title: Effective advocacy for patients with inflammatory bowel disease: communication with insurance companies, school administrators, employers, and other health care overseers.
abstract: In addition to their physical challenges, children and adolescents with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) living in the United States face a number of administrative and regulatory hurdles that affect their quality of life. This article, written by a physician, attorney/patient advocate, and social worker, discusses a number of these challenges and describes how the provider can help his or her patient overcome them. Specifically, the article discusses 4 areas in detail: appeals of denials of coverage from insurance companies and third party payors; assisting children with IBD with classroom and school accommodations; assisting uninsured children in obtaining Social Security benefits; and aiding a parent to care for their child using the Family and Medical Leave Act. Although this article has a pediatric focus, adults have similar advocacy needs. Case examples and sample letters to third-party payors, schools, and employers are included in this article.
authors.affiliation: Advocacy for Patients with Chronic Illness, Inc., Farmington, Connecticut, USA.
authors.forename: Jennifer C
authors.initials: JC
authors.lastname: Jaff
authors.forename: Janis
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Arnold
authors.forename: Athos
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Bousvaros
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D002648:Child; D002651:Child Advocacy / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence*; D004185:Disability Evaluation; D017407:Family Leave / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence*; D006801:Humans; D015212:Inflammatory Bowel Diseases; D019458:Insurance Coverage / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence*; D007349:Insurance, Health, Reimbursement; D010344:Patient Advocacy / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence*; D012574:Schools / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence; D012943:Social Security; D013334:Students / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence; D014481:United States