WASHINGTON, July 25, 2017 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- The Alliance for Proton Therapy Access (the Alliance) today launched a national campaign, Tell Insurers: Fight Cancer, Not Me, to advocate for fair, fast and transparent insurance payment decision policies for cancer patients in need of proton therapy – a form of radiation therapy that precisely targets cancerous cells with minimal damage to healthy tissues. Despite being a scientifically proven, FDA-cleared treatment, patients too often must resort to other treatments – or pay the full cost of proton therapy – because their health insurers deny treatment or draw out an appeals process that is too long for patients fighting cancer, and their physicians, to endure.

Proton therapy is a precise form of radiation therapy treatment that targets cancer cells without exposing the surrounding healthy tissue and organs to excessive radiation, thereby reducing harmful side-effects and other health risks. It is recognized in the National Comprehensive Cancer Network's (NCCN) Practice Guidelines in Oncology for specific cancers. Most recently, NCCN published new guidelines that include proton therapy for certain head and neck cancers. Further, the American Society for Radiation Oncology (ASTRO) has recognized the clinical advantages of proton therapy to treat certain types of cancer. It is used to combat some of the most common cancers in America including lung, breast, esophageal and various types of head and neck cancers.

"Cancer patients should not have to fight so hard to receive doctor-recommended treatment that offers the highest quality of life and best chance for survival," said Daniel E. Smith, Executive Director of the Alliance for Proton Therapy Access. "When patients who need proton therapy are subjected to insurance denials or a drawn out appeals process, they suffer undue health risks, anxiety and financial hardship at a time when they are already battling to survive cancer, and that's not fair. We want to shine a light on insurers' proton therapy decision-making processes – and work with insurers so patients receive fast, fair and transparent coverage decisions."
The Alliance issued letters to dozens of health insurance companies and radiation oncology benefit management companies across the country, requesting they clarify their proton therapy coverage decision-making processes and policies. By starting an open dialogue with insurers, the Alliance hopes to encourage insurers to adopt proton therapy policies that are consistent, and are based on full knowledge and understanding of proton therapy's efficacy for treating and delivering best quality of life outcomes for patients with certain types of cancer.

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