use your personal information to provide the Services, including to improve operations and offerings, and for security purposes. To Present the Site. We will use personal information to present our Site and its contents in a suitable and effective manner for you and your device. Election and Political Activities. We may use your personal information in connection with our election and political activities, including advertising efforts. For Legal Purposes. We reserve the right to cooperate with local, provincial, state, federal and international officials in any investigation requiring either personal information or reports about lawful or unlawful user activity on this site. We also reserve the right to share your personal information to establish, exercise, or defend our legal and property rights, including providing information to others for the purposes of fraud prevention. We may also share your personal information with any person who we reasonably believe may apply to a court or other competent authority for disclosure of that personal information where, in our reasonable opinion, such court or authority would be reasonably likely to order disclosure of that personal information. If we are ordered by a legal process or government to provide data about one or more individual users, we will notify those users of our compliance with that order, to the extent permitted by law. Business Partners and Affiliates. We may collect personal information from and share personal information with our business partners and affiliates, including legal advisors and financial advisors, co-branded partners, and other third parties. We may combine that information with other information we collect about you, but we will always use the information as described in this Policy. We may also share information with our affiliates, subsidiaries, joint ventures or other companies under common control. Business Transactions or Mergers. We reserve the right to share your personal information to third parties as part of any potential business or asset sale, merger, acquisition, investment, round of funding, or similar type of transaction. Additionally, if we are entering into a corporate transaction with a third party, we may receive personal information in connection with the diligence. If we close a transaction, the third party may transfer personal information, which we would use as described in this Policy. Bankruptcy or Insolvency. In the event of bankruptcy, insolvency, or dissolution proceedings, we may share your personal information with third parties as part of the sale or reorganization process. Provide Information and Opportunities. We will use your personal information to advertise travel opportunities, promotions, products, events, or Services that we think may be of interest to you. Service Providers. We use service providers to perform various functions on our behalf, including background screening service providers. Such service providers will be under contractual obligations to safeguard your personal information and only process it in accordance with our instructions, or as otherwise permitted by applicable laws. We may also receive personal information from service providers. 8. How We Use “Cookies” and Other Tracking Technologies We may send one or more cookies to your computer or other device. We may also use other similar technologies such as tracking pixels, tags, or similar tools when you visit our Services. These technologies can collect data regarding your operating system, browser type, device type, screen resolution, IP address, and other technical information, as well as navigation events and session information as you interact with our Services. This information allows us to understand how you use the Services. (a) Cookies Cookies are small files created by websites, including our Services, that reside on your computer’s hard drive and that store information about your use of a particular website. When you access our Services, we use cookies and other tracking technologies to: · Estimate our audience size and usage patterns; · Store information about your preferences, allowing us to customize our Services according to your individual needs; · Contact you to provide you with information or services that you request from us; · Advertise new content, events, and services that relate to your interests; · Provide you with more personalized content that is most relevant to your interest areas; and · Recognize when you return to our Services. We set some cookies ourselves and others are set by third parties. You can manage your cookies preference as described in the “Managing Your Cookies” section below. The following chart lists the different types of cookies that we and our service providers use on the Services, examples of who serves those cookies and links to the privacy notices and opt-out information of those cookie servers. Because the specific cookies we use may vary over time, as well as differ by the specific page you are browsing, the below chart is illustrative only. We do not use analytical tools in a manner that discloses to third parties that a specific person viewed specific video materials. (c) Cookie Retention Period Some cookies operate from the time you visit the Services until the end of that particular browsing session. These cookies, which are called “session cookies,” expire and are automatically deleted when you close your Internet browser. Some cookies will stay on your device between browsing sessions and will not expire or automatically delete when you close your Internet browser. These cookies are called “persistent cookies” and the length of time they will remain on your device will vary from cookie to cookie. Persistent cookies are used for a number of purposes, such as storing your preferences so that they are available for your next visit and to keep a more accurate account of how often you visit the Services, how your use of the Services may change over time, and the effectiveness of advertising efforts. (d) Managing Your Cookies It may be possible to block cookies by changing your Internet browser settings to refuse all or some cookies. If you choose to block all cookies (including essential cookies), you may not be able to access all or parts of the Services. You can find out more about cookies and how to manage them by visiting https://ico.org.uk/for-the-public/online/cookies/. (e) Site Response to “Do Not Track” Signals At this time, our Site does not respond differently based on a user’s Do Not Track signal. 9. Advertising and Marketing Choices We respect your rights in how your personal information is used and shared. We may communicate with you via email, telephone, postal mail, and/or your mobile device about our products and services. If at any time you would like to unsubscribe from receiving future marketing emails, you can email us at info@betterhospitalsnow.org or follow the instructions at the bottom of each applicable email, and we will promptly remove you from those marketing correspondences that you choose to no longer receive. Please note, however, that we may still need to contact you regarding other matters. 10. How Long Your Personal Information Is Kept We will retain your personal information until the personal information is no longer necessary to accomplish the purpose for which it was provided. We may retain your personal information for longer periods for specific purposes to the extent that we are obliged to do so in accordance with applicable laws and regulations, to protect you, other people, and us from fraud, abuse, an unauthorized access, as necessary to protect our legal rights, or for certain business requirements. We will delete your personal information when it is no longer necessary for the purpose for which it was collected, or upon your request, subject to exceptions as discussed in this Policy or under applicable law, contract, or regulation. 11. Our Commitment to Data Security The security of your personal information is important to us. We take various reasonable organizational, administrative, and technical measures to protect your personal information from unauthorized access, disclosure, alteration, or destruction. If required by law to do so, we will notify you and/or the relevant supervisory authority in the event of a data breach. However, we cannot and do not guarantee complete security, as it does not exist on the Internet. 12. Where Your Personal Information Is Held We process personal information on our servers in the United States of America, and may do so in other countries. If you use our Services or otherwise provide us with information from outside of the United States, you expressly consent to the transfer of your data to the United States, the processing of your data in the United States, and the storage of your data in the United States. 13. Third Party Links Our Services may contain links to third-party websites. When we provide links, we do so only as a convenience and we are not responsible for any content of any third-party website or any links contained within. It is important to note that this Policy only applies to our Services. We are not responsible and assume no responsibility for any personal information collected, stored, or used by any third party as a result of you visiting third-party websites. We also advise that you carefully read the privacy notice of any third-party websites you choose to visit. 14. Children’s Privacy Protecting the privacy of the very young is especially important. Our Services are not intended for children under 13 years of age, and we do not knowingly collect personal information from children under 13. In the event that we learn that we have collected personal information from a child under age 13 without verification or parental consent, we will immediately delete that information. If you believe that we might have any information from or about a child under 13, please contact us using the information provided in the “Contact Us” section below. 15. Policy Changes This Policy may change from time to time. If we need to change this Policy at some point in the future, we will post any changes on this page. If we make a significant or material change to this Policy we will notify you via email. You should check these terms when you use the Site. Your continued use of the Services constitutes acceptance of the most current version of this Policy. 16. Contact Us If you have any questions about this Privacy Policy, please contact us by email at info@fightchronicdisease.org .

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 Terms of Use Last Updated: February 6, 2026 Partnership to Fight Chronic Disease You agree to receive recurring automated informational text (e.g., SMS and MMS) messages from the Partnership to Fight Chronic Disease, including text messages that may be sent using an automatic telephone dialing system, to the mobile telephone number you provided when signing up or any other number that you designate. All the different types of messages you may receive (Informational messages, vote reminders, shall be known collectively as the "Programs." Consent to receive automated informational text messages is not a condition of any purchase. Cost Msg & Data rates may apply. Please consult with your carrier for rate information. Message Frequency Message frequency will vary. The Partnership to Fight Chronic Disease reserves the right to alter the frequency of messages sent at any time, so as to increase or decrease the total number of sent messages. The Partnership to Fight Chronic Disease also reserves the right to change the phone number from which messages are sent. Not all mobile devices or handsets may be supported and our messages may not be deliverable in all areas. The Partnership to Fight Chronic Disease, its service providers and the mobile carriers supported by the program are not liable for delayed or undelivered messages. Cancellation If you do not wish to continue participating in any Program or no longer agree to these Terms, you agree to text the applicable Short Code (or regular long code phone number where applicable) or directly reply to any mobile message received from a Program with STOP, END, CANCEL, UNSUBSCRIBE, or QUIT in order to opt out of that Program at any time. You may receive an additional mobile message confirming your decision to opt out. You understand and agree that the foregoing options are the only reasonable and exclusive methods of opting out. You also understand and agree that any other method of opting out, including, but not limited to, texting words or phrases other than those set forth above or verbally requesting the Partnership to Fight Chronic Disease to remove you from our list, is not a reasonable means of opting out. You may be subscribed to multiple Programs across different Short Codes or regular long code phone numbers, and therefore you must separately text or reply STOP to each Short Code or long code phone number from which you wish to unsubscribe. Support For support regarding the Program, text “HELP” to the applicable Program’s Short Code or long code, or email us at info@fightchronicdisease.org . Please note that the use of this email address, or texting “HELP” to the Program’s Short or long Code is not an acceptable method of opting out of the program. Opt outs must be submitted in accordance with the procedures set forth above. Our Disclaimer of Warranty The Programs are offered on an "as-is" basis and may not be available in all areas at all times and may not continue to work in the event of product, software, coverage or other changes made by your wireless carrier. We will not be liable for any delays or failures in the receipt of any mobile messages connected with any Program. Delivery of mobile messages is subject to effective transmission from your wireless service provider/network operator and is outside of our control. We are not liable for delayed or undelivered mobile messages. Privacy Policy We respect your privacy. We will only use information you provide to transmit your mobile messages and respond to you, if necessary. This includes sharing information with our program partners, message content providers, phone companies, and vendors who assist us in the delivery of mobile messages. EXCEPT AS SET FORTH IN THIS SECTION, WE DO NOT SELL, RENT, LOAN, TRADE, LEASE OR OTHERWISE TRANSFER FOR PROFIT ANY PHONE NUMBERS OR CUSTOMER INFORMATION COLLECTED THROUGH PROGRAMS TO ANY THIRD PARTY. Nonetheless, we reserve the right at all times to disclose any information as necessary to satisfy any law, regulation or governmental request, to avoid liability, or to protect our rights or property. When you complete forms online or otherwise provide us information in connection with a Program, you agree to provide accurate, complete, and true information. You agree not to use a false or misleading name or a name that you are not authorized to use. If in our sole discretion, we believe that any such information is untrue, inaccurate, or incomplete, or you have opted into a Program for an ulterior purpose, we may refuse you access to the Program and pursue any appropriate legal remedies. This Privacy Policy and Terms and Conditions is strictly limited to these Programs and has no effect on any other privacy policy(ies) that may govern the relationship between you and us in other contexts.

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 Chronic Disease Patients Prioritized in Trump Administration Executive Order Since 2007, the Partnership to Fight Chronic Disease (PFCD) has been 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. The Problem: Preventable and Mismanaged Chronic Disease Chronic diseases, such as diabetes, COPD, cancer, depression, obesity and heart disease, are the leading causes of death and disability in the United States and account for the vast majority of health care spending. More than one in two American adults lives with at least one chronic condition and nearly one in three liv e with two or more chronic conditions. Chronic diseases are also the primary driver of health care costs—accounting for 90 cents of every dollar we spend on health care in this country. In 2011, this amounted to $2.3 trillion of the $2.7 trillion spent on health care. Despite these widespread problems, the issue of chronic disease does not register with large segments of the public and policymakers as an issue of primary concern.

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 > FEWER TREATMENTS RESULTING FROM IRA PRICE CONTROLS 11/12/24 Lumanity's IRA Webinar Series - Part 2: IRA Impact on Innovation in Drug Development Press Release Case studies highlight peril to treatment advances across several disease states Fact Sheet Anticoagulants Fact Sheet Autoimmune Diseases Fact Sheet Diabetes Fact Sheet Mental Illness Fact Sheet Rare Cancers

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.

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 > ALZHEIMERS Alzheimer's Disease According to the CDC, an estimated 6 million Americans are living with Alzheimer's disease. In 2020, the estimated cost of caring for and treating people with Alzheimer’s - health care, long-term care, and hospice and more - was $305 billion. Supporting efforts to better detect, treat and prevent the onset of this costly chronic disease is critical. For more information on the fight fo Alzheimer's patients, families and caregivers, please visit: WWW.PFCDALZ.ORG LETTER Sign On Letter to Congress re: CMS NCD with CED for Alzheimer's treatments VIDEO Congressional Leaders Champion Access for People with Alzheimer's Disease (April 2023) PATIENT PROFILE Geri Taylor INFOGRAPHIC Leaving Medicare Beneficiaries in Limbo INFOGRAPHIC The Long Road to Treatment: Medicare's CED Clinical Trial Policy INFOGRAPHIC Patient Registries Under CED: Checklist of Endless Difficulties INFOGRAPHIC The Overwhelming Evidence in Support of Amyloid PET INFOGRAPHIC Amyloid Beta PET Scans: By the Numbers INFOGRAPHIC Alzheimers Disease 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 > QUANTIFYING IMPACT OF ACCELERATED APPROVAL DRUGS ON MEDICAID SPENDING > FACES OF ACCELERATED APPROVAL Patient Stories : #Fight4Health: The Food & Drug Administration’s accelerated approval pathway has been essential for speeding up the availability of new and effective treatments for patients with serious and often-life-threatening diseases where there are no other treatments available. Right now, efforts are underway that would undermine the pathway and risk bringing us back to a time when promising therapies languished in regulatory limbo while patients waited without any treatment options. Patients’ voices are often absent from debates about the accelerated approval pathway, so we are sharing their stories here. Learn how patients’ lives have been changed by treatments approved through the FDA’s accelerated approval pathway. Ivy Elkins , Evanston, IL Lung Cancer Billy Ellsworth , Pittsburgh, PA Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy Laura Kelly , Atlanta, GA Nontuberculous Mycobacteria (NTM) Jordan McLinn , Indianapolis, IN Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy Geri Taylor , New York, NY Alzheimer's Disease Teonna Woolford , Owings Mills, MD Sickle Cell Disease Marc Yale , Ventura, CA Mucous Membrane Pemphigoid As we work with partners, like the EveryLife Foundation for Rare Diseases , to build greater understanding around these critical programs and to hold public and private payers accountable to their mission of providing health care access to America’s most vulnerable populations, PFCD encourages you to learn more by visiting www.fightchronicdisease.org/resources/acceleratedapproval which includes backgrounders, economic analyses, American Journal of Managed Care commentary, infographics, opinion editorials and more. To contribute a patient or provider story to this effort, please contact Jennifer.Burke@fightchronicdisease.org .

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. Fact Sheet: Human & Economic Toll of Increase in Resistant Infections (In the States) Click on each state to download the correspondent fact sheet: OH KY WV NY PA NH CT NJ MD DE GA ME MA VT VA AZ NM AR MI OR AL CA CO ID IL IN IA KS LA MN MS MT NE NV ND OK SD TN TX UT WY AK HI WA MO WI DC RI FL NC SC

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 > ARTHRITIS Arthritis According to the Arthritis Foundation, more than 50 million Americans have arthritis, making it the number one cause of disability in the country. With 1 in every 5 adults, and 300,000 children impacted by arthritis, there is also a high likelihood that many struggling with arthritis are also dealing with one or more other chronic conditions. Osteoarthritis and rheumatoid arthritis alone cost more than $156 billion a year in direct and indirect expenses. Prevent Arthritis Like most chronic conditions, some forms of arthritis can be prevented, but also better managed in order to deter further damage and alleviate symptoms. Healthy lifestyle choices like exercise and a balanced diet can help maintain strength and protect joints. Additionally, taking medicines as directed and prioritizing regular visits to your health care provider can help to address and reduce symptoms. Arthritis causes work limitations for 40 percent of the people with the disease and limits the daily activities of 21 million Americans, these limitations can be avoided with the right treatment. STUDY Gout Economic Impact Study

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

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 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 > PRESCRIPTION DRUG AFFORDABILITY BOARDS WILL LIMIT ACCESS TO LIFESAVING MEDICINES Press Statement New Insurer Perspectives Highlight Considerable Patient Challenges Anticipated from Prescription Drug Affordability Boards (4/1/24) White Paper Health Plans Predict: Implementing Upper Payment Limits May Alter Formularies and Benefit Design But Won’t Reduce Patient Costs (March 2024) Avalere Insights Blog Research Explores Health Plan Perceptions of PDABs and UPLs (4/2/24) PDAB Overview Infographic Prescription Drug Affordability Boards: Promise ≠ Reality PPT Overview Insurer Perspectives on PDABs OpEd Boulder Daily Camera: Prescription Drug Affordability Board Might Not Deliver Savings to Patients State boards of unelected bureaucrats are poised to have a devastating impact on patient access and affordability. Prescription Drug Affordability Boards (PDABs) will allow a group of unelected bureaucrats to set reimbursement limits on medications. While policymakers argue that this will create savings for patients, they cannot guarantee that patients will actually see savings at the pharmacy counter or, even more grimly, continue to enjoy widespread medication access. It is more likely that any reduction in cost will go to health insurance plans who will keep any difference as profit rather than passing them on to the patients they cover. Further, the Board’s power to create upper limits on how much insurers reimburse for drugs in the state could prevent patients from accessing their medicines. If a hospital or pharmacy cannot obtain a medication at the reimbursement rate the Board has set, then they will not acquire and sell it, sell it for a loss, or find a way to cover the added cost including charging the patient the difference. This will hit people living with rare and chronic diseases the hardest. PFCD is committed to highlighting the consequences of allowing unelected bureaucrats to determine who gets their medicines and who doesn't. Protect Virginia Patients, Not Price-Setting Bureaucracies Virginia lawmakers are considering PDAB-style price-setting schemes in House Bill 483 / Senate Bill 271 that have not been shown to lower what patients actually pay at the pharmacy counter and may instead limit access to needed medicines. They also waste taxpayer resources without results. Virginia legislators should reject HB 483 / SB 271 and instead focus on reforms that ensure savings flow directly to patients, including requiring ta manufacturer discounts and any PDAB-related savings are passed through at the pharmacy counter, banning harmful copay accumulator policies, and increasing transparency across the drug supply chain soo people with chronic conditions can afford and access the treatments they rely on. Related Resources Rare Access Action Project - Solving for Access and Affordability: PDABs are Not the Answer

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 > QUANTIFYING IMPACT OF ACCELERATED APPROVAL DRUGS ON MEDICAID SPENDING Quantifying Impact of Accelerated Approval Drugs on Medicaid Spending: De Minimus Impact, Maximum Attention States seek to limit coverage of drugs approved through the FDA’s accelerated approval pathway designed to accelerate availability of medications that treat serious or life-threatening conditions – many cancers, HIV/AIDS, sickle cell and several other rare diseases. A new national and state analysis of Medicaid spending from 2007 to 2020 shows: From 2007 to 2020, accelerated approval medicines accounted for well under one percent of total Medicaid spending, not including drug rebates. At the national level, spending on accelerated approval drugs also accounted for just 0.5% of overall growth in national Medicaid spending between 2007 and 2020. Hospital spending (30%) and physician and clinical services (15.4%) were the primary drivers of growth. After accounting for drug rebates, retail prescription drugs accounted for 5.0% of growth. Accelerated approval drugs accounted for less than 1% of the growth in Medicaid spending in 48 states and the District of Columbia. Only Alabama (1.3%) and South Dakota (2.1%) were slightly higher. In states requesting Medicaid waivers due to cost concerns, 2020 spending data shows accelerated approval drug spend is miniscule - Massachusetts (0.1%), Tennessee (0.4%) and Oregon (0.1%). These data support preserving access to accelerated approval drugs for the seriously ill. WHITE PAPER May 2022 - Quantifying Impact of Accelerated Approval Drugs on Medicaid Spending: An Update through 2020 and State-Level Analysis WHITE PAPER March 2021 - Quantifying Impact of Accelerated Approval Drugs on Medicaid Spending: De Minimus Impact, Maximum Attention COMMENTARY 6/3/22 – Health Affairs Forefront: Accelerated Approval Drugs Are Not Driving Medicaid Spending COMMENTARY 3/30/21 - American Journal of Managed Care: Limiting Access to Accelerated Approval Drugs: Costs and Consequences LETTER Letter to MACPAC about Considerations on Accelerated Approval Drugs VIDEO Accelerated Approval 101 VIDEO Accelerated Approval: Getting Essential New Treatments to Patients PATIENT VOICES Faces of Accelerated Approval FACT SHEET Patient-Centered Principles: Accelerated Approval INFOGRAPHIC Accelerated Approval Drugs Do Not Drive Medicaid Spending FACT SHEET FDA's Expedited Programs: Getting Essential New Treatments to Patients FACT SHEET What Experts Say About FDA's Expedited Programs PRESS RELEASE 6/3/22 - New Analysis Finds Accelerated Approval Drugs Do Not Drive Medicaid Spending PRESS RELEASE 3/30/21 - New Analysis of Medicaid Spending Reinforces Value and Patient Impact of FDA Accelerated Approval Pathway OPINION EDITORIAL 10/20/21 - FDA's Accelerated Approval Pathway: Separating Fact from Fiction - Pat Furlong, Annie Kennedy & Ken Thorpe OPINION EDITORIAL 5/3/21 - Curtailing Medicaid coverage of accelerated approval therapies threatens patients' access - Terry Wilcox & Teonna Woolford PODCAST Patents and Accelerated Approval for Drugs PODCAST This is Growing Old by the Alliance for Aging Research - Episode 27

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 Sign up for: Preserving Accessibility and Incentives for Development of Small Molecule Medicines for Chronic Diseases Thank you for your consideration of this sign on letter highlighting important access issues for patients living with one or multiple chronic conditions. Dear Members of Congress: The Inflation Reduction Act of 2022 (IRA) includes changes to improve medication affordability for some Medicare beneficiaries, such as capping annual out-of-pocket spending, increasing low-income subsidy eligibility, spreading out-of-pocket costs over time, and capping copayments for insulin products under Medicare Part D. Lowering financial barriers will help millions of people reliant on Medicare—particularly those living with one or more chronic conditions—to improve and maintain their health. As we commend these aspects of the IRA, however, we also call for changes to the law to avoid the negative, unintended consequences of provisions that will undermine the progress made on access. In particular, we are concerned about the provisions in the IRA that treat small-molecule medicines--drugs that often come in simple to use forms, such as pills, tablets, and patches--as less important by subjecting them to government pricing 9 years after FDA approval instead of the 13 years afforded to biologics. The bipartisan Ensuring Pathways to Innovative Cures (EPIC) Act, HR 7174, would equalize the timeframe for government pricing at 13 years post-approval for both biologics and small-molecule drugs. We urge you to co-sponsor the EPIC Act and work toward its passage. Both biologics and small molecule medicines are critically important to people living with chronic diseases. Biologics are complex therapeutics derived from living cells or through biological processes. Their large, complex structures make biologics more sensitive to physical conditions, which often requires them to be administered in a physician’s office via an infusion or injection. In contrast, small-molecule medicines have simpler chemical structures and tend to be more stable, meaning they often come in pill or tablet form and therefore can be picked up by patients at their local pharmacy and taken at home. Additionally, because of their simpler structures, small-molecule medicines can be more easily genericized once patent protections expire. Most older adults in the U.S. rely on prescription medicines to maintain their health. Among U.S. adults aged 65 and older, 87.5 percent take at least one prescription medicine a month. Almost 40 percent of these adults take more than five. Not surprisingly, older adults have strong preferences for medicines they can take at home. When asked to rank the importance of benefits that a new treatment offers, 91 percent of respondents to a recent survey indicated that being “able to take the medicine at home” was important or extremely important to them. A review of oncology studies found that people undergoing chemotherapy also prefer oral over IV therapies. Being able to take a medicine at home facilitates greater independence, eliminates transportation needs and expenses, removes caregiving needs associated with transportation or administration, and reduces expenses associated with the drug and administration costs. For people living with disabilities, the ability to self-administer a medication at home also alleviates the need to overcome physical barriers to access and limits physical and emotional stressors associated with leaving home, transportation, and time spent in a medical environment to receive an infusion. Moreover, many offices and hospitals are also often ill-equipped to respond to the needs of older people or those living with disabilities, creating additional treatment barriers. Travel costs, lack of transportation, housing and food insecurity, and the need to secure care for children or aging parents are regular challenges made more burdensome as the duration or frequency of office-based treatment increases. Small-molecule drugs also facilitate greater access for underserved populations and support health equity. Medically underserved populations have less access to specialty care often associated with biologics. The recurring need to travel to a healthcare facility for ongoing treatment is more than an inconvenience, and access issues relating to social determinants of health fall hardest on people of color, people living in rural areas, and people with lower incomes. People living in rural areas also face shortages of specialists like oncologists, neurologists, and rheumatologists, which adds another barrier for patients who are limited to office-based treatment. Given that more than one in five older adults live in rural areas, the unmet need for alternate routes of administration for infused medicines for Medicare beneficiaries is urgent. In contrast, nearly 90 percent of U.S. residents live within 5 miles of a community pharmacy. Prior to the IRA, long-standing federal policies and patent protections allowed drug developers 14 years, on average, to earn a return on their significant investments in research and development. One analysis found that roughly half of this return occurs in years 9 through 13 post-launch. As a result of the significantly truncated timeline created by the IRA, there is evidence that investment in research and development is already shifting away from small-molecule medicines, including those that would treat rare diseases, cancers, and other conditions. The smaller size and simpler structure of small-molecule medicines allows them unique opportunities for treating chronic conditions. Because of their ability to easily penetrate cellular walls, they can deliver medicine directly to the therapeutic cellular target, which is particularly important in the treatment of many cancers. Additionally, while the blood-brain barrier presents challenges for the delivery of medicines to therapeutic targets in the brain, small-molecule medicines are capable of crossing this barrier and are therefore particularly important in the treatment of many neurological conditions, including mental illnesses, epilepsy, stroke, and Alzheimer’s disease. We are concerned that the earlier price-setting timeline for small-molecule medicines compared to biologics creates a significant disincentive for investments into these medicines. As a result, the patients we represent will experience reduced access to new treatments, increased non-medical barriers to care, and worsening health disparities. Thankfully, the fix is straightforward: remove this disincentive by supporting the EPIC Act to set the eligibility for IRA drug pricing at 13 years post-FDA approval for both small-molecule and biologic medications. We urge you to work together to advance this bipartisan bill to preserve access to small molecule medicines before implementation of this program begins in earnest. Without change, the chilling effect on investments today will accelerate with serious consequences for Medicare beneficiaries now and in the future. Sincerely, AiArthritis Alliance for Aging Research ALLvanza Autoimmune Association Biomarker Collaborative Caregiver Action Network Center for Medicine in the Public Interest Chronic Care Policy Alliance Colorectal Cancer Alliance Council for Affordable Health Coverage Epilepsy Alliance America Exon 20 Group Global Coalition on Aging Global Down Syndrome Foundation Healthcare Leadership Council International Cancer Advocacy Network (ICAN) Men's Health Network MET Crusaders National Association for Continence National Grange National Headache Foundation National Hispanic Health Foundation National Minority Quality Forum National Scleroderma Foundation Neuropathy Action Foundation Nevada Chronic Care Coalition No Patient Left Behind Partnership to Fight Chronic Disease (PFCD) PDL1 Amplifieds Pulmonary Hypertension Association Rural Minds Schizophrenia & Psychosis Action Alliance The STARR Coalition Tigerlily Foundation United Spinal Association Name Organization Title Email Address Submit Thank you. Your message has been sent.

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 > MIGRAINE Migraine According to the National Institute of Health's National Institute on Neurological Disorders and Stroke, the pain of a migraine headache is often described as an intense pulsing or throbbing in one area of the head. The International Headache Society diagnoses migraine by pain level and number of attacks, and additional symptoms like nausea, vomiting, sensitivity to light and sound. More than 10 percent of people worldwide experience migraine, and it is thee times more common in women than men. Chronic Migraine Chronic migraine is defined as a headache that occurs on 15 or more days per month for at least three months. According to the National Headache Foundation, studies have shown that nearly 80 percent of patients with chronic migraine have depression. Raising awareness of the prevalence of chronic migraine and exposing its extensive impact on productivity are critical to highlighting the need for more research in order to support the millions who suffer daily. For a patient perspective on chronic migraine please visit PFCD's YouTube channel for video testimonials from three chronic migraine sufferers: http://www.youtube.com/ThePFCD IMPACT PAPER Chronic Migraine Impact Paper TESTIMONIAL Patient Testimonial - Barbara Monette TESTIMONIAL Patient Testimonial - Heather Zanitsch TESTIMONIAL Patient Testimonial - Tom Sayen

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 What's the Latest PFCD Celebrates Passage of PBM Reforms Critical to Lowering Costs and Improving Outcomes for Americans with Chronic Disease February 4, 2026 (WASHINGTON, D.C.) The Partnership to Fight Chronic Disease (PFCD) applauds the passage of the Consolidated Appropriations Act of 2026 and its inclusion of many important health care elements that support efforts to better prevent and manage costly chronic conditions. Notably, the bill will increase transparency and lower health care costs for people living with one or more chronic conditions by instituting much needed reforms for pharmacy benefit managers ( PRESS RELEASE 2 days ago Medicare Drug Pricing Must Not Create New Barriers for People Living with Chronic Disease January 28, 2026 (Washington, D.C.) The Partnership to Fight Chronic Disease (PFCD) released the following statement in response to the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) announcement of 15 new drugs selected for price-setting in Initial Price Applicability Year (IPAY) 2028: “Prescription medicines are a cornerstone of chronic disease management for Medicare beneficiaries, the vast majority of whom rely on one or more medications every month to maintain their hea PRESS RELEASE Jan 27 Chronic Disease is Straining U.S. Health Care, and Insurers Aren’t Helping Chronic conditions are the primary driver of rising U.S. health care spending across Medicare, Medicaid and private insurance, a new study from the Partnership to Fight Chronic Disease (PFCD) detailed last week. Costs are highly concentrated among patients living with three or more chronic conditions, and obesity plays a central role . PFCD Chair Kenneth Thorpe, PhD., and Peter Joski authored the new research report , which is particularly relevant leading up to two House hea BLOG Jan 21 New Analysis Links Obesity and Multiple Chronic Conditions to Unsustainable Spending Growth Across Insurance Programs January 14, 2026 (Washington, D.C.) The Partnership to Fight Chronic Disease (PFCD) today released a new research report, “ The Association of Obesity and Chronic Conditions Treated as it Relates to the Growth in Health Care Spending by Source of Insurance, 2011–2022 ,” by PFCD Chair Kenneth E. Thorpe and Peter J. Joski. The report finds that the increasing prevalence of obesity and multiple chronic conditions is the dominant force behind rising health care spending across M PRESS RELEASE Jan 14 PFCD Statement on Mandatory Medicare Demos Implementing Most Favored Nation Drug Pricing December 19, 2025 (WASHINGTON, D.C.) The Partnership to Fight Chronic Disease (PFCD) released the following statement today 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: “PFCD remains opposed to a MFN approach to drug price-setting that would import foreign price controls, threaten patient access, pose ethical concerns, Dec 19, 2025 New Report: Chronic Disease Could Cost the U.S. $47 Trillion Over Next 15 Years Multiple Chronic Conditions a Key Driver of Unsustainable Spending Growth December 18, 2025 (Washington, D.C.) New national and state data released today by the Partnership to Fight Chronic Disease (PFCD) projects that chronic disease is on pace to cost the United States as much as $47 trillion between 2024 and 2039, including $2.2 trillion annually in medical costs and nearly $900 billion each year in lost productivity by 2039 . The analysis, conducted by GlobalData, highli PRESS RELEASE Dec 18, 2025 PFCD Applauds Senate Action on PBMs December 5, 2025 (WASHINGTON, D.C.) The Partnership to Fight Chronic Disease (PFCD) released the following statement in response to the introduction of the Pharmacy Benefit Manager (PBM) Price Transparency and Accountability Act: “The Partnership to Fight Chronic Disease (PFCD) applauds Senate Finance Committee Chairman Mike Crapo and Ranking Member Ron Wyden for introducing the bipartisan Pharmacy Benefit Manager (PBM) Price Transparency and Accountability Act , which aim PRESS RELEASE Dec 5, 2025 Why PBM Reform, not MFN, is a Viable Path to Affordable Drug Access More than half of American adults manage multiple chronic conditions . The prevalence is enough to strain the U.S. healthcare system and challenge patient access to new treatments. To compound the issue, pharmacy benefit managers (PBMs) and others siphon nearly half of every dollar spent on brand-name drugs, driving up costs for patients. Reform for how Americans access drugs is a primary topic in Washington. Of the two trending options on the table, only one puts patients fi BLOG Dec 4, 2025 Getting to the Heart of the Matter: Maternal Health Challenges for Black Women Imperative to Fight Against Chronic Disease Becoming a new mother is often described as one of life’s most extraordinary experiences. Yet for many women, the period following childbirth is also marked by profound physical, emotional, and systemic challenges. As chronic diseases become increasingly common contributors to maternal complications and mortality, understanding and addressing the broader social determinants of health is essential to addressing the realities, especially those facing Black mothers and their bab BLOG Dec 1, 2025 PFCD Responds on IPAY 2027 and Impacts for People Living with Chronic Disease November 26, 2025 (WASHINGTON, D.C.) The Partnership to Fight Chronic Disease (PFCD) released the following statement in response to the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services’ (CMS) announcement of the “maximum fair prices” for the 15 drugs selected for Medicare price-setting in 2027 under the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA): “Nearly 88% of U.S. adults aged 65+ rely on prescription medicines monthly, with 40% using five or more. When considering how best to improve overal PRESS RELEASE Nov 25, 2025 Alzheimer’s Screening and Prevention (ASAP) Act Would Advance Early Detection and Streamline Access to Alzheimer's Care November 25, 2025 (WASHINGTON, D.C.) The Partnership to Fight Chronic Disease (PFCD) issued the following statement in response to the introduction of the Alzheimer’s Screening and Prevention (ASAP) Act, legislation co-sponsored by Senators Susan Collins (R-ME), Catherine Cortez Masto (D-NV), Shelly Moore Capito (R-WV), Mark Warner (D-VA), and Representatives Vern Buchanan (R-FL) and Paul Tonko (D-NY) to empower Medicare to cover FDA-approved blood-based biomarker tests for PRESS RELEASE Nov 24, 2025 America is Not an Outlier in Key Drug Spending Metric The U.S. spends more on healthcare than any other nation, but that doesn’t mean it overspends on medicine. According to the new IQVIA Drug Expenditure Dynamics 2000 - 2022 report, 15% of America’s overall healthcare spending is allocated to drug expenditures. That percentage was also the average among the 12 developed countries IQVIA studied. This means the U.S., when accounting for its overall healthcare spending, is not an outlier in how much it spends on drugs. By co BLOG Nov 20, 2025 PFCD Statement on the GENEROUS Model: Importing Foreign Pricing Models is Not the Answer Nov. 12, 2025 (WASHINGTON, D.C.) The Partnership to Fight Chronic Disease (PFCD) released the following statement in response to the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services’ (CMS) announcement of a new demonstration through the CMS Innovation Center, the GENErating cost Reductions fOr US Medicaid (GENEROUS) Model: “Given PFCD’s well-documented opposition to importing foreign price controls, we have strong concerns about CMS’s proposed GENEROUS Model, which would tie Medica PRESS RELEASE Nov 12, 2025 Big Changes Coming to Medicare Drug Plans in 2026 Medicare Open Enrollment starts this week and changes coming in 2026 warrant close consideration. Many will face fewer choices and higher costs, particularly for people who rely on traditional Medicare and purchase stand-alone prescription drug plans. Slightly less than half of Medicare’s 63 million beneficiaries enroll in traditional or fee-for-service Medicare (Parts A and B) compared to Medicare Advantage plans (Part C). Among rural beneficiaries, traditional Medicare is p BLOG Oct 15, 2025 PFCD Fact Sheet: Building a Stronger Future Through Prevention and Innovation Childhood health lays the foundation for lifelong health, influencing whether adults thrive or struggle with preventable disease. A solid... BLOG Oct 7, 2025 Prevention Should Be Primary, But Making America Healthy Requires Much More Than That Sept. 11, 2025 (WASHINGTON, D.C.) The Partnership to Fight Chronic Disease (PFCD) has released the following statement in response to the... PRESS RELEASE Sep 12, 2025 Gutting Medi-Cal’s weight loss drug coverage will cost California more in the long run By Kenneth Thorpe https://calmatters.org/commentary/2025/08/weight-loss-drugs-medi-cal/ California just cut off access to critical anti-obesity drugs for hundreds of thousands of patients. Under the new budget signed by Gov. Gavin Newsom, Medi-Cal — the state’s Medicaid program — would no longer cover weight loss drugs, such as Wegovy and Zepbound, unless they’re prescribed to treat diabetes. The measure is intended to promote fiscal responsibility . By cutting this drug cov Aug 27, 2025 “Most Favored Nation” Drug Pricing Policy Threatens Access, Increases Discrimination, and Undercuts Efforts to Make America Healthy August 1, 2025 (Washington, D.C.) The Partnership to Fight Chronic Disease (PFCD) issued the following statement in response to... Aug 1, 2025 Partnership to Fight Chronic Disease Applauds Senate HELP Hearing on Costly Systemic Abuse July 31, 2025 (Washington, D.C.) The Partnership to Fight Chronic Disease (PFCD) has issued the following statement in response to the... Jul 31, 2025 Critical Moment Looms for MAHA Commission, U.S. Mental Health There is never a wrong time to talk about mental health. For millions of Americans, the challenge exists daily, shaping how they connect... Jul 24, 2025 What They Are Saying about "Most Favored Nation" The Partnership to Fight Chronic Disease opposes the Trump administration’s “Most Favored Nation” drug pricing proposal because it would... Jun 19, 2025 5 Things to Know: The MAHA Report More than 40% of U.S. children and adolescents have at least one chronic health condition , such as asthma, allergies, obesity, and... BLOG Jun 5, 2025 Fighting Alzheimer’s Shouldn’t be a Bureaucratic Battle By Candace DeMatteis, PFCD Policy Director Alzheimer’s disease is a devastating fatal disease, causing progressive... BLOG May 22, 2025 Partnership to Fight Chronic Disease Urges Lawmakers to Address Ongoing Gaps that Undermine Patient Access and Innovation, Build on Reforms May 15, 2025 (WASHINGTON, D.C.) – The Partnership to Fight Chronic Disease (PFCD) today issued the following statement in response to the... PRESS RELEASE May 15, 2025 Partnership to Fight Chronic Disease Urges President Trump to Withdraw "Most Favored Nation" Executive Order Threatening Innovation and Patient Access to Treatment May 12, 2025 (Washington, D.C.) The Partnership to Fight Chronic Disease (PFCD ) issued the following statement in strong opposition to... PRESS RELEASE May 12, 2025 Medicaid Patients at Risk of Losing Ground Against Chronic Disease There is no ignoring the facts. The United States faces a chronic disease crisis, and the Trump administration is correct to prioritize... BLOG May 8, 2025 Partnership to Fight Chronic Disease Urges Policy Makers to Protect Medicaid, Reject Most Favored Nation Pricing Proposal and Prioritize Patient Access May 5, 2025 (Washington, D.C.) The Partnership to Fight Chronic Disease (PFCD) today called on Congressional leaders and the Trump... PRESS RELEASE May 5, 2025 May 19 Webinar - Medicare Prescription Payment Plan: What New Data Tells Us About Access and Cost FULL VIDEO RECORDING The Medicare Prescription Payment Plan: What New Data Tells Us About Access and Cost EVENT May 2, 2025 Statement from Former Rep. Larry Bucshon, MD, in Response to Trump Administration Executive Order April 18, 2025 (Washington, D.C.) The Partnership to Fight Chronic Disease released the following statement on behalf of PFCD policy... PRESS RELEASE Apr 18, 2025 Chronic Disease Patients Prioritized in Trump Administration Executive Order Successfully addressing the true cost drivers in health care requires policies that recognize the promise of small molecules and stop the... PRESS RELEASE Apr 16, 2025 April 30 - Symposium: Prevention & Treatment of Chronic Disease in the Southeast PFCD Chair Ken Thorpe & the Partnership to Fight Chronic Disease (PFCD) invites you to join us for this hybrid event focused on an array... EVENT Apr 15, 2025 Partnership to Fight Chronic Disease Statement on Americans’ Access to Anti-Obesity Medications April 4, 2025 (Washington, D.C.) – The Partnership to Fight Chronic Disease (PFCD) released the following statement in response to the... PRESS RELEASE Apr 3, 2025 New Poll: Majority of Seniors with Medicare Prescription Drug Coverage Remain Unaware of New Payment Options Results Show Interest in the Medicare Prescription Payment Plan Increases as American Seniors Learn More About It April 3, 2025... PRESS RELEASE Apr 2, 2025 New Research Shows Prescription Drug Affordability Boards Will NOT Benefit Patients Findings Show Upper Payment Limits (UPLs) Could Increase Costs and Restrict Access to Critical Medicines March 31, 2025 (Washington,... PRESS RELEASE Mar 30, 2025 America has both an obesity and health care cost problem. Their coexistence is not coincidental. New data application from a recent study further illuminates the relationship between the two... BLOG Feb 20, 2025 Biden Administration’s Latest List of Drugs Selected for Medicare Pricing Exacerbates Access and Innovation Risks to People Living with Cancers & Other Chronic Diseases January 17, 2025 (WASHINGTON, D.C.) Today, the Partnership to Fight Chronic Disease (PFCD) released the following statement in response... PRESS RELEASE Jan 16, 2025 NEW ANALYSIS SHOWS WEIGHT LOSS SAVES EMPLOYERS AND MEDICARE HEALTH CARE COSTS Modest weight loss among adults with obesity cuts health care spending by 15%, reduces costs across comorbidities December 5, 2024... PRESS RELEASE Dec 5, 2024 New Poll: Bipartisan Majority Believes Medicare Beneficiaries Should Have Access to FDA-approved Early Alzheimer's Medications the Same Way They Do for All Other Diseases American voters are willing to pay more to ensure access and want Congress to step in if Medicare continues restricting access to... PRESS RELEASE Oct 9, 2024 Chronic Disease Patient Groups Call on Congress to Protect Small Molecule Medicine Access and Innovation September 13, 2024 (Washington, DC) The Partnership to Fight Chronic Disease (PFCD) released the following statement upon delivery of a... PRESS RELEASE Sep 12, 2024 NEW DATA ILLUSTRATE HUMAN IMPACTS OF FEWER TREATMENTS RESULTING FROM INFLATION REDUCTION ACT’S PRICE CONTROLS Case studies highlight peril to treatment advances across several disease states August 14, 2024 (WASHINGTON, DC) The Partnership to... PRESS RELEASE Aug 14, 2024 Prescription Drug Affordability Board might not deliver savings to patients By Hannah Pfeiffer and Candace DeMatteis June 5, 2024 Boulder Daily Camera A group of unelected state officials is pondering a decision... BLOG Jun 4, 2024 New Insurer Perspectives Highlight Considerable Patient Challenges Anticipated from Prescription Drug Affordability Boards April 2, 2024 (Washington, DC) Today the Partnership to Fight Chronic Disease (PFCD) released a new white paper, “ Health Plans... PRESS RELEASE Apr 1, 2024 PRESERVING ACCESS TO SMALL MOLECULE MEDICINES CRITICAL FOR PEOPLE LIVING WITH CHRONIC CONDITIONS February 1, 2024 (Washington, D.C.) Today the Partnership to Fight Chronic Disease (PFCD) applauded Representatives Greg Murphy (R-NC),... PRESS RELEASE Jan 31, 2024 NEW ANALYSIS FINDS ACCELERATED APPROVAL DRUGS DO NOT DRIVE MEDICAID SPENDING Findings Published in Health Affairs Forefront Precedent-setting policies to restrict access to accelerated approval drugs do not reduce... PRESS RELEASE Jun 2, 2022 Compromising Patient Access Is Not a Path Forward for Alzheimer’s Disease CMS decision harms current and future treatment options for Alzheimer's and other chronic disease populations April 8, 2022 (Washington,... PRESS RELEASE Apr 7, 2022 NEURODEGENERATIVE DISEASE COSTS EXCEED $655 BILLION A YEAR IN MEDICAL EXPENSES AND ECONOMIC LOSSES Lack of cures combined with minimal viable treatments compounds increasing health and caregiving costs May 27, 2021 (WASHINGTON, D.C.)... PRESS RELEASE May 26, 2021 NEW ANALYSIS OF MEDICAID SPENDING REINFORCES VALUE AND PATIENT IMPACT OF FDA ACCELERATED APPROVAL PATHWAY Data support preserving access to accelerated approval drugs for the seriously ill Commentary in the American Journal of Managed Care... PRESS RELEASE Mar 29, 2021

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 > OBESITY Obesity #Fight4Health: In 2013, the American Medical Association declared obesity a disease. Since then, the prevalence and impacts of this disease have been even further widespread. Policy support on the national and state level is urgently needed to better address this costly chronic disease. Obesity in the U.S. amounts to about $173 billion a year in healthcare costs. Obesity spans all ages and ethnicities. PETITION PFCD Requests Meeting with Dr. Oz VIDEO Obe$ity in America: Making Cost Reducation a Reality BLOG America Has Both an Obesity and a Health Care Cost Problem TAKE ACTION Making America Healthy Can't Wait - Petition & Letter Opportunities WEBINAR Weighing In: How Can We Make the Most Impact on Obesity? INFOGRAPHIC Obe$ity is an increasingly costly disease JOURNAL 12/5/24: JAMA Network Estimated Reduction in Health Care Spending Associated with Weight Los in Adults PRESS RELEASE 12/5/24: New Analysis Shows Weight Loss Saves Employers and Medicare Health Care Costs 2/26/24 PFCD Chair Ken Thorpe in Medical Economics "The burden of obesity isn't measured just in pounds" 2/26/24 PFCD Chair Ken Thorpe in Medical Economics "The burden of obesity isn't measured just in pounds" 11/14/2023 American Medical Association (AMA) urges insurance coverage parity for emerging obesity treatment options NIDDK Overweight & Obesity Statistics 2023 CDC Adult Obesity Prevalence Maps U.S. DATA MAP:

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 > DEFINING "UNMET MEDICAL NEED" Defining "Unmet Medical Need" Patients, people with disabilities, and their caregivers want their experiences and outcomes that matter to them to be considered when the government or other payers make decisions about their treatments. The Inflation Reduction Act (IRA) directs the U.S. Federal government to establish the price for some of the highest selling drugs in the Medicare program based on a number of factors including whether the drug serves an “unmet medical need” relative to other therapeutic options. This report highlights the perspectives of the patient community on “unmet medical needs” based on survey research and public comments from patient advocacy groups and compares those findings to the government’s proposed approach to consider unmet medical needs under the IRA. WHITE PAPER Defining "Unmet Medical Need" in the Inflation Reduction Act for the Maximum Fair Price Reflecting Patient Input

Most Favored Nation Resources Blog Posts "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 Chronic Voices, Critical Choices 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 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 May 12, 2025 May 5, 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. 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 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.

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 > HEART DISEASE Heart Disease According to a recent report commissioned by the American Heart Association, costs associated with heart disease in the U.S. will reach $818.1 billion a year by 2030. Most of these costs are associated with the treatment of high blood pressure, which the report states are predicted to increase to $389 billion by 2030. Cardiovascular disease is largely a preventable chronic disease, yet the report warns that the number of heart disease cases will grow by 10 percent over the next 20 years if nothing is done. High Blood Pressure: What You Need to Know Blood pressure is the force of our blood being pushed against the artery walls when our heart beats. However, when the heart must exert more force to pump blood through the arteries, high blood pressure, or hypertension, may occur. Left unchecked, this can lead to various health concerns, most notably heart attack and stroke. Fortunately, there are many ways you can help reduce your blood pressure to healthy levels. Read the full article here .

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 9/13/24 Sign-on Letter to Congress Infographic EPIC Act Needed to Protect Access to Medications for People Living with Chronic Conditions Webinar Preserving Incentives for Development and Accessibility of Small Molecule Medicines Opinion Editorial By Tweaking the IRA, This Legislation Could Save Lives, The Well News, May 1, 2024 Press Release (9/13/24) Chronic Disease Patient Groups Call on Congress to Protect Small Molecule Medicine Access and Innovation Press Release (2/1/24) Preserving Access to Small Molecule Medicines Critical for People Living with Chronic Conditions

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 > DEFINING "UNMET MEDICAL NEED" U.S. Burden of Neurodegenerative Disease Neurodegenerative disease arises when nerve cells in the brain or other parts of the nervous system lose function and eventually die. Currently available treatments may relieve some of the associated symptoms, but there are no known cures. Neurodegenerative disease (Alzheimer’s disease and related dementias or ADRD, Parkinson’s disease and motor neuron diseases including amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, spinal muscular atrophy, hereditary spastic paraplegia, primary lateral sclerosis, progressive muscular atrophy, and pseudobulbar palsy) collectively affected 4.7 to 6.0 million individuals in the U.S. between 2016-2017. These diseases were responsible for 272,644 deaths and 3,011,484 disability adjusted life years in 2016. LITERATURE REVIEW U.S. Burden of Neurodegenerative Disease INFOGRAPHIC Neurodegenerative Disease Costs Exceed $655 Billion a Year in Medical Expenses and Economic Losses PRESS RELEASE Neurodegenerative Disease Costs Exceed $655 Billion a Year in Medical Expenses and Economic Losses

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 > NATIONAL PANDEMIC PREPAREDNESS STRATEGY STATEMENT OF PRINCIPLES National Pandemic Preparedness Strategy Statement of Principles To anticipate and prepare for future pandemics, the United States needs to develop an effective National Pandemic Preparedness Strategy (NPPS) focused not only on the infectious pathogen, but also resulting, collateral health care challenges we can anticipate. National health emergencies threaten everyone, but pose a particularly acute danger to those with chronic and underlying conditions and those facing barriers to accessing care and other health disparities. BACKGROUND National Pandemic Preparedness Strategy Statement of Principles

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 Who We Are PFCD Team Kenneth Thorpe, PhD, Chair Candace DeMatteis, Policy Director Jennifer Burke, Communications Director PFCD Partners PFCD is a 501(c)4 not-for-profit organization. The following list includes organizations we have partnered with on various projects and programs since PFCD's inception in 2007 but does not imply support for all of our public policy initiatives. Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics Advanced Medical Technology Association (AdvaMed) Alliance for Aging Research Alliance for Patient Access Alzheimer's Foundation of America American Academy of Family Physicians American Academy of Nursing American Association of Colleges of Nursing American Association of Colleges of Pharmacy American Association of Diabetes Educators American Association of Nurse Practitioners Autoimmune Association American Cancer Society Cancer Action Network American College of Lifestyle Medicine American College of Physicians American College of Preventive Medicine American Dental Education Association American Geriatrics Society American Kidney Fund American Medical Association American Medical Women's Association American Osteopathic Association American Pharmacists Association Foundation American Sleep Apnea Association American Society of Addiction Medicine American Society of Health-System Pharmacists America's Agenda: Health Care for All Arthritis Foundation Asian Pacific American Institute for Congressional Studies (APAICS) Association of State and Territorial Public Health Nutrition Directors Astellas Pharma Inc. Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America Biotechnology Industry Organization Building Healthier America Caregivers Action Network Community Health Charities The COSHAR Foundation Dialysis Patient Citizens Easter Seals Eisai Inc Eli Lilly Endometriosis Association FasterCures Genesis Philanthropy GlaxoSmithKline Healthcare Leadership Council HolaDoctor Integrated Benefits Institute International Association of Fire Fighters International Health, Racquet & Sportsclub Association Johnson & Johnson LeadingAge League of United Latin American Citizens (LULAC) The Leapfrog Group Lupus Foundation of America Marshfield Clinic Medical Fitness Association Men's Health Network Mental Health America Milken Institute NAACP National Alliance for Caregiving National Alliance of State Pharmacy Associations National Asian Pacific Center on Aging National Association of Chronic Disease Directors National Association of Manufacturers National Association of Public Hospitals and Health Systems National Association of VA Physicians and Dentists National Black Nurses Association National Caucus and Center on Black Aged National Coalition for Promoting Physical Activity National Community Pharmacists Association National Council for Mental Wellbeing National Forum for Heart Disease & Stroke Prevention National Health Council National Health Foundation National Health Policy Group / Special Needs Plan Alliance National Hispanic Council on Aging National Hispanic Medical Association National Indian Council on Aging National Kidney Foundation National Medical Association National Minority Quality Forum National Pharmaceutical Council National Recreation and Park Association NTM Info & Research (NTMir) The Ohio State University Ovarian Cancer National Alliance Pharmaceutical Research and Manufacturers of America Pharos Innovations Pharmaceutical Industry Labor-Management Association (PILMA) Population Health Alliance Prevent Blindness America ProMedica RetireSafe Sepsis Alliance Sheet Metal Workers International Association Sporting Goods Manufacturers Association STOP Obesity Alliance Takeda Pharmaceuticals U.S. Chamber of Commerce U.S. Preventive Medicine Vision Council of America WomenHeart YMCA of the USA