Policy Consortium: Navigators’ Roundtable
Save the date for the next Policy Consortium where we will hold a roundtable discussion with the navigators who help ease costs concerns for patients. Registration details below.
2:00pm
About Policy Consortium
Policy Consortium brings together patients and communities who have been underrepresented in health reform discussions. This is where we hear about their lived experiences and learn from their perspectives on the issues that matter most to them.
Our goal is to transform healthcare policies and practices to be more responsive to the needs of patients and caregivers. After each convening, we will publish lessons learned so everyone who participates knows the practical steps they can do to take action and address the issues discussed.
Registration is now live for our next Policy Consortium Navigators’ Roundtable. Read on below to learn more about our featured speakers.
Patient Perspectives
Jennifer Bute
Dr. Jennifer Bute is a Professor in the Department of Communication Studies at Indiana University Indianapolis. Dr. Bute’s research centers on communication about health in interpersonal relationships and patient-provider interactions. Most of her work has explored issues of reproductive health, such as how people manage private information about topics like infertility and miscarriage. Dr. Bute’s experience navigating a health insurance denial for her son has driven her to learn more about resources for patient advocacy and to tell her family’s story. She currently serves on the Health Care Task Force for the Institute of Reproductive Grief Care and has previously served on the Outcomes Research Advisory Board for Food Allergy Research & Education and the advisory committee for the Personalized Medicine Coalition, where she offered expertise in health communication to develop patient-centered research agendas.
Robert Ettinger
Robert Ettinger is a seasoned healthcare executive with extensive experience in health delivery systems management. With an MBA in Health Administration from Temple University, he has held leadership roles across major healthcare organizations, including Aetna, MetroPlus Health Plan, NYC Health & Hospitals, and Inspiris/Geriatrix of New York. His expertise spans provider network development, health plan operations, regulatory compliance, and strategic planning.
Robert has been a dedicated advocate and activist for healthcare access and patient rights for over 40 years. Now retired, he continues to share his expertise, helping individuals and organizations navigate both the financial and clinical complexities of the healthcare system.
Roundtable Speakers
Karla Alvarado
Karla I. Alvarado serves as the Community Health Manager at BSWH Community Care Clinics. She oversees the Community Care Navigation Team and focuses on addressing social determinants of health (SDoH) for the underserved community, including food insecurity. Her passion for addressing inequalities drives her to create meaningful change and strives to inspire other to take action. As a TAPCHW member and Association Secretary she is working to ensure that CHWs have the resources, education and recognition they deserve to effectively serve their communities. In her spare time, she enjoys spending time with her husband, two kids and two dogs.
Erin Bradshaw
Erin Bradshaw’s dedication to the Patient Advocate Foundation (PAF) spans over 25 years. From her early days working directly with patients, translating her work into educational resources, to overseeing case management operations, Erin has consistently championed navigation and interventions to get patients the care they need and can afford. Now, as Executive Vice President for the Advancement of Patient Services and Navigation, her focus is on program development and fundraising, ensuring that PAF continues to make a positive impact on patients’ lives.
Aimee Hoch
Aimee Hoch, LSW, OSW-C, FACCC, is a Masters Level Social Worker with 20-plus years of experience in both healthcare and behavioral health. Her practice is focused in oncology specifically addressing financial toxicity. Aimee earned her MSW from Fordham University Lincoln Center and is a licensed social worker. She is a Certified Oncology Social Worker.
Aimee is a Financial Navigator for the Cancer Program at Grand View Health where she created and implemented the Financial Navigation program in 2018. She is a consultant for the Cancer Support Community Helpline as a Financial Navigation Specialist. Aimee is an active member of the Association of Cancer Care Center’s (ACCC) Financial Advocacy Network Advisory Committee, Initiatives Task Force, and has been recognized as a Fellow for the organization.
She is a member of the Medical Advisory Board at Living Beyond Breast Cancer. Aimee is a member of the Pennsylvania Cancer Coalition and their quality of life and survivorship workgroup. She is also a member of AOSW and AONN+. Aimee was selected for the CancerX Moonshot 2024 Mentor cohort. She speaks about financial toxicity and the role of financial navigation in cancer care.
Courtney Jones
Courtney Jones has been with the Patient Advocate Foundation (PAF) for over 20 years, holding various leadership roles throughout her career. From overseeing case management operations to managing key donor partnerships, Courtney has consistently worked to ensure patients receive the care they need. As Senior Director of Case Management, she is responsible for department operations, compliance, and program development. With a focus on quality assurance and efficiency, she has led initiatives that have exceeded performance goals. Courtney’s passion for patient advocacy and improving healthcare access drives her ongoing efforts to make a positive impact on patients’ lives.
Heidi Kummer
Heidi B. Kummer, MD, MPH, BCPA, is a board‐certified patient advocate and Co-Founder/CEO of 3C Patient Advocacy. With over 30 years in clinical practice and public health, she has been a leading voice in advancing professional patient and health care advocacy, safeguarding patient rights, and promoting patient-centered ethical practice. She joined the Patient Advocate Certification Board/PACB in 2019 and has served as President since 2021. As a member of the Coalition of Health Care Advocacy Organizations/CHCAO, she is championing the development of a national core curriculum in patient and health care advocacy—an initiative aimed at cultivating a new generation of skilled professionals who will guide patients through complex care systems, ensuring timely access to essential services while overcoming financial barriers to treatment.
Frequently Asked Questions
Policy Consortium is National Patient Advocate Foundation’s signature policy program where we bring together patients and communities who have been underrepresented in health reform discussions.
Here, the patient community along with healthcare industry partners and policymakers work together to identify common sense solutions that will make the healthcare system work for all of us. Our goal is to transform healthcare policies and practices to be more responsive to the needs of patients and caregivers.
The next Policy Consortium will be a roundtable discussion held Wednesday, March 12 at 2 pm ET and will take place virtually via Zoom.
These other events for 2025 will take place June 11, September 10, and November 6. More details will be shared as we get closer to the dates.
Anyone who cares about making our healthcare system work for all of us can participate in Policy Consortium. We welcome patients, caregivers, patient advocates and navigators, social workers, community health workers, and others who share our mission.
We’re interested in having you participate! Register using the link above.
If you’d like to be a part of the conversation, send us a note at action@npaf.org and we can talk about how you can potentially support our next convening. Please include “Policy Consortium” in the subject line so we know to prioritize your email.
After each convening, we will publish the lessons learned so everyone who participates knows the practical steps they can do to take action and address the issues discussed.
Policy Consortium is made possible with generous support from our sponsors: Johnson and Johnson, Lilly, Pfizer, and Vertex.