Forecast 25 brought together advocates from 10 states and included, health care professionals, policy leaders, and community partners, all united by one goal: tackling key barriers to patients’ access to quality healthcare.
From the opening session to the final roundtable, the day was packed with forward-thinking conversations, honest insights, and a clear call to action for the year ahead.
Tackling Today’s Biggest Issues
Right away, we got to work tackling the main issues that we are facing today, with briefing sessions that focused on:
- 340B’s Rising Impact on Patients and Hospitals: Fauzea Hussain of McKesson walked attendees through the growing concerns of hospitals’ misuse of 340B, harming the people who need it most.
- Reforming the Unregulated Middlemen: Anthony Ciaccia of 3 Axis Advisors broke down how unregulated pharmacy benefit managers (PBMs) continue to distort drug pricing and what can be done to hold them accountable.
- CCPA Digital Campaign: Nick Garlow from Rational 360 shared how CCPA’s digital campaigns are harnessing data, storytelling, and strategy to amplify patient voices and shift the policy narrative, showcasing digital advocacy in action.
Looking Ahead: The Issues Forecast:
The “Issues Forecast” segment featured a dynamic lineup of speakers sharing insights on the policy road ahead and strategies to improve the lives of patients nationwide:
- Angela Snyder of Lesic & Camper Communications, offered a look at messaging wins in Ohio and how they could translate to other states.
- Liz Helms and Larry LaMotte of CCPA and California Chronic Care Association (CCCC), shared updates on coverage denials and reversal reporting, putting faces and stories to a persistent problem.
- Tom McCoy, of the Nevada Chronic Care Collaborative, covered the promise and potential of multi-cancer early detection (MCED) testing.
- Liz Helms (CCPA) also shared federal policy updates around the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA) and CMS listening sessions kept advocates informed about what’s unfolding in Washington.
- Keisha Vaughan, of KV Consulting, gave a powerful overview of how a new administration could impact rare disease care, vaccine access, and health equity for BIPOC communities.
- And, Cindy Komar of Arizona Chronic Care Together, brought focus to chronic disease treatment gaps—especially around obesity and the push to pass the Treat and Reduce Obesity Act (TROA).
Drug Affordability: A National Conversation
A key session on Prescription Drug Affordability Boards (PDABs) featured Mark Hobraczk (Director of Public Policy for AiArthritis) and Derek Flowers of Value of Care Coalition, moderated by CCPA’s Larry LaMotte. Together, they explored how states are leveraging PDABs to hold drug pricing structures accountable and how patient advocates can support this critical work.
Keynote Highlight: Pharmacists on the Front Lines
During the keynote, Crystal Lennartz, Pharm.D., MBA (McKesson) and Nancy Lyons, BS Pharm, MBA, CDCES from Health Mart delivered an inspiring talk on the evolving role of pharmacists in today’s healthcare landscape. They shared firsthand how pharmacists are stepping up to overcome systemic barriers, advocating for patients, expanding access to care, and playing a critical role in chronic disease management. Their message was clear: with the right support and recognition, pharmacists can drive real change in communities across the country.
CCPA in Review: Progress and Possibility
In a look back over the year, Liz Helms, Keisha Vaughan, and Drake Sapigao (Perry Communications Group) shared key CCPA wins from the past year and the advocacy strategies that made them possible, highlighting the power of persistence, partnership, and patient-centered messaging.
Moving Forward Together
The final Partner Issue Roundtable was all about next steps: how to deepen collaboration, lift up each other’s work, and bring more partners into the fold.
The 2025 Forecast ended with a strong focus on what matters most, patients and the need for all patients to access the care and medications they need and deserve.
Throughout the day, every attendee played a part, sharing not only their expertise, but also their personal stories, ideas, and hopes for the future. The meeting underscored how much stronger our efforts become when advocacy groups and healthcare leaders work together toward a shared goal.
The challenges ahead are real, but with patients at the center and a dedicated community working together, real progress is already happening.