Key Takeaways:
- Cure 4 The Kids Foundation never denies care to a child with cancer for any reason
- Our open-access pediatric oncology model means treatment is never conditional on insurance, ability to pay, or research participation
- We complement research-focused institutions by ensuring every child has a place to receive care
- Nevada families can access specialized pediatric cancer treatment close to home
There are moments in healthcare when values are tested in real time, with real families, under impossible circumstances.
A childhood cancer diagnosis is one of those moments.
At Cure 4 The Kids Foundation, we made a decision long ago about how we would respond when a child is diagnosed with cancer. That decision has never changed:
We do not turn away a child with cancer—ever.
- Not for financial reasons
- Not because of insurance limitations
- Not because a diagnosis is complex or rare
- Not because a child’s care journey has already begun elsewhere
- Not because a family is unable—or unwilling—to participate in research or clinical trials
Every child with cancer who is referred to Cure 4 The Kids Foundation is accepted and treated.
What Is Open-Access Pediatric Oncology?
Unconditional access is more than an operational policy. It is a moral stance.
Cure 4 The Kids Foundation operates under an open-access pediatric oncology model, which means that care is never conditional. A child does not have to qualify financially. A family does not have to navigate eligibility thresholds. A diagnosis does not need to fit neatly into a predefined category. And participation in research is never a prerequisite for receiving care.
Cancer does not wait for approvals. It does not pause while families sort through insurance. And it does not respect institutional boundaries or protocols.
Children deserve care when they need it—not when they qualify for it.
At Cure 4 The Kids Foundation, medically necessary cancer treatment comes first. Everything else follows.
Why Our Model Differs from Research-Based Pediatric Cancer Programs
Many people assume that all pediatric cancer programs function the same way. They do not.
Some nationally recognized institutions are built primarily around research and clinical trials. These centers are essential to advancing cures and improving outcomes—and their work saves countless lives. But research-based models necessarily operate under selective admission criteria. Eligibility requirements, protocol design, study capacity, and institutional limitations all determine which children can be accepted.
The result is a reality that is not widely understood: more children are referred to these institutions than can ultimately be admitted, even though public perception often suggests that every child referred is treated.
Moreover, enrollment and attendance decline for adolescents compared with younger children, highlighting that not all who could benefit from these centers actually receive care there. This is often because of referral patterns, insurance, geographic distance, and capacity restraints as well.
This is not a criticism. It is simply how research-driven systems function. But it does create a gap—and that gap is where families can feel lost, frightened, and unsure of where to turn next.
How We Ensure No Child Falls Through the Cracks
Cure 4 The Kids Foundation exists to fill that gap.
We ensure that every child with cancer has a place to go, especially when:
- A child does not qualify for a research protocol
- A family chooses not to participate in a clinical trial
- Treatment has already begun elsewhere
- A child requires long-term outpatient management close to home
Our role is not to replace research hospitals. It is to complement them—by providing continuity, stability, and access for every child who needs care.
In our model, no child is excluded because they are “too complex,” “not eligible,” or “already treated.” Every child with cancer at Cure 4 The Kids Foundation is screened for appropriate clinical trials or research opportunities, so families are aware of all available options. Participation is always voluntary, and care is never contingent on enrollment.
Financial Assistance for Pediatric Cancer Treatment
For many families, the financial impact of childhood cancer begins immediately. Jobs are disrupted. Insurance coverage changes. Costs escalate quickly and unpredictably.
At Cure 4 The Kids Foundation, those realities do not determine whether a child receives care.
Children are never denied treatment because of insurance status or ability to pay. Charity care is built into our operations so that financial hardship never becomes a barrier to medically necessary cancer care.
This commitment is not symbolic. It is embedded in how we operate, how we plan, and how we show up for families—every day.
Pediatric Cancer Care Without Research Conditions
Research and clinical trials are vital to the future of pediatric cancer care. They are an important option for many families—but they are not the right option for every child, at every moment.
At Cure 4 The Kids Foundation, care is never contingent on research participation.
Families are supported in making informed decisions without fear that declining a study—or being ineligible for one—will limit access to treatment. The child comes first. Always.
Our Promise to Nevada Families
Unconditional access is not a tagline. It is not a marketing phrase. It is a promise—one that is kept quietly, consistently, and without exception.
Every child with cancer who is referred to Cure 4 The Kids Foundation receives care. Access to treatment is never contingent on ability to pay, insurance coverage, prior treatment history, or participation in research.
This is the standard we hold ourselves to. This is the responsibility we carry. And this is why Cure 4 The Kids Foundation exists.
Frequently Asked Questions About Pediatric Cancer Care at Cure 4 The Kids Foundation
We are often asked:
Does Cure 4 The Kids Foundation accept patients without insurance?
Yes. Cure 4 The Kids Foundation never denies care based on insurance status. Charity care is built into our operational model to ensure that financial circumstances never prevent a child from receiving medically necessary cancer treatment.
Do children have to participate in clinical trials to receive treatment?
No. While we screen all patients for appropriate clinical trial opportunities and inform families of available options, participation is always voluntary. Care at Cure 4 The Kids Foundation is never contingent on enrollment in research protocols.
Can Cure 4 The Kids Foundation treat children who have already started treatment elsewhere?
Yes. We accept children at any point in their cancer journey, including those who have already begun treatment at another facility. Our open-access model ensures continuity of care regardless of treatment history.
Is Cure 4 The Kids Foundation only for Nevada residents?
While we serve as Nevada’s only pediatric cancer and rare disease treatment center, we accept referrals from families throughout the region. Our mission is to ensure that any child with cancer who is referred to us receives care.
Support Unconditional Access to Pediatric Cancer Care
Unconditional access to pediatric cancer care doesn’t happen by accident. It exists because a community chooses to care for its children and supports the systems that make that care possible.
If this approach matters to you, we invite you to learn more about Cure 4 The Kids Foundation or support our work in ways that feel right to you. Every form of support helps ensure that children with cancer can receive the care they need, close to home and without conditions.
About the Author: Annette Logan-Parker brings over 30 years of experience in pediatric oncology to her role as Founder and Chief Advocacy & Innovation Officer at Cure 4 The Kids Foundation. She has dedicated her career to improving outcomes for children with cancer and ensuring equitable access to cutting-edge treatments for all families.