Increased access to preventive care has the potential to reduce health disparities and inequities. However, without legal requirements at the federal and state level, most insurers aren’t don't currently provide adequate coverage of screening and preventive services for high-risk individuals. Requirements for insurance carriers vary from state to state creating additional barriers for underserved women trying to access genetic counseling and testing as well as life-saving screening and preventive surgeries.. Furthermore, while changing legislation at the federal level is critical, many issues surrounding insurance coverage and reimbursement must be addressed at the state level.

Individuals personally touched by hereditary cancers make passionate, effective advocates. FORCE’s innovative PALs (Patients Advocate Leaders) program, developed in the last few years, seeks to engage this community and equip them to strive toward positive change. It’s working. By harnessing the power of patient advocates, PALs has mobilized and empowered 18 high-risk individuals within the hereditary cancer community across 13 states to engage in a variety of state and federal coalitions and policy efforts. They’ve made progress on initiatives aimed at expanding access to screenings and fertility services for high-risk individuals and advocated for increased coverage and reimbursement to make necessary screening and diagnostic testing more affordable.

Increase number & diversity of patient advocates engaged in the PALs program adding several additional advocates with a focus on states ripe for impactful change.

Develop a landscape analysis of Medicaid and state laws related to coverage of high-risk services.

Identify key Medicaid programs and select states to target for improved or new policies that address access barriers and reduce health disparities.

Recruit, train and engage volunteers in each of the target states as they as they engage in activities that strive to facilitate positive change.

Use key learnings to develop a program roadmap, identifying additional infrastructure and building blocks to put in place for year two.

Deep expertise in complex national volunteer recruitment & engagement from training and mobilizing hundreds to deliver Brighten Up & Medical Professional Workshops and facilitate outreach groups

Program design & evaluation expertise

Supporting FORCE’s strategic priority to embrace a digital transformation to build, optimize & scale programs

Mission Partner cohort which ensures diversity & health equity are at the center of the efforts

The expanded PALs program will increase engagement with policymakers at all levels of government, ensuring the most critical issues are addressed in a more rapid and comprehensive manner, leading to improved access to evidence-based care. The hope is that in the years to come, FORCE will have deployed an army of passionate, engaged advocates in all 50 states working with partner nonprofit and healthcare provider organizations, lawmakers, government agencies, and insurers to facilitate affordable or no-cost access to genetic counseling/testing, cancer screening, and preventive services for all high-risk individuals.