Stacey Tinianov, Founder, Advocates for Collaborative Education, shared on LinkedIn:

“Still flummoxed by an element of this slide shared by Matthew (Mateo) P. Banegas at last week’s ONS Congress in presentation ‘Addressing Financial Hardships Among Cancer Survivors’.

The slide was shared to show the 360° support provided to an individual with cancer as part of the Kaiser Permanente CAFÉ project. But I was struck, and still am, by the denial/appeal process for unemployment noted on the slide – and the way that this process has come to be accepted by patients, advocacy, and healthcare as normal.

This is a ‘reflex denial’ where someone is denied the first time simply because it is the first time. We speak openly about how ‘you’ll be denied the first time but just apply again.’

Reflex denials for permanent disability and procedure/treatment coverage have become normalized. We EXPECT to be denied the first time and EXPECT to appeal/reapply.
Yet, beyond the emotional toll of worry and waiting for the patient and their family, what is the energy, resource, and ultimately financial toll on the health system to participate in this ridiculous, sick dance day after day?

How many don’t know the steps to the dance and never reapply?

This is a systemic, hoop-jumping problem that can AND SHOULD be addressed with policy changes, not just navigation support. Who is studying FinancialToxicity and how can advocates help you collect this data, put a number on it, and drive change?

Also, if you’re interested, here is the link to the Project.”

Source: Stacey Tinianov/LinkedIn