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Financial Advocacy

The Association of Cancer Care Centers (ACCC) is committed to building the confidence of oncology financial advocates, connecting them with much-needed solutions to improve the patient experience. Through the Financial Advocacy Network’s tools and resources, ACCC empowers cancer programs and practices to proactively integrate financial health into the oncology care continuum and help patients gain access to high-quality care for a better quality of life.

For more information on this project, please contact the ACCC Provider Education department.

Featured Programs

These guidelines were created using a collaborative, consensus-based process to promote and guide the implementation of critical financial advocacy services in cancer programs and practices across the nation.

Whether you are an experienced financial advocate or new to the field, the ACCC Financial Advocacy Boot Camp prepares you to help your patients and your program address the growing issue of financial toxicity.

The ACCC Financial Advocacy Network brought together experts in financial advocacy to create this Playbook—a comprehensive tool to support onboarding and continuous learning for staff who deliver financial advocacy services.

ACCC is developing an educational program that will foster discussions on how to ease provider burden and ensure the best quality care for the patient when dealing with the utilization management technique known as prior authorization.

Learn the fundamentals of biomarker and diagnostic testing as it relates to financial navigation. Gain confidence in your ability to guide patients through the complex insurance process, practice clear communication strategies, and access helpful financial resources.

ACCC, its members, and partners have collected new and updated resources to help you develop, implement, and continue to deliver effective financial advocacy services in your cancer program or practice.

Access the most up-to-date anti-cancer medication assistance and reimbursement programs that are available to help alleviate the financial burden of cancer treatment. Search for applicable Oncology-Related Products and Companies and apply optional Coverage and Assistance Type filters to streamline your results.

The Financial Advocacy Network Community is a private forum for ACCC members to ask questions, share resources and experiences, and offer support for delivering financial advocacy services to your patients. You will need to login to your ACCC member account in order to access this benefit.

Featured Publications

Financial Advocacy Services Guidelines
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Financial-Advocacy-Network-2023-Census-Survey-Results-250x315 Financial Advocacy Network 2023 Census Survey
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Value of Financial Advocacy
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PAG-2021-200x269 Patient Assistance and Reimbursement Guide
Access

Improving-the-Prior-Authorization-Process-200x269 Improving the Prior Authorization Process
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Fighting Financial Toxicity
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FAN-2019-2020-Census-Survey-100x134 Financial Advocacy Network 2019-2020 Census Survey
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Making-Case-for-Hiring-Financial-Navigator-100x130 Making the Business Case for Hiring a Financial Navigator
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On-Demand Webinars

Utilizing Biomarkers in Cancer Care: Who Has It, Who Needs It, and How To Access It

In this final webinar, hear from our experts Jordan Karwedsky, Financial Counselor, Green Bay Oncology, Wendi Waugh, BS, RT(R)(T), CMD, CRT, Administrative Director of SOMC Cancer Services & Ambulatory Infusion, Southern Ohio Medical Center, and Dr. Michael R. Gieske, Director of Lung Cancer Screening. Join us as we discuss prior authorization challenges in biomarker testing, importance of providing access to biomarker testing for underserved populations, how biomarkers are shaping the future of medicine, as well as what can be done at the policy level to allow for more access.
Putting "Necessity" in Medical Necessity: How To Ensure You Are Maximizing Reimbursement

In the fifth webinar, we will hear from Angie Santiago, CRCS, Manager of Oncology Financial Advocacy, Sidney Kimmel Cancer Center at the Thomas Jefferson University Health System, and Chair of ACCC’s Financial Advocacy Network, and Sarah Shaw, Oncology Program Manager at St. Luke’s Cancer Institute in Boise, ID. Join us as we discuss importance of medical necessity in oncology and how clear denial data can help maximize reimbursement.
Navigating Radiation Authorizations and Denials

In the fourth webinar, we will hear from Gretchen Van Dyck, Financial Counselor from St. Vincent Hospital Regional Cancer Center and Rachelle Gill, Program/Department Coordinator II for Proton Therapy Appeals at Fred Hutchinson Cancer Center. Join us as we discuss radiation authorization submissions before treatment and strategies on how to work radiation authorization denials and appeals after treatment.

More Financial Advocacy Webinars

Cancer Buzz Podcasts

Disparities in Accessing Care for AML Patients: Challenges and Solutions – [Mini Podcast] Ep 145 Mar 25, 2024

In this episode, CANCER BUZZ speaks with Linda Hayward, patient financial advocate at the University of Maryland, Kaufman Cancer Center at Upper Chesapeake Health, about the challenges of treatment and strategies to address disparities in access and care for patients with acute myeloid leukemia.
LIVE from AMCCBS: Financial Advocacy Resources — [MINI PODCAST] Mar 11, 2024

Live this week from the ACCC 50th Annual Meeting and Cancer Center Business Summit (AMCCBS), CANCER BUZZ interviews Wendi Waugh, ACCC financial navigation committee member, about resources for financial advocacy.
NOC Preview: Financial Advocacy Guidelines to Mitigate Financial Toxicity - [MINI PODCAST] Oct 10, 2023

Hear Dr. Margaret Liang, of Cedars-Sinai Cancer Center, Los Angeles, talk about ACCC’s Financial Advocacy Network (FAN) and the Financial Advocacy Services guidelines to help cancer programs address the growing issue of financial toxicity.

More Financial Advocacy Podcasts

From Oncology Issues

How Do You DISCO?
Lauren M. Hamel, et al.

Leveraging the Discussions of Cost App to reduce financial toxicity and improve treatment cost communication.
Compliance: 2022 Oncology Coding Update
Teri Bedard, BA, RT(R)(T), CPC

The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services and the American Medical Association's (AMA's) finalized coding updates for calendar year 2022.
Compliance: 2022 Physician and Freestanding Facilities Update
Teri Bedard, BA, RT(R)(T), CPC

The Medicare Physician Fee Schedule (MPFS) for calendar year 2022.
Compliance: 2022 Hospital Regulatory Update
Teri Bedard, BA, RT(R)(T), CPC

The Hospital Outpatient Prospective Payment System (HOPPS) for calendar year 2022.
Views: Put Yourself First Words to Live By
Dr. Cheyenne Bryant

Put yourself first: this mantra is especially important today as we continue to grapple with the implications and fallout from the COVID-19 global pandemic.

More Financial Advocacy Journal Articles

From the ACCCBuzz Blog

Cost of Care and Prescription Meds Put Strain and Stress on AYA Survivors

By Jessica Kean
May 04, 2021

Note: This article originally appeared April 22, 2021 on the Chidren’s Cancer Cause website.

Survivors of adolescent and young adult (AYA) cancers face greater financial hardship in adulthood than adults without a cancer history, according to a study published this month in The Journal of the National Cancer Institute. This adds to a growing body of research about the significant financial burden of a cancer diagnosis, an issue Children’s Cancer Cause has been focused on for many years.

This new study identified some of the specific financial burdens for AYA survivors, including problems and worries about paying medical bills. Researchers found that survivors of AYA cancers are more likely than adults without a cancer history to delay or forgo care and/or prescription medications due to cost.

“The financial health of AYA survivors may never recover after cancer diagnosis without appropriate clinical and policy intervention,” wrote the authors in a companion article proposing directions for future research. “Employment disruption and employment discrimination are key areas for AYAs. Another area for future research is how best to identify and address financial anxiety. Financial hardship remains a huge burden for AYAs, and clinicians and researchers should prioritize addressing these outcomes.”

At the Children’s Cancer Cause, we’ve been closely studying financial toxicity in childhood cancer survivors for many years and working to identify policy solutions. In a survey we conducted in partnership with the Patient Advocate Foundation in 2017-2018, we found:

One in four childhood cancer survivors report that the cost of their cancer-related care impacted their ability to attend their college or university of choice.
The financial burden facing survivors can be long-term: 30% of the survivors we surveyed reported that the cost of their care impacted their career course or job choice.
Families are not receiving the information and support they need. When we asked families: “At any point in your child’s care, were you asked about any financial hardships your family may be experiencing related to food, energy, or housing?” more than half (55%) answered no.

One parent of a child with cancer shared with us: “As a middle-class family with insurance we do not qualify for any aid or assistance from anywhere. We owe over $100,000 in medical debt, plus regular debt and lost wages. We will likely file bankruptcy in the next six months.”

We surveyed families again last year to learn about the impact of Covid-19 and found that the pandemic dealt a devastating blow to many childhood cancer families already overburdened with medical bills and household expenses. Two-thirds of the families we heard from—and almost every survivor—reported experiencing a reduction in income as a result of COVID-19, with nearly 30% reporting a loss of employment.

As we look ahead toward emerging on the other side of the pandemic, we continue to gather input on the ongoing needs and concerns of childhood cancer families and survivors that could potentially be addressed through legislative or policy proposals. Learning about your family’s experience is a vital part of this work: Take the survey.

For those experiencing financial challenges, we urge you to use the Hope Portal, where you can search by your location, diagnosis, and need to find nonprofit organizations that are helping to alleviate the financial burdens of families battling childhood cancer.

Reprinted with permission from Children’s Cancer Cause.