Attorney Gregory Teuful on Prostate Cancer and Cryosurgery

"I am the chair of the legal advisory committee (LAC) for Patient Advocates for Advanced Cancer Treatments (PAACT). I started as a member of LAC-PAACT in 1995 under then chair Charles Russ, Esq. and took over as chair when Charlie passed away. In that role I directly take
hundreds of phone calls from prostate cancer victims who are having problems with coverage for prostate cancer treatments. Typically these men have been denied coverage by Medicare or some other insurer.

The vast majority of the calls have been from men who had coverage problems for cryosurgical ablation of the prostate (CSAP) because, during the past ten years anyway, that procedure has had more improper coverage problems than any other prostate cancer treatment. I typically give informal advice (not formal legal advice) about how to navigate the appeals process, what goals and issues to focus on, what the likelihood of success is on particular issues and where others have had the best success, and what types of evidence and other materials to gather and how best to use them in support of an appeal. I have directly (and successfully) represented approximately 10 individuals on a pro bono or quasi pro bono basis, personally handling their cases, and I have also recruited other lawyers to handle cases on a pro bono or quasi pro bono basis. Typically the cases I have handled personally were in or near to Pittsburgh, where I practice.

I also work on general projects to help men with coverage issues. I helped prepare and update the LAC-PAACT kit, which is a compilation of materials used by men appealing denials of coverage for CSAP. LAC-PAACT helped pressure Medicare, the FDA, and the AUA to change positions that were contrary to coverage for CSAP and to clearance for the urethral warmer used with that procedure. More recently, I wrote letters to Congress regarding a resolution passed to inform the public about treatment options for prostate cancer that failed to mention CSAP. The latest project I may get involved with is the fight over coverage for off label use of drugs for treatment of prostate cancer. As chair of LAC-PAACT, I also recruit lawyers and non lawyers to assist with LAC-PAACT efforts. I also actively solicit suggestions for how LAC-PAACT can best serve the needs of prostate cancer victims and address the legal issues affecting them."

Best regards,

Gregory Teuful

Schnader Harrison Segal & Lewis LLP
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