The May 2026 CATCH Is Awarded to Elizabeth Chavez, Susan G. Komen Patient Navigator and Community Health Worker
A CATCH is a navigation success story where a navigation tactic improved a patient’s situation. The CATCH Initiative, short for Catching & Addressing Threats to Care & Health, tracks and acknowledges positive outcomes of navigation tactics.
The CATCH of the Month
Background: Navigator discovered critical financial resources and insurance plan for newly diagnosed cancer patient.
The Incident: Elizabeth Chavez, an oncology patient navigator at Susan G. Komen, engaged with a 58-year-old patient undergoing breast cancer treatment for stage 2 triple negative breast cancer (TNBC). The patient, who had recently been approved for short-term disability (STD), was facing a 40% reduction in income. She was uncertain about how she would be able to meet her monthly household expenses, cover the cost of her COBRA insurance premium, and afford her ongoing breast cancer treatment. Overwhelmed, the patient contacted Komen’s Patient Care Center and requested support for how to optimize her insurance coverage and to identify financial assistance programs that could help pay for the high COBRA premium and basic living expenses. High-cost insurance plans such as COBRA can lead to delays and disruptions in cancer treatment, which can negatively impact treatment outcomes and survivorship. Considering these financial barriers, Elizabeth’s guidance proved to be crucial as she navigated these challenges alongside the patient.
The CATCH (Intervention): Through an in-depth barrier assessment and distress screening, Elizabeth gained a clear picture of the patient’s needs and identified significant anxiety related to financial strain. She assessed the patient’s eligibility for Medicaid and connected her with multiple organizations to help expedite the application and approval process. While awaiting a determination, Elizabeth researched alternative financial assistance options to prevent any lapse in coverage, particularly for COBRA premiums. She identified the Health Insurance Premium Payment (HIPP) program, a lesser-known Medicaid initiative that reimburses patients for the cost of employer-sponsored health insurance premiums when it is more cost-effective than standard Medicaid coverage. Because HIPP is not widely advertised, and eligibility criteria can be complex, it can be difficult for patients to discover or navigate without a knowledgeable navigator. Elizabeth facilitated the patient’s enrollment in HIPP, securing reimbursement and ensuring continuity of care without interruption.
Elizabeth also connected the patient to a wide range of financial assistance resources to stabilize her overall situation, including support for essential living expenses such as housing, food, and transportation.
The Outcome: Through timely and effective navigation efforts, the patient is now receiving COBRA reimbursement through HIPP, ensuring uninterrupted insurance coverage and continuity of care. Additionally, she has been connected to various financial assistance resources to help with essential living expenses. Thanks to multiple organizations supporting breast cancer patients, she was awarded over $20,000 in financial assistance grants. As a result, the patient has regained her independence and feels relieved, knowing she has access to affordable health coverage.
The Importance of the CATCH
This CATCH case study highlights the many challenges and barriers patients and their families can face while going through a cancer journey. Many times, healthcare professionals focus on the clinical aspect of the cancer journey while limiting the holistic approach of treating the patient as an individual with unique needs. Navigation prioritizes the holistic approach to care to address clinical challenges that arise with cancer as well as psychosocial concerns that can exacerbate an already complex situation.
Source
Bellomo C, Christensen D, Strusowski T. Seasoned navigator: a case study on patient advocacy/patient empowerment. Journal of Oncology Navigation & Survivorship. 2016;7(8):31-32.
