Cancer Support Community San Francisco Bay Area Launches Initiative to Provide Digital Cancer Care to Underserved Communities
WALNUT CREEK, CA (APRIL 20, 2023) – Cancer Support Community San Francisco (SF) Bay Area announced a new initiative to improve access to cancer support and education, among individuals residing in underserved Bay Area communities. In a highly unique approach to connecting with medically underserved people, Cancer Support Community (CSC) is working with Equiva, a digital health platform provider that recently launched its Affordable Connectivity Program(ACP)-centric solution.
Launched by the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) in December 2021, the ACP is a $14.2 billion benefit program that helps ensure households can afford the broadband they need for work, school, healthcare and more.
Use of tele-mental health services experienced rapid growth during the COVID-19 pandemic. However, disparities in access to broadband and usage were also exposed. As CSC looks beyond the pandemic, they see an opportunity to continue to leverage tele-mental health services in a way that breaks down barriers to care and advances health equity.
Through Equiva’sACP-centric solution, the organizations are collaborating to ensure eligible households get FCC discounts of up to $30 per month toward internet service (up to $75 per month for Tribal lands) and that each household enrolled by Cancer Support Community SF Bay Area receives a tablet device preloaded with digital access to virtual cancer support groups, exercise, nutrition, cancer treatment information, and other resources. It also includes the Cancer Support Source®, a scientifically validated distress, depression and anxiety screener with automated referral. Screener results enable identification of highest acuity patients and improve timeliness in addressing the needs of individuals who could benefit from emotional support services or resource referrals.
To help enroll ACP-eligible households across the Bay Area, CSC is making prospective enrollees, healthcare providers, and community organizations aware of the ACP. Additionally, they are educating these constituents about their collaboration with Equiva and their efforts to deliver oncology-specific digital offerings to at-risk populations.
“Every day in the United States, more than 5,000 people are diagnosed with cancer but not all patients have equal access to care. Through this first-of-its-kind initiative, we can reach even more people impacted by cancer with valuable resources that can improve quality of life,” said Rob Tufel, MSW, MPH, Cancer Support Community SF Bay Area Chief Executive Officer. “We’re proud to be one of several CSC network partners to embrace this groundbreaking program to deliver support to cancer patients who may not have access to support services.”
According to the National Cancer Institute, cancer patients from certain groups bear a disproportionate burden of cancer compared with other patients due to social, environmental and economic factors which impacts their rates of survivorship. For example, African American cancer patients have higher death rates than all other ethnic groups for many cancer types and patients with less education are more likely to die prematurely from colorectal cancer than those with more education, regardless of race or ethnicity.
“We’re not familiar with another program of this kind serving population health needs. It uniquely couples proven digital health engagement technology with a federally supported broadband connectivity program, in a framework that helps providers and payors advance health equity via a platform empowering cost-effective and cohesive deployment of care management services,” said Equiva Health CEO and co-founder Nir Altman. “We’re pleased to collaborate with Infinti Mobile, an FCC participating wireless service provider, to help San Francisco Bay area residents connect to the ACP and Cancer Support Community.”
With 190 partner locations worldwide including Cancer Support Community SF Bay Area, the Washington, DC-headquartered Cancer Support Community recently announced a digital health partnership with Equiva. Together, the organizations support The White House’s Cancer Moonshot initiative’s goal to cut the cancer death rate by at least 50% over the next 25 years and to improve the experience of people and families living with and surviving cancer.
About Cancer Support Community San Francisco Bay Area
Cancer Support Community (CSC) SF Bay Area provides comprehensive, integrative care—including counseling, support groups, nutrition and educational programs, exercise classes, and emergency financial assistance—for people with cancer, their caregivers, and loved ones. Our evidence-based services enable cancer patients to partner with their medical teams to manage their treatment and recovery most effectively, increase their chances for survival, reduce their chances of recurrence, and provide for the highest possible quality of life. All CSC SF Bay Area services are always provided free of charge. With centers in Walnut Creek and Antioch, as well as virtual programs, the organization serves more than 2,000 people annually. https://cancersupport.net
About Equiva Health
Equiva’s health relationship management platform helps healthcare organizations supports initiatives to advance health equity, improve health outcomes and drive financial success. Equiva blends aspects of patient engagement, care management, and marketing in a framework that bridges data analytics with education and behavioral science-driven methodologies – to purposefully mobilize intelligence-driven action among consumers, patients, their loved ones, and care team members. A healthcare point solution aggregation and software delivery environment, Equiva’s SaaS platform can securely power any number of health education and engagement solutions via mobile devices (tablets and phones,) kiosks, televisions, digital signage and more. https://equivahealth.com