Linda,

I didn’t have a problem with re-irridation with Proton Therapy under Medicare back in 2013, but I know other patients that did, not related to head and neck cancer. Back then, it was basically for re-irridation of the head and neck or otherwise a clinical trial at MD Anderson, which I’m not sure is still open. ASTRO, American Society of Radiation Oncology, was going to make a written policy to include Proton Radiation for initial head and neck cancer, not just re-irridation or clinical trial.

I hope MD Anderson is helping you with the appeal process? My center at ProCure let some patients start radiation while in the appeal process. I know they had patient assistance programs to cover radiation, transportation, housing or similar. I know relatives of some patients that when the billing or whatever came in the mail they threw it in the trash lol. Those were some of the early days as I was patient #245 at that new radiation center, not affiliated with a hospital.

I hope you get approved soon or they let you start radiation. Pretty much they like to start between 4-6 weeks post surgery.

Good luck!