The CC Links intervention included an oncology financial navigator who worked in the Hematology-Oncology Clinic. The navigator's functions included: screening for financial hardship to identify unmet financial needs (using the Comprehensive Score for Financial Toxicity (COST) and National Comprehensive Cancer Network's Distress Thermometer; initiating cost of care conversations; providing cost of care estimates; ensuring adequate health insurance coverage and assisting with applying for additional coverage; assisting with internal financial assistance program applications; connecting survivors/caregivers with disease specific resources and other external assistance programs; coordinating discharge planning; referring survivors to social workers and other staff/resources as needed; and, coordinating financial assistance services as survivors/caregivers transition between outpatient and inpatient settings.
This trial is a mixed-methods, non-randomized design guided by the Consolidated Framework for Implementation Research (CFIR) to develop, implement, and evaluate Coverage and Cost-of-Care Links (CC Links) -a novel financial navigation intervention for hematologic cancer survivors and their caregivers.