Bridgeport Hospital's Moving Forward Event

April 22, 2010

Last night, the Connecticut Challenge attended Bridgeport Hospital’s survivorship program “Moving Forward”.  This free monthly education series began with a vegetarian lasagna dinner before sitting down to a discussion about “Money Matters”. Nicole DeMartino from CancerCare began with a presentation about their organization and the financial support they offer cancer patients.  Last year, CancerCare helped 3,000 people with over $300,000 in Connecticut.  They provide free professional support services, and one-to-one counseling as well as grants for transportation, home or child care; reimbursement for pain and nausea medications, reimbursement for hormonal medications, lymphedema supplies or prostheses for women with breast cancer; help with rehabilitation supplies, like dental work, oxygen and ostomy supplies; and covering co-pays for particular cancer diagnoses.  Andy Pippa, Bridgeport Hospital’s Drug Replacement Specialist, followed with information about the hospital’s pharmaceutical assistance plan so that patients are able to obtain their medication even when they cannot afford it.  It is a little known secret that the pharmaceutical companies last year gave away $500 million in medication to people who could not afford to pay for it.  Andy and the team at Bridgeport Hospital, including Kim Bielecki and Philana Solomon, pull out all the stops to make sure that patients get the care they need.  Thanks to Kim and Philana for including the CT Challenge in their successful and informative program.

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