State of the Patient
Healthcare in America fails too many people, especially those who need it most. Too often, decisions about cost, access, and treatment are shaped by systems and institutions rather than the needs of patients.
The healthcare system exists to serve patients.
These ten commitments guide our work to build a system that puts patients first—every time.
Principles Driving Everything We Do
These commitments guide everything we do—from policy engagement and patient training to fly-ins, storytelling, and the issues we choose to take on.
Together they confront the root problems in healthcare—hidden costs, waste, delays, and power in the wrong places—so patients can access care that is affordable, timely, and effective.
Patients Come First
Judge every policy, payment, and decision by one standard: Does it improve outcomes, access, affordability, and the well-being of patients?
Clarity Builds Better Care
Patients need to clearly understand healthcare costs, payments, and where the money goes—so everyone involved can make smarter choices that put patients first.
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Fund the Patient
When healthcare dollars follow the patient in planned, routine, or chronic care needs: the system gets efficient and focused on results.
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Access to Medical Innovation
Innovation is moving quickly, and the path from discovery to patient care should move just as fast. Policies should expand access to clinical trials and modernize regulatory processes so effective treatments reach patients sooner.
American Leadership in Medical Innovation
America must lead the world in developing and delivering new medical breakthroughs. Strong incentives for research, smart regulation, and policies that reward true innovation keep the U.S. at the forefront so patients here gain access to the world’s best treatments first.
Secure and Reliable Medical Supply Chains
Patients can't afford shortages or disruptions in drugs, devices, or supplies. Build resilient, domestic-focused supply chains with transparency on sourcing and backups—so critical treatments stay available, prices stay stable, and patients aren't left without what they need during crises.
Competition and Choice
Open up options so patients can pick providers, plans, and treatments that fit them best. Real competition cuts costs and raises quality. Patients shouldn't be locked into limited networks or forced picks.
Accountability for Public Programs
Public healthcare programs should be judged by one standard: whether they improve care for patients. That means measuring real outcomes, reducing waste, and ensuring taxpayer dollars lead to better access, affordability, and results.
Patient Voice in Policy
Healthcare decisions should not be made without input from the people most affected by them. Patients and caregivers offer essential insight that policymakers should actively seek and incorporate.
Care For the Most Vulnerable.
For the most vulnerable among us—seniors on fixed incomes, people living with chronic illness, families with limited resources, and people with disabilities—healthcare in America is not working. Focus resources where need is greatest: real treatment and support, not endless paperwork.