Helping Local Cancer Patients

Cuyuna Regional Medical Center is dedicated to enhancing and furthering the availability of services to cancer patients in the Brainerd Lakes Area. The organization’s vision is that all who face cancer can do so with dignity, confidence and serenity. CRMC’s Courage Cabinet helps cancer patients experience better health and well-being by limiting financial challenges.

A cancer diagnosis can wipe out a person not only physically and emotionally but also financially. Cancer can quickly impose an economic burden on the patient and his or her family, especially for those in lower income brackets. Costs for surgery, other treatments and medication can mount, even if a patient has insurance and are dealing only with co-payments. If treatment at a faraway facility is recommended, long-distance travel costs can also quickly escalate.

To provide some relief to cancer patients who are in treatment and undergoing chemotherapy or radiation, CRMC established its Courage Cabinet. The fund helps families with non-medical needs, such as gas cards/vouchers for travel to treatment, hotel, and meals, meals on wheels vouchers, or groceries. Courage Cabinet funds can also be used to pay for any medical bills, drugs, and non-covered medical equipment, supplies, and dressings, if patient or his/her family or insurance is unable to cover the costs.

Courage Cabinet is open to all CRMC cancer patients in CRMC’s service area. The goal is to assist and support each cancer patient who may need financial assistance relating to social determinants. The limit of Courage Cabinet funds is up to $1,000 per patient, per year. Additional gas cards may be distributed at CRMC’s discretion.