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Hidden Heroes of Ridley-Tree Cancer Center

Meet the Authorization Team

While most patients receive insurance coverage for the services they receive at Ridley-Tree Cancer Center, most never meet the employees who work behind the scenes to get all of the insurance details worked out before treatment begins. This process is called authorization. These authorization employees coordinate closely with physicians to get all of the details handled in advance. They are skilled communicators and knowledgeable about benefits. They often spend a great deal of time on the phone with insurance companies advocating for patients and the care they need. Whether the request comes early in the morning or late in the evening, the authorization specialists spring into action in hopes of preventing delays in treatment. We do not want the patients to get surprises in the end. I love what I do every day caring for the patients,” explains Maria Trujillo, Radiation Oncology authorization specialist for more than 20 years. “You have to have a lot of patience because you are on hold a lot,” says Medical Oncology infusion authorization specialist Claudia Peralta. “I like that each patient’s treatment is different and each process is different. No day is ever the same. We all work together to make it happen for our patients.” Not pictured below is Medical Oncology's Authorization leader, Cat Morales. Cat brings 19 years of experience committed to the critical financial care of patients at the Cancer Center. "Getting authorization can be challenging and it takes a certain set of skills and resilience to combat the many obstacles to ensure patient care. The authorization team members are definitely champions in their own right and they certainly take joy in ensuring our patients get necessary treatment," says Cat. Ridley-Tree Cancer Center is very grateful for our authorization team and their commitment to our patients!


MARIA TRUJILLO, RADIATION ONCOLOGY


ALICIA CALDERON, MEDICAL ONCOLOGY


CLAUDIA PERALTA, MEDICAL ONCOLOGY


PHILLIP HUFFARD, MEDICAL ONCOLOGY


ROSE DELAGUERRA, MEDICAL ONCOLOGY


PATTI NIELSON, MEDICAL ONCOLOGY


JENNY HONAFIUS, MEDICAL ONCOLOGY