Ohio Governor Mike DeWine and Ohio Department of Health (ODH) Director Bruce Vanderhoff, MD, MBA, today announced the launch of a new Pediatric Complex Care Navigation Program designed to assist families of children diagnosed with cancer. The program, housed within ODH, will provide a single point of contact to connect families with essential resources and support.
Governor DeWine emphasized the program's critical role, saying, "This program will save precious time solving problems and finding answers when families need it most. Our goal is to help as many families as possible and connect them with potentially life-saving resources." The announcement coincides with September, recognized as National Childhood Cancer Awareness Month.
The new initiative expands upon ODH's existing Complex Medical Help program and will offer services to all Ohio families, irrespective of income level. It aims to streamline access to medication support, Medicaid coverage, physician referrals, travel assistance for clinical trials, and connections to non-profit support networks.
Dr. Vanderhoff highlighted the program's necessity, stating, "A navigator is key for families because the healthcare system, insurance world, and network of state and local services are often complex and confusing. We want this program to streamline and simplify things to families." This builds on a previous $5 million investment announced by Governor DeWine in December for pediatric cancer research.