Hi Cathy, from my experience, the transplant case managers at the insurance company I worked for was very involved in all the logistics in this kind of situation. Assuming the care team supports the move, her transplant case manager should be researching and planning all that is required. Lots of moving parts….

Glad they have you to support them 🙂

For future referance:
These are the steps I would go through initially.
Find out if the client is listed in their state… How complicated is moving from a medical standpoint.
Ask care team their opinion on relocating
If they feel it is safe for the client to move ask them to contact the transplant centers in the destination city/state to see if…[Read more]

I forgot to mention that I connected with a TEN year survivor of stage 4 pancreatic cancer last week on Linked In. Elise lives in the Atlanta area and was dx in her 30’s!

She is a volunteer for PanCan (Media Relations) and has been interviewed frequently.

She may be a great resource to network with for anyone working with a PC patient and…[Read more]

Thanks so much Karen!!

Bonnie
Houston Health Advocacy

Your request seems to be more about appealing for more appropriate and effective treatment for your client outside their HMO? Learning to do appeals is one of the best things you can do. If you have a good command of oncology information, then take that information to prove that only doctors/facilities can adequately address your client’s…[Read more]

Thank you all. I am new to the forum. I specialize in rarer conditions in general so if the cause is unknown or the diagnosis is relatively rare that is my comfort zone. I started with these clients before the diagnosis was given, based on my conversations with the client and family I wanted to make sure that as they seem pretty happy? confident?…[Read more]

Great, important discussion. I also have a relative who is a survivor of pancreatic cancer – so rare but will hopefully become more common. From that case just as a concerned family member not a professional advocate, I saw up close how many factors will determine what’s the treatment approach or protocol for any individual patient.

@Bayla, how…[Read more]

My father was a five year survivor of pancreatic cancer. I learned so much from helping advocate for him. It was practically a full time job and very stressful. My father was stage III, went into remission for 3 years but had numerous battles, even while in remission. ( e g. internal bleeding from previous radiation, kidneys shutting down).…[Read more]

I agree with the previous post.
I have had and currently have several clients with pancreatic cancer, one of the most deadly.
I have helped my clients with the disease navigate their care and am familiar with the experts in the field and with ongoing trials.
Advocates without experience would do a prospective client with this disease a…[Read more]

I am sure this post will bring lots of discussion including possible criticism.

Bayla, I am not signaling you out, but rather using this post as an example of types of posts that are appearing with greater frequency.

Forgive me if I am wrong, but I suspect you are new to the field and learning. If I am correct, it is in that spirit that I am…[Read more]

Hi Bayla,

The Pancreatic Cancer Action Network https://www.pancan.org/ has some excellent resources. I also recommend that you get the patient in with a dietician because nausea, vomiting and trouble eating are very common. It is also important to find an oncologist and surgeon (hepatobiliary surgeon) who specialize in pancreatic cancer. You…[Read more]

Hi all. TR is possibly a modifier code. Or it might mean Temporary Rate? Treatment Room? This article is a good overview of how chargemasters work. Hospital Chargemaster Basics

Take care!
Karen Vogel

Here is the definition of what hospitals have to include in the price transparency files

hospital’s gross charges and payer-specific negotiated charges, as proposed, plus discounted cash prices, the de-identified minimum negotiated charge, and the de-identified maximum negotiated charge for all items and services provided by the hospital;

IP is…[Read more]

I’m also a pediatrician and I’ve got a patient I’m working with now who has sickle SS disease. She’s been maintained on every 4-6 week exchange transfusions for the last 8 years and has had no major problems and episodes of pain have only required Motrin. I cared for many Hispanic children in my practice but only a small number of African…[Read more]

I spoke to a “financial counselor” with the hospital and she DID NOT KNOW what all these abbreviations meant! Seriously!!! So they have a “cost estimator” so I’m going to try that tool to see if the charges were reasonable.

It would be good to know what these “costs” listed on their spreadsheet mean–so that looking at the insurance contracted…[Read more]

Yes! I LOVE to guide people through MD Anderson! It has become so large since I worked there—it’s really intimidating for new patients!

Hope your client gets the care she needs!