Film “A Narrow Catch” - Limiting Patients’ Access to Care

[slipslidingaway]

http://community.lls.org/community/bloodcancer/transplantation

"Narrow networks, in which health insurance companies limit which doctors and hospitals are included in their networks as a measure to save costs, can have dramatically detrimental impacts on patients’ care, particularly patients who are diagnosed with cancer and require very specialized therapy.

Christopher R. Cogle, M.D., at University of Florida (UF) Health, Gainesville, and a long-time recipient of LLS funding support, recently produced a 3-minute documentary film, along with filmmaker, Jordana Goldmann, M.A., focusing on the impact of narrow networks on one patient and his family, to illustrate the danger this policy can pose.

Daniel Cain was diagnosed in 2013 with acute myeloid leukemia (AML), a fast-advancing blood cancer that requires treatment immediately upon diagnosis. Cain was diagnosed in Jacksonville, Florida but the hospital referred him to Gainesville and into Dr. Cogle’s care, as that institution was more equipped to address his acute needs. But the insurance company would not cover Cain’s care because UF Health was out-of-network. A two-week period ensued during which Cain’s care was delayed, putting his life in jeopardy. After much back and forth, the insurance company approved the family’s and Dr. Cogle’s appeal for coverage and Mr. Cain went on to receive an allogeneic hematopoietic cell transplant, which to date, appears to have been successful.

LLS is committed to ensuring access to care for blood cancer patients, and we are sharing this film to bring home the point of how critically important it is that consumers understand their insurance company’s coverage network before they sign up, and understand how to appeal when essential coverage is denied due to narrow networks..."


A NARROW CATCH
http://www.cinemed.org/#!a-narrow-catch/c253d

"This documentary showcases a cancer patient's fight with his insurance company for life-saving treatment outside of the company's network of doctors. Narrowing networks is a common business strategy of insurance companies to decrease costs. But when networks become too narrow, this business tactic limits potentially life-saving treatment for patients who need specialized care.

Background

Daniel Cain is one story of the many patients blocked by health care insurance companies who need specialty care outside of the company's network. As in Mr. Cain’s case he had no control over the type of insurance he was carrying since it was an employer-based plan. When he was diagnosed with acute myeloid leukemia (AML) in Jacksonville, Florida, the local hospital told him they would like to send him to Gainesville, Florida to receive more specialized leukemia care. But the Gainesville hospital was oustide of Mr. Cain's insurance company network and he was denied transfer. After appealing his case and several weeks later with leukemia cells multiplying, Mr. Cain was eventually approved for out-of-network treatment in the Gainesville leukemia specialty hospital. Fortunately, his leukemia responded well to re-induction chemotherapy and he went on to receive a life-saving hematopoietic cell transplant. While Mr. Cain was fortunate to receive this out-of-network treatment, many others are limited by narrow networks and face the daunting options using family savings to pay out of pocket or not receiving the care needed."

[Ron Green]

1. Single payer is absolutely necessary.

Everybody in, nobody out.

[slipslidingaway]

2. Yes, but it will take a long time ...

in the meantime more people will be forced to make difficult choices

http://www.pnhp.org/news/2014/may/obamacare%E2%80%99s-empty-victory

" ...Insurers also found a way to “cherry pick” the healthiest customers by leaving cancer centers and major medical centers out of their networks. In fact, most of the new plans have narrow and ultra-narrow networks that shift more of the cost of care onto patients because care outside of insurance networks isn’t covered..."

[Ron Green]

3. That's an excellent piece by Margaret Flowers.

State by state is how it's happening, just as it did in Canada. I want to share the "Narrow Catch" video, along with The Health Care Movie, with the grass roots groups I'm working with in Oregon.

[slipslidingaway]

4. That sounds wonderful ...

and thank you!

I must say that I was impressed by the keynote speakers at my daughter's graduation from Med school and then this year from her graduation from residency. Both speakers stressed that care should be given bases on need, not the level of insurance they have.

Step by step ... many thanks