by
Sean Ruck, Contributing Editor | February 09, 2016
From the January/February 2016 issue of HealthCare Business News magazine
Todd Ketch is relatively new to NAPT, having just started in September of 2015, but he has a long history of association leadership in health care. HealthCare Business News spoke with him to find out what skills he brings to the table and what’s in store for the association.
HCB News: What type of background are you bringing to NAPT?
TK: I’m an association executive. I have spent nearly 25 years advocating for patients to have access to the highest quality and most effective health care possible. During the last five years, I was the executive director of the American Health Quality Association. I provided leadership for 10 years for their advocacy efforts to help health care organizations achieve the highest quality patient care possible. I also worked with the American Dietetic Association for about six years to pursue policies that would give people in the Medicare program access to nutrition therapy services. In the advocacy realm, I have worked with health care associations to advance policies to provide the best care to patients as well as offer great benefit to association members.
HCB News: How did you get connected with the National Association for Proton Therapy?
TK: I learned about the opportunity from a good friend of mine, I did some research and was impressed by the technology and the opportunity it could offer for patients fighting cancer. I’ve got the background in advocating for things that will improve and save patients’ lives, and that fits well with advancing access to cutting-edge technology. We have nine members on the board. Members of the association are cancer treatment facilities that provide proton therapy. There are currently 20 operating centers in the U.S. with another 15 under construction. Two new centers are expected to start treating patients by the first quarter of 2016.
HCB News: What initiatives are you driving or looking to drive in the near term?
TK: We’ll be working to educate the public about the benefits of proton therapy and getting the word out about the new centers and increased access. I’m also looking to promote the latest research. And we’re working to improve our Web site to make it more useful to members and patients. Additionally, we’ll continue our advocacy efforts to increase insurance coverage for more disease sites.
HCB News: Has the ACA impacted proton therapy?
TK: There hasn’t been a significant move from private insurance to cover proton therapy. There’s pretty broad insurance coverage of pediatric treatment for a number of procedures, and Medicare beneficiaries also have access. Adults with commercial insurance are the ones that have the hardest time getting proton therapy covered. They often struggle through denial of treatment and are forced to navigate a complicated appeal process, often with limited success — so that’s part of what we do, advocate with insurance companies and with policymakers to increase coverage.
