Studies from University of Virginia School of Medicine in the Area of Gliomas Published (Navigating Disability Insurance in the American Healthcare System for the Low-Grade Glioma Patient): Oncology – Gliomas

2022 OCT 11 (NewsRx) -- By a News Reporter-Staff News Editor at Insurance Daily News -- New research on gliomas is the subject of a new report. According to news reporting originating from Charlottesville, Virginia, by NewsRx correspondents, research stated, “In the US, diagnosis of grade 3 or 4 glioma qualifies patients for Social Security disability benefits. Low-grade gliomas (LGGs) can be similarly debilitating, with at least 31% of patients presenting with cognitive deficits and 80% with tumor-related epilepsy.”

The news journalists obtained a quote from the research from University of Virginia School of Medicine: “A diagnosis of LGG does not in and of itself qualify patients for disability benefits; the burden of proof is substantially higher. We outline the American healthcare system process of medical documentation to support disability benefits, Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) and Supplemental Security Income (SSI). We provide a template to assist providers in facilitating the application process for patients with LGG. The provider’s role is not to simply “declare” a patient disabled, but to provide comprehensive documentation regarding diagnosis, treatment, disease status, symptoms, and functional status in the medical record. As cognitive symptoms and seizures are two key sources of disability in low-grade glioma patients, selective referrals to neuropsychology and epileptology may improve patient care and bolster documentation of the patient’s symptoms in these domains. Likewise, connecting patients with social workers and disability claims representatives can assist them in navigating the complicated application process.”

According to the news reporters, the research concluded: “We provide an extensive review for patient eligibility in the United States to receive disability. We map a comprehensive care process that may have relevance to multiple regions outside the United States. Providers are better able to help their patients navigate the disability application process when they understand how to address physical and cognitive changes for thorough care of their patient.”

For more information on this research see: Navigating Disability Insurance in the American Healthcare System for the Low-Grade Glioma Patient. Neuro-Oncology Practice, 2022. The publisher for Neuro-Oncology Practice is Oxford University Press (OUP).

A free version of this journal article is available at https://doi.org/10.1093/nop/npac076.

Our news editors report that additional information may be obtained by contacting Lalanthica Yogendran, Department of Neurology, Division of Neuro-Oncology, University of Virginia School of Medicine, 1240 Lee St, 3rd Floor, Charlottesville, VA, United States. Additional authors for this research include Mark Rudolf, Drew Yeannakis, Kathleen Fuchs, David Schiff.

(Our reports deliver fact-based news of research and discoveries from around the world.)