Care in the Middle

What happens when a patient has insurance, but still can’t easily access treatment? Behind the scenes of cancer care, Alternative Funding Programs (AFPs) are quietly reshaping how treatment is accessed and paid for.In this episode, I break down AFPs, a growing benefit design strategy that shifts the cost of high-priced therapies away from insurers and onto outside assistance programs, often creating new barriers for patients and care teams along the way.

In this first episode of Care in the Middle, host Rifeta Kajdić Hodžić introduces the idea behind the podcast and the space where cancer care truly unfolds. Drawing from her work in oncology navigation and her personal journey growing up between cultures, Rifeta reflects on the systems, conversations, and invisible work that shape the cancer experience. This episode explores why the “middle” of cancer care matters, the space where patients, families, clinicians, and advocates come together to navigate complex healthcare systems while trying to maintain stability. Along the way, ithighlights the invisible work, the human connections that shape the cancer journey, and the people who help others find their way through it.