Edward Painter, Chairman and Chief Operating Officer at A2A Pharmaceuticals Inc., shared a post on LinkedIn:
“I don’t usually post about personal matters, but I’m doing so now because time matters.
The love of my life for more than 20 years is facing an aggressive and rare cancer – leiomyosarcoma. Their treating oncologists, including specialists at Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, have strongly recommended a specific course of treatment. Delay in care creates a real risk of irreversible harm.
Despite urgent appeals and detailed physician documentation, coverage for this recommended treatment has been denied by the patient’s insurer, United Healthcare, based on coverage criteria rather than medical judgment.
This is not about bypassing process. An expedited appeal has been filed. Peer-to-peer review has been requested. Employer benefits leadership has been notified. We are following every required step – while racing the clock.
What has been most difficult is the lack of transparency around how life-and-death coverage decisions are made, even when care is recommended by world-renowned physicians. Patients and families should not have to escalate publicly to access timely cancer treatment.
I’m hopeful this can be resolved quickly and constructively. I’m sharing this because behind every “coverage determination” is a real person whose outcome depends on time.”
More posts about leiomyosarcoma.