Navigating Hope

Cancer treatment can be overwhelming—not just emotionally and physically, but financially as well. While insurance may cover much of the cost, significant expenses often fall to patients. In this episode, we talk with the team behind Navigating Hope, a financial counseling initiative at Green Bay Oncology that has helped save patients and care facilities millions. Jordan Karwedsky and Gretchen Van Dyck, two financial counselors on the front lines of this work, join Dr. Brian Burnette, an oncologist who often connects patients with these vital resources. Together, we explore how Navigating Hope transforms how patients handle the financial impact of cancer, how the program has evolved over the years, and the profound relief it offers patients at every stage of their journey.

“It’s bonkers that other programs don’t have that… $17 million in savings in
2023 split maybe 50/50 between the hospital system and patients.”
~Dr. Brian Burnette

Today on Cancer Covered:

In 2023, Navigating Hope saved Green Bay Oncology patients and facilities over $17 million by using foundations, copay cards, and assistance from specialty pharmacies.
The financial counseling program has grown from a single staff member to a team of eight full-time financial navigators, paralleling the practice’s growth and patient needs.
Financial counselors proactively connect with all new patients, regardless of diagnosis, explaining insurance benefits and offering support from the very start.
Navigating Hope can often eliminate out-of-pocket patient costs, providing immense relief and preventing financial catastrophe.
The financial counseling team assists with in-state insurance navigation and helps patients across state lines, tackling especially complex scenarios for those living near borders.
Providers and staff at Green Bay Oncology are quick to refer any insurance or billing questions directly to financial counselors, ensuring patients get immediate and accurate support.
The presence of Navigating Hope dramatically reduces provider burnout by offloading the burden of prior authorizations and insurance wrangling, letting doctors focus on patient care.
While programs like Navigating Hope remain rare, the team works to share its knowledge nationally and advocates for developing similar support systems elsewhere.

Guest Contact Information:

Green Bay Oncology: website
For financial counseling or to learn more about Navigating Hope: Contact Green Bay Oncology or call the main office for referral to a financial counselor.

Resources Mentioned:

Copay assistance programs and foundations (local and national)
ACCC (Association of Cancer Care Centers) for networking and best practices in financial navigation
Good Faith Estimate (required by law for uninsured or self-pay patients)
Advanced Beneficiary Notice (used by some large centers; discussed as a contrast to the local approach)

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