National Patient Advocate Foundation has a working relationship with over 100 organizations in Washington DC. Nancy Davenport-Ennis, President & CEO of NPAF, as well as NPAF staff members, have been appointed to several federally chartered or appointed working groups to provide public input to national policies. These appointments include:

• Alliance for a Stronger FDA - The alliance was organized in January 2008 after two separate alliances merged together.  Alliance members share mutual concerns related to the FDA's diminished resources and increasing workload, the erosion of public health protections, and slowed innovation at the expense of the patient.  The Alliance is urging Congress to increase the FDA's appropriations in order to ensure adequate funding for new public health initiatives, to protect patients, and assure access to safe medical therapies.  NPAF has been a member since 2008.  More Information
• Access to Medical Imaging Coalition (AMIC)- The coalition was organized in 2006, soon after Congress passed the Deficit Reduction Act of 2005, which significantly reduced the level of funding for medical imaging services provided in independent imaging facilities and physician offices. AMIC represents more than 75,000 patients, physicians, and medical providers throughout the U.S. The coalition conducts public affairs, advocacy, and educational activities to address these payment reductions. NPAF has been a member of AMIC since 2006. More Information
• American Health Information Community (AHIC) - A federally-chartered advisory committee formed to help advance efforts to reach President Bush's call for most Americans to have electronic health records within ten years. Provides input and recommendations to the Department of Health and Human Services on how to make health records digital and interoperable, and assures that the privacy and security of those records are protected (two year appointment). Nancy Davenport-Ennis currently serves as the Co-Chair of the Consumer Empowerment Working Group. Ms. Davenport-Ennis was appointed to AHIC by the U.S. Secretary of Health and Human Services. More Information
• Campaign for Public Health - Launched in 2004, the campaign is comprised of prominent leaders in the public health and business communities who are dedicated to advocating for legislation that will accelerate the growth of federal appropriations for the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).  NPAF has been a member of the Campaign since 2008.  More Information
• Cancer Leadership Council (CLC) - Formed in 1993 to voice the concerns of cancer survivors during the health care reform debate. The CLC is engaged in a wide range of issues, but they all relate to a fundamental goal of ensuring cancer patients access to high quality care. More than thirty-three groups, including cancer patient organizations, professional societies, and research organizations, have joined the CLC and help set the agenda and develop positions which represent the consensus of the groups. NPAF has been a member of CLC since 1996. More Information
• Coalition for Imaging & Bioengineering Research (CIBR) - The coalition was created to foster advances in imaging and bioengineering.  CIBR members recognize the enormous potential to further revolutionize patient care and biomedical research through the development of new technologies by the National Institute of Biomedical Imaging and Bioengineering, other NIH institutes, and throughout the federal research community.  CIBR members will advocate for research that can bring the technology of tomorrow to the health care needs of today. More Information
• Director's Consumer Liaison Group (DCLG) - Members are involved in cancer advocacy and represent a constituency with which they communicate on a regular basis. The group advises, assists, consults with, and makes recommendations to the Director, National Cancer Institute, from the perspective and viewpoint of cancer consumer advocates (four year appointment). Nancy Davenport-Ennis currently serves this appointment. More Information
• Health IT Now! Coalition - Established in June 2007 to promote the rapid deployment of health information technology (Health IT), the Coalition unites patients, practitioners and employers.  Former Representative Nancy Johnson and former Senator John Breaux are co-chairs of the Coalition which supports federal legislation to promote a connected Health IT system. NPAF has been a member since 2007.  More Information
• Medicare Evidence Development & Coverage Advisory Committee (MedCAC) - Chartered in 1998 by the Secretary of Health and Human Services and advises the Center for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) on whether specific medical items and services are reasonable and necessary under Medicare law (two year appointment). NPAF advocated for patients to serve as voting members on MedCAC in 2005. As a result, today four national patient groups have voting seats on MedCAC with NPAF holding one of those seats. Nancy Davenport-Ennis is the current appointee. More Information
• Partnership to Fight Chronic Disease - Established in May 2007 to raise awareness of policies and practices that save lives and reduce health costs through more effective prevention and management of chronic disease.  PFCD is a national coalition of patients, providers, community organizations, business and labor groups and health policy experts.  NPAF has been a member since 2008. More Information
• Translational Research Working Group - Established in summer 2005 to conduct a discussion with the broader cancer research community to develop recommendations about how the National Cancer Institute can best organize its investment to further "translational research." The appointment was eighteen months and the last meeting was convened in January 2007. More Information
• Virginia Governor's Health Information Technology Council - Created in July 2006 to conduct a study and advise the Governor and the General Assembly on health information technology matters. The primary objectives of the council are to establish an interoperability framework, encourage public-private partnerships to increase adoption of electronic medical records and encourage vendors and entrepreneurs to build to the national certification standards for Healthcare Information Technology as well as identify areas where health information technology can lower health care costs for the state (two year appointment). More Information
• Virginia Attorney General's Regulatory & Government Reform Task Force - Formed in August 2006 as a long-term effort to reduce unnecessary and obsolete regulations in the state of Virginia, and to limit the regulatory burden on Virginia businesses and citizens. Nancy Davenport-Ennis serves on the Healthcare Working Group (two year appointment).

Since 2004,NPAF has served as the host organization of a 42 member healthcare research coalition, the Global Access Project, that has completed six national research studies to date.