The Year in Review: ACCC Financial Advocacy Network

The new year brings with it new goals and plans for ACCC’s Financial Advocacy Network. But before talking about the innovations to come in 2022, let’s look back at the accomplishments of 2021. "2021 was an amazing year for the Financial Advocacy Network and community in the midst of the pandemic," says ACCC 2021 Financial Advocacy Network Chair Lori Schneider. "I would like to thank all of those that were involved in any of our projects as well as those that are using our tools in their daily role. The true commitment and passion to the patients and this line of work is amazing." 

Financial Advocate Spotlights 

In 2021, the network began recognizing dedicated and innovative financial advocates by publishing Financial Advocate Spotlights on ACCC’s website. These posts celebrate the spirit and ingenuity of individual financial advocates and offer insights into how their roles can differ across cancer program and practice types. These spotlights are shared through ACCC’s social media channels and the network’s monthly newsletter, which offers real-time updates to community members as well as opportunities for further learning and getting more involved. 

Meetings 

The network also hosted several virtual town halls and summits throughout 2021, focusing on communication and collaboration among team members and incorporating onboarding and continuous learning into cancer programs and practices. Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, all meetings and summits were held virtually, which gave network leadership and ACCC the opportunity to meet with more financial advocates, particularly those who would usually be unable to travel to in-person meetings. To provide opportunities for members to meet in small groups and network, in 2021 the Financial Advocacy Network introduced quarterly virtual coffee chats that included a handful of participants at a time. The meetings enabled attendees to learn more about one another’s roles in their programs and share tips for overcoming financial barriers for patients. ACCC developed deeper relationships with these members and identified new opportunities to meet their needs. 

Financial Advocacy Playbook 

One of the largest accomplishments of the ACCC Financial Advocacy Network in 2021 was the creation of the Financial Advocacy Playbook. This resource was created by experts in financial advocacy and provides much-needed support for providing onboarding and continuous learning for all staff who deliver financial advocacy services. The Playbook defines the basics of financial advocacy, including common terminology and details on benefits verification, financial distress screening, prior authorizations, insurance education and optimization, and securing available financial assistance options for qualifying patients. This resource can be used to help train individuals new to their roles in financial advocacy and provide additional training and resources to veteran financial advocates. Bookmark the Playbook’s webpage or keep it on your desk as a quick reference guide to all things financial advocacy. 

Financial Advocacy Boot Camp 

In supporting the training and education of those new to their role, the network continued promoting the ACCC Financial Advocacy Boot Camp. The Boot Camp consists of two levels of dynamic, online courses that empower advocates to both help patients with cancer pay for their treatment and maximize reimbursement at their program or practice. Learners work at their own pace to acquire the key knowledge and skills necessary to succeed in financial advocacy. 

Financial Advocacy Toolkit 

Then, in August 2021, the Financial Advocacy Network Education Task Force took on reviewing and updating the Financial Advocacy Toolkit—a searchable library of tools to help anyone develop, implement, and continue to deliver effective financial advocacy services. The library includes guides and tools for building financial advocacy programs from scratch, instruction about how to effectively communicate with patients, guidelines for screening patients for financial distress, and so much more. This toolkit will be updated on a regular basis going forward. 

Patient Assistance & Reimbursement Guide  

Several members of the Financial Advocacy Network teamed up with ACCC to guide the creation and development of the new, fully digital Patient Assistance & Reimbursement Guide. Healthcare professionals and patients can use this digital resource to find the most up-to-date information on the anti-cancer medication assistance and reimbursement programs that can help alleviate the financial burden of cancer treatment on patients. Users are now able to search for applicable oncology-related products and manufacturers and use any applicable filters to streamline their results. More information is coming on the usability of this resource in February, so look out for future blog posts from the ACCC Financial Advocacy Network. 

The past year was challenging for many, as the pandemic continued to ask for more from cancer professionals across the nation. Regardless of what was going on in their workplaces, members of the ACCC Financial Advocacy Network came together throughout 2021 to develop expert-driven resources and provide a close-knit space to support one another in times of need. This network of forward-thinking leaders accomplished much in 2021, and they look forward to doing more in 2022 to support professionals looking to start or upgrade financial advocacy services in their programs and practices.