The Impact of Advocacy at Eastern Connecticut Hematology and Oncology (ECHO)

Eastern Connecticut Hematology and Oncology (ECHO) joined CPAN to highlight how community oncology benefits patients. Dr. Dinesh Kapur, a medical oncologist and hematologist, knows his practice helps people every day—whether it’s a new patient who’s comforted by the bond made with his care team or a patient who received help coordinating transportation, so she did not miss any more appointments. ECHO often helps identify financial assistance programs to help patients afford treatment, even after their insurers would not cover the cost.

Everyone in the practice, from the oncologist to the administrative staff, is engaged and excited about providing better care, and patients see and feel this difference.

Being part of CPAN is about showcasing the power of community oncology. It’s about standing up to consolidation that gives patients fewer, more expensive choices that get in the way of patients receiving the treatments their doctors prescribe. Since establishing a CPAN chapter, ECHO has witnessed increased engagement—from family caregivers writing their legislators about the need to hold pharmacy benefit managers accountable, to patients eager to learn about the newest advocacy issues.

ECHO is proud to be part of the CPAN community, so policymakers, employers, and patients understand the value community oncology provides every day.