Patient Access

Wooster, Ohio – November 06, 2026 -- PRC-Saltillo, an augmentative and alternative communication (AAC) technology maker founded in 1966, has partnered with the Team Gleason Foundation to expand awareness, education and access to assistive communication technology for people with ALS and their families.

Partnership targets shifting communication needs across the ALS journey

The companies say communication needs change as ALS progresses. Navigating technologies, resources and support can overwhelm patients, care partners and clinicians alike. The partnership will deliver educational opportunities, share expertise and raise awareness of available communication solutions.

Orlando – November 04, 2026 -- A single infusion of high-dose mesenchymal stromal cells (MSCs) produced treatment responses in nearly half of participants with refractory lupus, more than double the placebo rate, according to a Phase II trial funded by the Lupus Foundation of America (LFA). The results will be presented at the American College of Rheumatology (ACR) Convergence 2026 in Orlando, November 6-11.

MSC trial results support a confirmatory study

The multicenter, double-blind, placebo-controlled study (Abstract #LB17) will be presented by Dr. Gary Gilkeson on November 10. Its findings support further evaluation of high-dose MSCs in a confirmatory trial.

Prairieville, Louisiana – October 29, 2026 -- Hope Charities is backing H.R. 10549, a House bill that would bar commercial health plans from steering patients toward insurer- or PBM-owned specialty pharmacies, with the rules taking effect for plan years beginning on or after January 1, 2029.

Rep. Neal Dunn (R-FL) introduced the Patients Choice in Specialty Pharmacy Act on September 24, 2026, with Rep. Joe Wilson (R-SC) as an original cosponsor. The bill is with the House Committee on Energy and Commerce. Hope Charities is urging Congress to act and is asking members to cosponsor.

Boston – October 17, 2026 -- The MedTech Conference (#MTC26) in Boston this October will host its first dedicated gathering for chief medical officers, open to CMOs at AdvaMed member companies, according to Bobby Patrick, AdvaMed's SVP of Government Affairs.

Patient Pavilion carries stories from 13 named medtech companies

The Patient Pavilion in the exhibit hall will anchor the patient programming throughout the week. Patients will share experiences with technologies from Abbott, BD, Dexcom, Edwards Lifesciences, Insulet, Medtronic, Philips, Resmed, Siemens Healthineers, Smith+Nephew, Stryker, Solventum, Vantive and other companies. Attendees can see Philips' portable MRI technology up close.

One featured story involves a patient named Brittany, whose severe sleep apnea diagnosis explained years of exhaustion. Treatment restored her energy, confidence and independence.

United States – October 17, 2026 -- The ITEM Coalition, a bloc of 103 national organizations, has named Medicare coverage of standing systems in Group 3 power wheelchairs its top priority heading into 2027, after waiting six years for CMS to open a National Coverage Analysis.

Medicare's coverage gap leaves beneficiaries paying out of pocket

Medicare does not cover standing systems for Group 3 power wheelchairs, according to ITEM Coalition co-coordinator Michael Barnett. Beneficiaries with significant mobility impairments either bear substantial out-of-pocket costs or go without the technology. The coalition has a National Coverage Determination reconsideration request pending and says CMS is "well past time" to act.

London – October 13, 2026 -- Mothers in the U.K., Sweden and France report having 2-2.1 children on average, against the 2.8-2.9 they say they want, according to new data from the IVI Institute Fertility Barometer. The study surveyed 24,074 women aged 19 to 49 across nine countries.

IVI Institute, formerly IVI RMA Global, released the regional findings as it consolidates its clinics under a single name. Clinics will operate as IVI Fertility, Livio and Create Fertility as members of IVI Institute.

Women start families later than planned in all three markets

81-84% of women in the three countries are already mothers or want children, and 68-70% rate motherhood as a medium-high or high priority. Among women who reported a target age, 31-41% had their first child later than desired.

Los Angeles – – September 29, 2026 -- Congress has passed the Accelerating Access to Critical Therapies (ACT) for ALS Reauthorization Act of 2026 (H.R. 8205), sending the bipartisan bill to the President's desk just two days before the underlying program was set to expire on September 30, 2026.

Senate approval follows House passage, clearing the path for a presidential signature

The legislation cleared the U.S. House of Representatives before the Senate gave final approval, moving the bill to the President for signature. Once enacted, the law will extend core ACT for ALS programs through 2031, continuing federal support for ALS research infrastructure and expanded access to investigational therapies.

Washington – September 24, 2026 -- Bristol Myers Squibb (BMS) has joined the Rare Access Action Project (RAAP), adding a major biopharmaceutical player to a coalition working to resolve coverage and access barriers for rare disease patients.

RAAP expands coalition with BMS to tackle patient access barriers

RAAP, a coalition of patient advocates and life sciences companies, confirmed BMS's membership as part of its ongoing effort to develop policy solutions for structural access and coverage gaps affecting rare disease patients. Michael Eging, Executive Director of RAAP, said BMS brings a long history of scientific innovation and a strong commitment to patients facing serious and complex diseases.

NEW YORK – September 22, 2026 -- Zocdoc announced a platform expansion that makes healthcare providers bookable beyond Zocdoc.com through a single connection to its Care Access Network, which already includes Amazon Health AI, Gemini, Yelp, Healthgrades, Blue Shield of California and multiple search engines.

Patients now search for care across a growing number of fragmented channels

A new national Zocdoc survey found that 69% of patients who search for a new doctor check multiple places, from AI platforms and insurance directories to search engines and review sites. More than 1 in 3 patients have switched doctors because scheduling was too difficult, while 43% would consider switching to a provider that is easier to book.