Sal Braico’s Post

🔬 Michigan Takes a Stand for Cutting-Edge Cancer Treatments 🔬 Michigan state senator Jeff Irwin is championing a new bill to ensure that health insurance companies cover innovative cancer treatments, regardless of classification. The proposed legislation aims to close loopholes and expand coverage for therapies like genetic therapy and immunotherapy, including CAR-T cell therapy. Key Points: -Senator Irwin's bill builds upon existing laws mandating coverage for cancer drugs, extending the requirement to cutting-edge treatments approved by the FDA and prescribed by physicians. -The legislation addresses recent cases, such as one highlighted by ProPublica, where individuals were denied crucial treatments due to classification technicalities. -By closing these loopholes, Michigan seeks to ensure that all residents have access to life-saving cancer therapies, preventing tragic outcomes like the one documented by ProPublica. Looking Ahead: -If passed, the bill will provide critical support for cancer patients, offering hope and improved outcomes in their fight against the disease. -Michigan sets a precedent for prioritizing patient care and advancing healthcare access, paving the way for similar initiatives nationwide. Stay Informed: Follow the progress of Senator Irwin's bill and stay updated on advancements in cancer treatment coverage in Michigan. Together, we can ensure that every patient receives the care they need to combat cancer effectively. #Healthcare #CancerTreatment #Michigan #PatientCare

St. Charles Health System has a new pilot program with PacificSource Health Plans to streamline automatic coverage approval for patients needing cancer treatment. The program is based on the National Comprehensive Cancer Network (NCCN) guidelines, which have been used by St. Charles Health System for their quality cancer program for 20 years. With the new program, cancer patients will be automatically or near instantly approved for care, and St. Charles Health System will concurrently review the rare outlier cases with the plan and their experts. In the first three months of the pilot program, more than 80% of patients have had their treatment plans approved the same day. This compares to approximately 50% of all other patients. Overall, the new pilot program is a promising approach to streamlining automatic coverage approval for cancer patients. It has the potential to reduce anxiety for patients and improve clinical outcomes. Learn more: https://hubs.ly/Q02xj0zQ0

March is Colorectal Cancer Awareness Month according to HHS. This disease is the second deadliest cancer in the United States and often develops without symptoms. It is the deadliest cancer among men under 50. One in 24 people will be diagnosed with colorectal cancer in their lifetime. Yet it's one of the few cancers that's preventable thanks to screening. Regular screening, beginning at age 45, is the key to preventing colorectal cancer (cancer of the colon or rectum). If you’re 45 to 75 years old, you should regularly get screened for colorectal cancer. Unfortunately, too many people forego this test and then are diagnosed later when it could have been prevented. But what about paying for the additional expenses if you get it? Your health insurance only covers a certain percentage of your medical bills, and your other life costs and possible loss of income are still exposed. That’s why everyone should have cancer insurance to help offset those costs. Contact me for a conversation about putting an inexpensive plan in place for extra protection. I can help. Plus, visit my website for more information: https://lnkd.in/eA522mRY

CNN HEALTH weekly newsletter-Image Start screening for breast cancer at age 40, new task force recommendations say Women are now advised to get a mammogram every other year starting at age 40 and until age 74, according to new recommendations from the US Preventive Services Task Force. The USPSTF, a volunteer panel of independent medical experts whose recommendations help guide doctors’ decisions and influence insurance plans, previously recommended that biennial mammograms start by age 50 and the decision for women to screen in their 40s “should be an individual one.” The updated recommendations do not apply to people with a personal history of breast cancer, a genetic marker or syndrome that may put them at a high risk of breast cancer, such as the BRCA1 or BRCA2 genes, or those with a history of high-dose radiation therapy to the chest or a history of a high-risk breast lesions. These patients should either stay on the plan outlined by their physician or talk to their doctor about what’s best for them. The benefit of screening for breast cancer is that it can help diagnose cases early, before the cancer has spread, which reduces the risk of dying from the disease. Breast cancer is the second most common cancer in women in the United States, after skin cancer, and it’s the second-leading cause of cancer death, after lung cancer.

Access to Free Lung Cancer Screening for Smokers: A Potential Lifesaver #access #cancer #free #freelungcancerscreeningforsmokers #lifesaver #lung #potential #screening #Smokers

Prevention and early detection are the key to winning the war we fight with cancer. Today is day 1 of National Cancer Prevention and Early Detection Month.

One of the most dreaded conversations to have with your doctor is a cancer diagnosis. This is why there is such a push for early detection to increase the rate of survival. A new study estimates that cancer screening costs $43 billion annually in the US, with colorectal cancer screening accounting for 64% of the total.  The study found that: * 88% of screening costs are paid by private insurance * 8.5% by Medicare * 3.2% by Medicaid and other programs.  This might seem like a very high price tag, but compared to the cost of not catching cancer early, I think this is a worthwhile investment. Just ask any cancer survivor.

It's National Cancer Prevention and Early Detection Month and Pluto Health makes lung cancer screening more accessible for patients! Early screening is critical to curing 80% of lung cancers. The lung cancer screening rate is just 5.7%, compared to 70%-75% for other tests like mammograms, colonoscopies, and Pap smears, which means the healthcare community needs to take a different approach to connect patients to screenings. Working on a lung cancer screening program? Let's chat about how we can help from education, screening and evaluation, to referrals for CT scans if needed! Our team is on a mission to connect patients to the right care at the right time so they can breathe easier. https://lnkd.in/eHM3ajqJ #lungcancer #preventivehealth #letsgo

⭐ There's a need for earlier cancer screenings ⭐ With one in two people developing cancer over the course of their lifetimes, people take out health insurance to ensure rapid access to quality cancer treatment. Awareness and screenings are key to catching cancer early. And our data shows members of all ages need to be aware of the risks. Our data shows that cancer risk increases with age, but one in four cancer claims are made by members under 50. 📢 65% of cervical cancer claims are for women under 50 📢 Skin cancer is the biggest cause of cancer for men under 50 We’ve recently enhanced our cancer screening offerings. We now offer all members the opportunity to complete a cancer risk assessment at no extra cost. Through our partnership with Check4Cancer, we’ve introduced online cancer risk assessments for five of the most common cancers; breast, bowel, cervical, prostate and skin cancer – accessible through Care Hub. #vitality #prevention #cancerscreening #vitalityhealth #healthscreening 1Health Claims Insights Report, 2023

🚀💡 **Uncover the Future of Colon Cancer Screening!** 💡🚀 Did you know colorectal cancer is the second leading cause of cancer-related deaths in the U.S.? 🤯 The newly FDA-approved **Shield test** could revolutionize screening! 💉 💥 This affordable blood test makes early detection easier, and early detection = higher treatability. Are you ready to amplify your health strategy with this groundbreaking tool? 🩺✨ 💬 How would this innovation impact your approach to health? **Key Takeaways:** 🔍 Early detection is crucial for treatment success. 💸 The Shield test offers a cost-effective screening option! Stay ahead in health innovations, and let's discuss! 🤔👍 Share your thoughts: thumbs up or down? #HealthInnovation #ColorectalCancer #ShieldTest #EarlyDetection #FDAApproval #HealthcareRevolution #BusinessInsights #HealthTips #CancerScreening