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Overcoming Barriers to Treatment Access and Reimbursement

Author(s):

Nour Abuhadra, MD

Dr. Noor Abuhadra and patient Shay Elkins discuss overcoming barriers to cancer treatment access and reimbursement. Shay shares her relatively smooth experience with insurance coverage, while Dr. Abuhadra emphasizes that healthcare teams will fight for patient coverage, especially when treatments are backed by research and FDA approval. Dr. Abuhadra also mentions having a financial clearance department to handle denials and secure approvals, as well as training staff to fill out prior authorization forms. Shay underlines the importance of self-advocacy and leveraging online communities for both emotional support and practical advice.

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