Enhancing Access to Lung Cancer Treatments and Care | 01.20.26 | Living Room® скачать в хорошем качестве

Enhancing Access to Lung Cancer Treatments and Care | 01.20.26 | Living Room®

The First Answer Isn't the Final Answer: Navigating Barriers to Treatment Navigating a lung cancer diagnosis is incredibly challenging, but the financial and bureaucratic hurdles of life-saving medication shouldn't be the end of the road. In this episode of the Lung Cancer Living Room*, titled *“Enhancing Access to Lung Cancer Treatments and Care,” we sit down with a specialized medication access team from Memorial Healthcare System to discuss how patients can overcome systemic obstacles to care. The core message of this discussion is one of empowerment: *"Where there's a will, there's a way"*. The experts emphasize that you should never take the first “no”—whether it comes from an insurance company or a drug manufacturer—as the final answer. While despair can set in after an initial denial, this team explains how they fight to prove that resources exist to ensure no patient is left behind. KEY RESOURCES FOR OVERCOMING ACCESS BARRIERS Manufacturer Assistance Programs: Many pharmaceutical companies offer “free drug” programs for those who are uninsured or meet specific income criteria. Grants and Foundations: Specialized oncology grants can help cover co-pays and deductibles, which is especially critical for Medicare patients. Co-pay Assistance Cards: For patients with commercial insurance, manufacturer co-pay cards can significantly reduce out-of-pocket expenses. Bridge Therapy: If an insurance appeal is delayed, “bridge” programs can provide temporary medication at no cost so that treatment can start immediately. Medicare Prescription Payment Plans: These plans allow patients to spread their medication costs over 12 months, making them more manageable. MEET OUR GUESTS FROM MEMORIAL HEALTHCARE SYSTEM Claudia Theodule, RPhT, CPhT-Adv: A Medication Access Specialist with 18 years of experience, specializing in infusion medication access and co-pay assistance. Cynthia Montenegro, RPhT, CPhT-Adv: A Medication Access Specialist with 14 years of experience, primarily working with prior authorizations and insurance appeals. Diamondnique Darville, RPhT, CPhT: A Medication Access Specialist with 19 years of experience, focused on grant enrollment and patient support across the health system. Jennifer Ghandour, PharmD, CPh: An Ambulatory Clinical Pharmacy Specialist in Hematology/Oncology who manages oral therapies and clinical education. CHAPTERS 00:00 - The Power of Persistence: Why the first "no" is never the final answer 01:40 - Enhancing Access to Care: Introducing the Memorial Healthcare team 05:49 - The Reality of Costs: Addressing $20,000+ monthly medication hurdles 07:57 - Success Story: Securing $104,000 in treatment free of charge through an appeal 10:23 - Insurance Obstacles: Understanding why denials happen 11:41 - Step Therapy and Formularies: Decoding how insurers choose drug coverage 12:45 - The Workflow: The step-by-step process from initial diagnosis to medication delivery 15:15 - Winning the Appeal: Using clinical data and "peer-to-peer" reviews to secure approval 20:34 - Timelines and Bridge Therapy: Strategies to ensure zero delays in your treatment plan 24:23 - Finding Your Team: How to identify an access specialist at your own treatment facility 27:36 - Self-Advocacy: How to research manufacturer programs and foundations independently 31:51 - GO2 for Lung Cancer: National resources and support available for those facing access challenges 40:08 - Replacing Despair with Resources: Why patients should never sell personal assets before checking for assistance 45:47 - Final Thoughts: Empowerment through clinical partnership and persistent advocacy NEED SUPPORT? If you are struggling to access or afford your prescribed medication, you are not alone. GO2 for Lung Cancer is here to help with one-on-one support. Just call or email: HelpLine: 1-800-298-2436 Email: support@go2.org