The Bleeding Disorder Foundation Of Washington

THE BLEEDING DISORDER FOUNDATION OF WASHINGTON MISSION: THE BDFW SERVES AND EDUCATES THE BLEEDING DISORDER COMMUNITY AND ADVOCATES FOR ACCESS TO CARE FOR THOSE WITH RARE DISEASES.

EDUCATE THOSE LIVING WITH BLEEDING DISORDERS AND HOW TO MANAGE THEIR COMPLICATED HEALTHCARE CONDITION OF BLEEDING DISORDER. BLEEDING DISORDERS ARE LIFELONG CONDITIONS THAT REQUIRE EDUCATION AT EACH STAGE OF LIFE. WITH ADVANCEMENTS IN SCIENCE THE BDFW HAS HAD TO REVAMP AND UPDATE ALL OUR EDUCATE MATERIAL TO MEET THE NEEDS OF THE COMMUNITY. THIS IS CREATING EDUCATION FOR EACH SUBSET OF AGE AND GENDER WHILE MAKING SURE IT IS CULTURALLY AND SOCIOECONOMICALLY APPROPRIATE. DUE TO THE COST OF BLEEDING DISORDERS THIS EDUCATION ALSO INCLUDES HOW TO MANAGE OUR HEALTH CARE AND INSURANCE NAVIGATION. WITH MEDICATION FOR SEVERE HEMOPHILIA COSTING $1 MILLION PER YEAR THE NEED FOR UNDERSTANDING HEALTH INSURANCE IS CRITICAL TO ACCESSING LIFESAVING MEDICATION AND CARE. THIS PROGRAM DIRECTLY SERVES OVER 500 DIRECT IN PERSON EDUCATION ENCOUNTERS AND PROVIDES ONLINE EDUCATION TO BE ACCESSED BY OVER 70,000 LIVING WITH BLEEDING DISORDER IN WASHINGTON STATE.

PATIENT ASSISTANCE HAS BEEN A GROWING AREA OF SUPPORT PROVIDED BY THE BDFW TO SERVE THOSE LIVING WITH BLEEDING DISORDERS DIRECTLY. THESE DIRECT SERVICES PROGRAMS WERE EXPANDED DURING COVID BUT HAVE BEEN MAINTAINED SINCE DUE TO THE NEED. THESE SERVICES PROVIDE MEDICAL ID BRACELETS TO OVER 250 CHILDREN PER YEAR, BACK-TO-SCHOOL SUPPLIES, WINTER CLOTHES, AND SHOES FOR SAFE PLAY TO REDUCE BLEEDING EPISODES. THESE SERVICES ALSO INCLUDE GAP FOOD SUPPORT, TRANSPORTATION TO MEDICAL VISITS PERTAINING TO THEIR BLEEDING DISORDER, LODGING FOR DOCTOR VISITS AND HOSPITAL STAYS, AND SUPPORTIVE DEVICES NOT COVERED BY INSURANCE. BLEEDING DISORDERS HAVE A LARGE PERCENTAGE OF PATIENTS ON MEDICAID AND MEDICARE DUE TO THE COST OF THE CARE CREATING DECADES OF INSTITUTIONAL POVERTY. DIRECT PATIENT ASSISTANCE IS CRITICAL FOR PATIENTS TO MANAGE THEIR CONDITION.

ACCESS TO CARE ADVOCACY AND EMPOWERMENT SERVICES FOCUS ON NAVIGATION OF INSURANCE, EDUCATION ON INSURANCE, AND ACCESS TO COVERAGE OF BLEEDING DISORDER TREATMENT ON PUBLIC AND PRIVATE INSURANCE PLANS. HEMOPHILIA IS A BLEEDING DISORDER, THAT HAS SOME OF THE MOST EXPENSIVE TREATMENTS IN THE COUNTRY. THE BDFW ADVOCATES FOR ACCESS TO THESE TREATMENTS AND ALL TREATMENTS FOR RARE DISEASES THROUGH THIS PROGRAM. WE WORK WITH BLEEDING DISORDERS AND RARE DISEASE PATIENTS ON HOW TO ADVOCATE FOR THEMSELVES WITH ELECTED OFFICIALS, EMPLOYERS, SCHOOL, AND MEDICAL PROVIDERS.