S8 Ep. 13: Supporting Patients Through Financial Assistance
Last Updated: May 15, 2025
In this episode, we’re joined by Michael Heimall, President and CEO of the HealthWell Foundation, to talk about the growing importance of financial assistance in oncology and chronic illness care.
Michael shares his journey from leading some of the nation’s top military and veterans’ medical centers to helping patients access critical treatment through HealthWell’s innovative funding programs. He reflects on how his personal experience as a caregiver continues to shape his approach to patient-centered leadership.
We discuss HealthWell’s mission, how their programs are easing financial toxicity, and why care teams—especially in oncology—play such an important role in connecting patients with real support.
In this episode:
- How financial assistance programs are supporting patients beyond the pharmacy counter
- Expanding access for caregivers and patients managing home-based care
- What oncology teams should know about referrals and fund alerts
- The connection between cost, care quality, and treatment outcomes