WHAT: Nearly ALL children in Nevada diagnosed with cancer and other catastrophic diseases receive treatment, attend doctors visits, undergo bloodwork and routine lab tests, and receive chemotherapy at an outpatient clinic – such as Cure 4 The Kids Foundation – not at a hospital.

However, outdated Medicaid reimbursement guidelines do not provide an appropriate billing category for pediatric cancer and rare disease clinic treatments provided at an outpatient clinic. Therefore, Cure 4 The Kids Foundation (C4K) and others have provided the treatments to Medicaid patients without question, but have done so with inadequate reimbursement from Medicaid. Those additional costs reduce the funds available for other important programs at C4K.

As a result, C4K, who treats the majority of Nevada’s pediatric cancer and rare disease patients has incurred a significant financial burden over the years due to these unreimbursed but essential medical services. 

The signing of SB 221 by Governor Joe Lombardo will correct this outdated billing model and establish billing guidelines and a new rate methodology for outpatient clinics which are consistent with prevailing best practices for reimbursing specialized outpatient clinics. The primary sponsors for SB 221 are Senator Fabian Doñate (D), Senator Jeff Stone (R), and Senator Carrie A. Buck (R).

WHEN: Monday, July 17, 2023

TIME: 2:30 P. M.

WHERE: Grant Sawyer State Office Building, 555 E Washington Avenue, Las Vegas, NV 89101.

LAS VEGAS – January 19, 2023 – Annette Logan-Parker, founder and CEO of Cure 4 The Kids Foundation, Nevada’s premier pediatric cancer and rare disease treatment center, has been selected as chairperson of The Nevada Rare Disease Advisory Council (NVRDAC).

NVRDAC was formed under SB315 during Nevada’s 2019 Legislative Session. The council’s mission as an advising body is to provide a platform for those who are affected by rare diseases, including pediatric cancer. The council’s goal is to provide the rare disease community with a stronger voice in state government, including the ability to make recommendations to state leaders.

“I’m excited to help bring greater awareness and attention to the many rare diseases that affect Nevada patients and their families,” said Annette Logan-Parker. “We’re fortunate that Nevada is among the states looking to study the incidence and effect of rare diseases on patients, their families and the community. It’s a great first step.”

Among the objectives of the council is to create a statewide registry of rare diseases diagnosed in Nevada to help determine the genetic and environmental factors that contribute to rare diseases.

Other NVRDAC objectives include:

• Increase awareness among providers of health care of the symptoms of and care for patients with rare diseases
• Study the effect of early treatment for rare disease on the quality of life for patients suffering from rare disease
• Determine the effect of delayed or inappropriate treatment on the quality o life for patentees suffering from rare disease and the economy of Nevada.
• Evaluate the systems for delivery of treatment for rare disease in place in Nevada and development recommendation to increase survival rates and quality of life of patients

A rare disease is a condition or disorder that affects fewer than 200,000 individuals in the United States. There are approximately 7,000 rare diseases and 25-30 million Americans are affected by these rare disorders.

 

 Las Vegas – On Thursday, December 8, former UFC light heavyweight champion Glover Teixeira, former UFC heavyweight champion Andrei Arlovski and UFC Hall of Famer Forrest Griffin visited pediatric patients at Cure 4 The Kids Foundation, Nevada’s only childhood cancer treatment center and facility for pediatric catastrophic diseases. UFC athletes will spend time with pediatric patients, delivering gifts and offering positive words of encouragement.  

 

C4K is the premier pediatric cancer and rare disease treatment center in Nevada, serving nearly 3,700 individuals through 18,273 encounters in 2020. About UFC® 

UFC® is the world’s premier mixed martial arts organization (MMA), with more than 688 million fans and 211 million social media followers. The organization produces more than 40 live events annually in some of the most prestigious arenas around the world, while broadcasting to nearly 900 million TV households across more than 170 countries. UFC’s athlete roster features the world’s best MMA athletes representing more than 75 countries. The organization’s digital offerings include UFC FIGHT PASS®, one of the world’s leading streaming services for combat sports. UFC is owned by global entertainment, sports and content company Endeavor, and is headquartered in Las Vegas, Nevada. For more information, visit UFC.com and follow UFC at Facebook.com/UFC, Twitter, Snapchat, Instagram and TikTok: @UFC. 

Cure 4 The Kids Foundation (C4K) announced the Englestad Foundation’s support, which provides $556,000 to fund the behavioral health needs of childhood cancer and rare disease patients. 

 

The Englestad Foundation funding covers a year’s worth of Behavioral Health Team services to assist patients and their families with the impacts of a childhood cancer diagnosis and other catastrophic childhood diseases in what are highly challenging medical journeys.

 

“The treatment of childhood cancer and other pediatric conditions goes beyond the chemotherapy and other medical treatments we provide in the clinic, said Annette Logan, Founder, and CEO, Cure 4 The Kids Foundation. “Our goal at Cure 4 The Kids Foundation is to meet all the patient’s needs, including educational, emotional, social, cognitive, and mental well-being. Our Behavioral Health Team is essential to a patient’s full recovery, making this Englestad Foundation funding vital to a patient’s success.”

 

“We are thrilled the Englestad Foundation supports the vital services and benefits that our Behavioral Health Team provide to patients and their families,” said Danielle Bello, Ph.D., ABPP-CN, Behavioral Health Director, Cure 4 The Kids Foundation. “Medical therapies, combined with behavioral health coordination and services, allow us to treat the whole patient and provide the best path forward.”

 

 The Behavioral Health Team includes:

 

•           Licensed Clinical Psychologist & Board Certified Neuropsychologist to help identify brain functioning, thinking skills, human behavior, and emotions in patients. A neuropsychological evaluation can diagnose specific conditions and provide a plan to help a patient grow and overcome challenges through therapies, medications, and school accommodations.

•           Certified Child Life Specialist provides one-on-one support to patients and family members by preparing for medically complex treatments. A certified child life specialist also provides unique coping strategies for patients to relieve stress and anxiety related to medical procedures.

•           Social Worker provides support and resources for patients and families with various needs, including financial and social support, transportation, and education. Additionally, the social worker communicates directly with community partners to maintain services and establish new resources.

 

C4K is the premier pediatric cancer and rare disease treatment center in Nevada, serving nearly 3,700 individuals through 18,273 encounters in 2020. 

LAS VEGAS – October 4, 2022 – Cure 4 The Kids Foundation (C4K), Nevada’s only pediatric cancer and rare disease treatment center, has announced Joseph Lasky III, M.D., is being promoted from Director of Pediatric Neuro-Oncology to Medical Director.

In his new position, Dr. Lasky will lead the organization’s team of physicians, oversee clinical quality and patient safety, and assume responsibility for the clinical research initiatives at Cure 4 The Kids Foundation. He will also provide leadership in collaboration with community partners. 

“Over the last five years, the organization has benefited from Dr. Lasky’s outstanding leadership and dedication to providing compassionate and innovative care to our fragile patient population,” says Annette Logan-Parker, Founder and CEO. “I am confident that in his new role, he will continue to advance the mission and vision of the organization.”

Dr. Lasky has more than two decades of clinical and research experience. Before joining C4K, he led the pediatric hematology/oncology program at Harbor/UCLA Medical Center and held several academic positions. Currently, he holds professor positions at UNLV and Roseman University of Health Sciences. Since joining C4K in 2017, Dr. Lasky has been treating a wide range of children with pediatric cancers and rare diseases, all while overseeing the organization’s Neuro-Oncology and Bleeding and Clotting Programs. 

Dr. Lasky is board certified in pediatric hematology/oncology and is a member of several professional organizations, including the Children’s Oncology Group, Society for Neuro-Oncology, American Society of Hematology, and the American Academy of Pediatrics.

With this promotion, Dr. Lasky will become the highest-ranking physician within the organization and will assume the responsibilities of Dr. Alan Ikeda, M.D., who is scheduled to retire as the organization’s Chief Medical Officer in mid-November 2022. Dr. Lasky and Dr. Ikeda will continue to work collaboratively as Dr. Ikeda will remain a C4K Advisory Council member. Dr. Ikeda joined C4K in 2011 and has worked tirelessly to raise the bar of clinical standards within the organization and throughout the Las Vegas pediatric medical and research community. He has been instrumental in guiding the clinic through exponential growth and expansion of patient services over the past decade. 

 

“It has been an honor and privilege to work side-by-side with Dr. Ikeda in building the clinical infrastructure of C4K. We plan to continue his legacy of clinical excellence and honor his hard work and dedication,” said Dr. Lasky. “He has left an impressive mark on the patient experience and, more importantly, the patient outcomes. I’m thrilled to be leading the team of professionals that he built, a team that is curing pediatric cancer every day right here in Las Vegas.”

Dr. David Stewart, Orthopedic Surgeon, Joins Growing C4K Medical Team

Cure 4 The Kids Foundation (C4K), Nevada’s only pediatric cancer center has announced that pediatric orthopedic surgeon Dr. David Stewart has joined the C4K Medical team. The addition of Dr. Stewart brings significant experience in pediatric orthopedics to C4K while further expanding the organization’s medical team and range of pediatric services.

C4K’s Pediatric Orthopedic Center is designed as a Center of Excellence to promote high-quality integrated care. The Center strives for best practices from evidence-based medicine and principles of quality, safety, and value.

“We are very excited for the addition of our Pediatric Orthopedics Program,” said Annette Logan-Parker, Founder and CEO at C4K. “Medically fragile and complex children require comprehensive medical treatment and care. Dr. Stewart brings 17 years of experience treating children in Las Vegas.”

In addition to treating the full range of pediatric musculoskeletal conditions, the Pediatric Orthopedic Center holds multidisciplinary clinics for medically complex and special needs children with conditions including developmental delay, cerebral palsy, spina bifida, genetic syndromes, and others.

“I’m thrilled to be joining the talented medical team at Cure 4 The Kids Foundation” said Dr. Stewart. “Cure 4 The Kids Foundation has an impeccable record of caring for children. I look forward to building on its 15-year track record and reputation as a leading center for pediatric specialty care.”

Dr. David Stewart, a board-certified pediatric orthopedic surgeon has been practicing in Las Vegas since 2005. Dr. Stewart has become the provider of choice for many pediatricians and parents, especially for medically complex and special needs children.  He has received local and regional top doctor awards from his peers for eleven consecutive years from 2011 to 2021.

Dr. Stewart is the latest addition to the C4K medical team that includes Chief Medical Officer Dr. Alan Ikeda MD, Dr, Joseph Lasky MD, Dr. Waseem Alhushki MD, Dr. Sumit Gupta MD, Dr. Amy Cruickshank, DO and Dr. Aimee Foord, DO

Southern Nevada Toyota Dealers Continues Support Cure 4 The Kids Foundation

$25,000 Donation to Support C4K Bowl 4 The Kids Event

 

LAS VEGAS  – Cure 4 The Kids Foundation (C4K), Nevada’s only pediatric cancer center has announced a significant donation to its annual patient event, Bowl 4 The Kids. The $25,000 donation was provided to C4K by Autonation Toyota on behalf of the Southern Nevada Toyota Dealers.

 

“We are incredibly grateful for the continued support of Autonation Toyota for Cure 4 The Kids Foundation” said Annette Logan-Parker, Founder and CEO at C4K. “This support will allow us to treat over 300 patients and their siblings to a fun-filled day of bowling, allowing them to forget about their circumstances for an afternoon and have fun like a normal kid.”

 

“We are very excited to continue our support of Cure 4 The Kids Foundation” said Cesar Ramos, General Manager of Autonation Toyota. “Supporting Bowl 4 The Kids will bring smiles and fun to kids and their families in our community. It means the world to us”.

 

The theme this year is ‘The Empire Strikes C4K’ so this Star Wars spectacle is the only patient-centric event of the year. The goal is to simply bring kids and their siblings and C4K doctors and staff together for an afternoon of fun and prizes. The event focuses exclusively on catering to C4K’s patient that are battling cancer and other rare diseases.

 

The support of Autonation Toyota on behalf of the Southern Nevada Toyota Dealers will continue to make possible that kids and families will not miss important appointments, checkups, chemotherapy, and other medical procedures because of financial hardship or constraints.