A Special Initiative: Helping Iowa Cancer Patients Affected by the Severe Weather
Please note: On June 25, we added a section on the faxable form (see below) for the applicant to explain how he or she was impacted during the flood/tornado.
The Iowa Consortium for Comprehensive Cancer Control (ICCC) is coordinating a collaborative effort, called "High Ground for Cancer Patients," on behalf of the American Cancer Society, Holden Comprehensive Cancer Center, Iowa Department of Public Health, and Lance Armstrong Foundation. The collaborative effort will help Iowa cancer patients currently receiving treatment and who are affected by the recent natural disasters in Iowa with housing, transportation, and medical assistance. This program allows Iowa cancer patients effected by these disasters (who live in counties designated as federal disaster areas) to receive aid after completing and faxing a simple form.
Please help us with this initiative by:
- Bringing this program to the attention of your Iowa patients who may need assistance from the recent tornados and floods, and making the application forms available to your patients in need of assistance because of the natural disasters.
- Filling out the very simple information on page 1 of the form that confirms the patient is currently receiving cancer therapy at your practice. Page 1 of the form requires simple information from you as the provider, and page 2 requires information from the patient. They can be faxed to us together or separately.
On June 25, we added a section on the form for the applicant to explain how he
or she was impacted during the flood/tornado.
- Faxing the form to us for those patients who would like you to do so (such as those who do not have access to fax machines at home).
Click here to view the form. Please print it out and fax to: the Holden Comprehensive Cancer Center at 319.353.8988.
Once we receive the faxed information, we will review it quickly, inform you and the patient if they are eligible, and arrange for a check to be sent to eligible recipients. It is that simple.
We certainly would be happy to provide additional information or answer any questions you may have concerning this program. Contact information for practices is provided in the draft press release. Thank you for helping us with this important initiative.
The ICCC issued a press release June 23, 2008:
"Having cancer is hard. But having to deal with the devastating and disruptive effects of these natural disasters on top of it is more than cancer patients and their families should be expected to handle alone," said George Weiner, MD, Chair, Iowa Consortium for Comprehensive Cancer Control and Director of the Holden Comprehensive Cancer Center, University of Iowa.
"These organizations expressed a great desire to support cancer patients who have experienced additional hardship inflicted by flood and tornado damage and immediately took action to provide the services they need now more than ever," said Weiner.
This cancer relief initiative was established for cancer patients currently receiving treatment and living in Iowa counties that have been designated a federal disaster area. Assistance of up to $1000 is available and is intended to ease the burden of increased transportation, lodging, or other unexpected expenses due to severe storms and flooding.
For information or to learn more about the support available through this effort, call the American Cancer Society at 1.800.227.2345 or visit www.cancer.org. Cancer information specialists are available to answer calls 24 hours a day, seven days a week.
