U.S. patients and families face the highest health insurance administrative barriers, such as claim denials, when sick or injured, and thus least able to understand their rights and options.
CRANBURY, NJ (May 12, 2022) – The Academy of Oncology Nurse & Patient Navigators (AONN+) has signed a letter that was designed by the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society and sent to members of the House and Senate Appropriations Committees the week of May 2 encouraging them to restore robust funding to Consumer Assistance Programs (CAPs), in the Fiscal Year 2023 Labor, Health and Human Services, Education, and Related Agencies appropriations bill.
CAPs have been shown to help patients recoup millions in appealed claims denials, resolve casework requests, receive support with direct services and more. The passage of the 2022 No Surprises Act (NSA)—establishing new federal protections against surprise medical bills—further supports the need for CAPs, which also help patients and consumers navigate and exercise their rights.
A recent Kaiser Family Foundation survey of privately insured individuals found that nearly half of these had encountered a problem using their coverage, such as denied claims, network challenges, or eligibility issues they could not fix alone. Access to, and assistance with, high-quality health coverage is necessary for individuals and families to stay healthy, address their health needs, and flourish economically. And navigating our system of care, at the very time they are sick or injured, can easily overwhelm patients and their advocates.
In addition to the direct support CAPs can provide our patients, they also offer programs to educate the public about their health insurance options; assist people navigating transitions in health insurance coverage due to changes in employment status, evolving family configurations, age, and other factors; ensure insurance systems work for consumers, employers, providers, and payers; and monitor and report insurance trends and consumer experiences to state and federal regulators.
About the Academy of Oncology Nurse & Patient Navigators, Inc. (AONN+)
The Academy of Oncology Nurse & Patient Navigators, Inc. (AONN+), is the largest national specialty organization dedicated to improving patient care and quality of life by defining, enhancing, and promoting the role of oncology nurse and patient navigators. The organization, which has more than 8900 members, was founded in 2009 to provide a network for all professionals involved and interested in patient navigation and survivorship care services in order to better manage the complexities of the cancer treatment process. www.aonnonline.org
For Immediate Release
Gwen Coverdale, 267-884-6328
