Patient Navigator
President Bush signed into law the Patient Navigator Outreach and Chronic Disease Prevention Act on June 29, 2005 (P.L. 109-18). This represents a victory for advocates for increased access to quality care. The bill establishes a "patient navigator" system to help patients with chronic illnesses make medical decisions. The law authorizes $25 million in grants over five years to establish patient navigator programs to aid uninsured patients in low-income and rural communities nationwide. Under the system, counselors will help patients evaluate their treatment options, enroll in clinical trials, obtain referrals and apply for financial assistance. Rep. Robert Menendez (D-NJ), who co-sponsored the legislation with Rep. Deborah Pryce (R-OH), said, “This is a textbook example of how the legislative process should work.” Senators Kay Bailey Hutchison (R-TX) and Jeff Bingaman (D-NM) introduced the bill in the Senate. The American Cancer Society and National Association of Community Health Centers were lead advocates. APIAHF endorsed the legislation when it was first introduced in the 108 th Congress.
