When Healthcare Talks, Patients Win: Advancing Medication Access Through Meaningful Dialogue

As I reflect on my time at HLTH USA 2025, I’m reminded that progress in healthcare isn’t just measured in innovation, it’s measured in impact. And while the industry has made meaningful strides, there is still much work to be done to ensure every patient feels seen, supported and prioritized in the system we’re building together.

I recently had the honor of representing CoverMyMeds on the “Patients Know First” panel session at this year’s event. I was joined by fellow industry leaders who share a commitment to shaping a healthcare future that puts patients at the center of every decision:

• Dr. Emily Aaronson, Chief Medical Officer, Walmart
• Bridget O’Connell, Director, Payer Relations and Business Development, Amazon Pharmacy
• And Dr. Mike Ybarra, Chief Medical Officer, PhRMA, who moderated our discussion

Together, we explored how the industry’s shift toward price transparency, driven by digital modernization and evolving channels, like direct-to-consumer, are reshaping the patient experience. We emphasized that complex pricing structures must resonate with patients lived experiences, ultimately creating a healthcare journey where patients feel empowered and informed. This approach is essential for building trust across stakeholders and making care more accessible. Here are three of my key takeaways from our conversation:

1. Dimensionalizing the Patient Journey: I shared how CoverMyMeds is helping to redefine the patient experience by seeing patients as more than their diagnosis, recognizing the many factors that influence how they access care, including the social determinants of health.
2. Persistent Barriers to Medication Access: I highlighted findings from the CoverMyMeds’ 2025 Medication Access Report, including that 65% of patients experienced delays in accessing their medications^{[0]CoverMyMeds Patient Survey, 2023}. I also shared how our extensive network connections and technology helped patients save more than $10 billion on brand and specialty medications,^{[0]CoverMyMeds data on file, 2025} prevented an estimated 12 million prescriptions from being abandoned due to affordability challenges,^{[0]CoverMyMeds data on file, 2024} and helped patients access their medicine more than 100 million times in the past year alone.^{[0]CoverMyMeds Patient Survey, 2023}
3. Industry-Wide Collaboration: As a panel, we agreed that solving for medication access barriers requires intentional collaboration across biopharma, providers, PBMs, health plans and pharmacies.

At CoverMyMeds, our mission is to help people get the medicine they need to live healthier lives. That starts with understanding what currently stands in the way and then designing solutions that meet people where they are. We’re at a critical moment where technology, public policy and the evolution of the patient journey are converging. Innovation alone isn’t enough; we need intentional action that considers the full spectrum of a patient’s experience.

For me, HLTH was a great opportunity to listen, learn and lead with a patient-first mindset. It was inspiring to connect with others who share our vision for a more compassionate and connected healthcare system.

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