any Kaiser members out there?

Sounds like this is a difficult situation - Most patient’s aren’t diagnosed when they are already in a hospital.  They have some symptoms - they go see their primary care doc -he may be even treating them for something else like allergies.  But they don’t improve so  he gives more exams and may order a chest Xray and then something very suspicious. 

He may refer them to a pulmonologist - and he orders perhaps an MRI or CT Scan which are better images to see whatever is there.  He or a radiologist reads the image and if there is still suspicion of what it is or the extent of it - a biopsy is order.  

During all of this they can see the extent of the tumor and its involvement with other parts of the body, like the lymph nodes - They will do other test if there are other symptoms to see if it is already in the bones or brain  All of this is for the knowledge of how for the disease has progressed.  

Then the oncologist develops a plan - how to treat it or slow or stop the growth - but it is a lot harder if the cancer has already spead to different areas since a more systemic approach has to be done than a targeted one.

This sounds like it takes a long time but it doesn’t - we might be talking a few days - perhaps a week at the most.  Just depends on how fast an oncologist can be brought onboard and treatment is started - Treatment is not alway to produce a cure - in fact many times there is no cure - extending life while measuring their quality of life maybe the total goal.  Many times the patient has to make these hard decisions  - how do you want your remaining days to be - That maybe the 1st conversation a  oncologist has with a cancer patient that is in a late stage.  

Yes, it does help that the patient can move about and go hither and yon for test and treatments.  These are not the type that would keep a patient in a hospital - they can get it as outpatient if no surgery is planned - either radiology or chemo treatments can be done as outpatient.  But yes, that does mean that somebody has to get them there. 

It sounds like the patient and their family or at least the one with the healthcare power from the patient needs to have a sit down with the lead oncologist and understand the plan of care.  That is when you can bring up the mobility issues and what suggestions they might have for overcoming this problem.  

Most likely a transport could be arranged but that might mean if the beneficiary has both Medicare and Medicaid because normally Medicare does not cover transport to and from outpatient treatments - but I don’t know Kaiser - 

Health insurers cover matters of health - diseases, diagnosis and treatments - they do not get involved in providing care for ADLs (activities of daily living) that is usually up to the patient to pay out of pocket or they are also covered by MEDICAID which does cover some home health.  

All I can say is read the explanation of benefits that came with the Kaiser health policy.  It should be pretty specific.  

Now IF the beneficiary ever decides to go on Hospice care instead of staying in treatment care - they will go back on traditional Medicare for this Hospice care and the Kaiser MA plan would just cover other care not related to the condition that they are under Hospice care.

Medicare.gov-Medicare Hospice Benefits 

I wish you and the patient peace as you go thru these difficult steps/