Gail Johnson

First comes the shock of a cancer diagnosis. The second shock for many patients is discovering the cost of treatment. At Valley-Mount Sinai Comprehensive Cancer Care, I have the pleasure of working as a patient financial advocate. I assist patients with cancer and chronic illnesses who are uninsured or underinsured in receiving help to pay for out-of-pocket expenses for radiation, Gamma Knife, infusion therapy and oral medications. I assess each patient’s’ needs and try to find funding, leaving no stone unturned. In seeking assistance from pharmaceutical companies, Federal programs such as Medicare and Medicaid, and New Jersey’s Pharmaceutical Assistance to the Aged and Disabled (PAAD) program, I am ensuring that patients have the medications they need when they arrive for treatment.