"Healthcare Hero Award" Presented to Representative Sue Myrick (R-9th-NC) for Her Efforts in Improving Patient Access to Affordable Healthcare

Annual Award Presented by Patient Advocate Foundation (PAF) for Dedication to Promoting Healthcare Access for All

WASHINGTON, June 23, 2011 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Patient Advocate Foundation (PAF), a national non-profit organization that seeks to safeguard patients through effective mediation assuring access to care, maintenance of employment and preservation of their financial stability relative to their diagnosis of life threatening or debilitating diseases, presented The Healthcare Hero Award to Representative Sue Myrick (R-9th-NC) during the organization's 12th Annual Patient Congress Dinner Symposium last night in Washington, D.C. The Healthcare Hero Award is an annual award usually presented to a single individual who has shown through their life's work a commitment and dedication to improving and enhancing the United States healthcare system and achieved measurable results evidenced through the improvement of access to healthcare for all Americans.

A breast cancer survivor herself, Representative Myrick co-chairs the House Cancer Caucus, is a member of the Health subcommittee of the House Energy and Commerce Committee, and has successfully championed legislation aimed at stopping cancer through improved research, education and early detection and the funding for development of new, promising therapies.  Representative Myrick has been a staunch supporter of many patient access to care issues, including the support of a permanent solution to the SGR – a process that will allow physicians who treat Medicare patients to plan for the resources they will need to serve this growing population.   She supports finding low-cost solutions to phasing out pre-existing condition exclusions and rescissions imposed by insurance companies, and lowering the cost of health coverage.  She also supports allowing for catastrophic coverage options – especially for the young.  

An issue PAF feels strongly about is "tort reform," or legislation that will enable physicians to afford more reasonable medical malpractice insurance that will allow for lower penalties for medical malpractice claims. Representative Myrick supports sensible tort reform legislation, which will help protect both good doctors and legitimately-harmed patients and will enable physicians to continue practicing in specialty areas where their expertise is most needed.

"At PAF, we know that a cancer diagnosis is a devastating blow, but with education, early detection and access to healthcare, patients are better protected," said Nancy Davenport-Ennis, CEO of PAF. "For many years, Representative Myrick has taken important steps to champion legislation intended to protect cancer patients, and for that we are appreciative."

PAF's professional case managers received and resolved 82,963 cases in 2010, an increase from 55,384 in 2009. Additionally, PAF received and provided information through online contacts to more than 4 million patients, family members and care professionals requesting access to care information and assistance. PAF services are available to all patients, patient families, and medical professionals, offering 19 programs and services ranging from case management to co-pay relief, as well as specialized clinical support through the MedCare Line. PAF handles insurance claims intervention, job retention services and medical debt crisis management. For more information about Patient Advocate Foundation, please visit www.patientadvocate.org or call toll-free (800) 532-5274.  

SOURCE Patient Advocate Foundation