What is the Global Access Project?

In February 2004, the National Patient Advocate Foundation established the Global Access Project (GAP), a neutral research entity whose mission, past, present and future, is to complete independent research projects by nationally respected and recognized experts in specific fields of health care. The research projects are designed to provide specific information relative to reimbursement; access to quality healthcare; national trends in access to health care including clinical trials; changes in treatment sites of care; and research to define deficiencies in the current coding structure of reimbursement. To date, seven studies have been completed and the findings presented to key officials in Administration, Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS), Medicare Payment Advisory Commission (MedPAC), and Congressional Committees of jurisdiction on healthcare.

From inception, National Patient Advocate Foundation assembled a GAP stakeholder group of 40 organizations. Today, 42 organizations are part of the GAP stakeholder group. GAP studies have been frequently cited by national stakeholders including: US Oncology, International Oncology Network (ION), Oncology Nursing Society, Leukemia & Lymphoma Society, NPAF and members of industry. GAP studies have been consistently labeled as non-branded, neutral and unbiased. Additionally, GAP studies are well received by the major decision makers in Washington D.C. including committees with jurisdiction over healthcare issues, CMS, MedPAC and the Administration. These stakeholder groups have requested that these studies continue.