FY 2026 Healthcare Funding: Progress for Patients with Rare and Chronic Conditions

Accessia Health welcomes the completion of FY 2026 healthcare funding and continued federal investment in research, care delivery, and access for people living with rare and chronic conditions. For the patients and families we serve, these investments support earlier diagnoses, more timely care, and progress toward a more responsive healthcare system.

We are encouraged by the significant funding for the National Institutes of Health, including research focused on rare diseases, cancer, and chronic conditions. Sustained funding to biomedical research remains essential to advancing early cancer detection, particularly for patients whose symptoms are often overlooked or misdiagnosed. Earlier identification improves outcomes, reduces long-term costs, and limits delays that can compound health challenges.

The package also strengthens the healthcare delivery infrastructure through investments in rural health systems, community health centers, and the healthcare workforce.  Expanded access to telemedicine is especially critical for patients with rare diseases and complex chronic conditions who often lack nearby specialists. Telehealth is not optional for these communities. It is a necessary tool to reduce disparities, improve continuity of care, and connect patients to appropriate expertise regardless of geography.

Also included are targeted funds for maternal and child health that support earlier identification, coordinated care, and treatment for children with complex health needs. These efforts strengthen the pipeline for pediatric innovation and reinforce the importance of timely access to care. For children living with rare and life-threatening conditions, prioritized regulatory review helps ensure that therapies reach patients without unnecessary delay, reducing the risk of long-term complications and missed treatment windows.

We view the PBM transparency and accountability provisions included as an important first step toward addressing pharmacy practices that contribute to higher costs and limit access at the pharmacy counter. However, greater oversight is necessary to ensure that federal programs and private plans operate in ways that prioritize patients rather than intermediaries.

At the same time, appropriations alone cannot address the full range of barriers patients face. Accessia Health will continue to work with policymakers on bipartisan reforms that improve health outcomes and lower costs, including advancing access to timely care, addressing utilization management barriers such as step therapy and prior authorization, and ensuring that patient assistance counts toward out-of-pocket obligations.

This funding package reflects progress in areas that align closely with Accessia Health’s advocacy priorities, including raising awareness of the patient communities we serve, advancing bipartisan solutions to improve access and affordability, and strengthening federal programs designed to meet the needs of diverse patient populations.

While additional work remains, this provides a foundation to build on. We look forward to continuing to work with Congress and federal agencies to advance practical, patient-centered solutions that improve access to care, accelerate innovation, and ensure that no patient is left behind due to cost, geography, or system complexity.