Cancer can impose staggering emotional and financial burdens on patients and their families. An enterprising, multidisciplinary team at Massachusetts General Hospital is helping patients meet the challenges of financing treatment so they can focus on healing and quality of life.
The Financial Care Coordination Pilot Team includes finance, admissions and administrative staff, as well as nurses. In a pilot program, they examined public and private sector payment schemes for complex cancer treatments, including novel diagnostic and treatment modalities. Guided by their findings, the team devised an innovative process that helps patients streamline access to applicable insurance, obtain prior authorizations and, as appropriate, secure insurer coverage of novel, life-extending therapies.
Stephen Buonopane, Nancy Connery, Beverly Hudson, RN, Joe Ianelli, Theresa McDonnell, ACNP, Ellen McLaughlin, Emelia Peck, Paul Pecoraro, Joe Scorzoni and Annette Smith, RN, are the talented and motivated members of this team. Dogged problem-solvers determined to ease the ordeal of patients coping with cancer, they worked countless hours to amass and analyze an array of data, negotiate with internal and external decision-makers, and craft a practical solution that will bring peace of mind to patients and their families.
