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In this powerful episode, Jamie sits down with Gail Menasco, a breast cancer survivor, insurance advocate, and founder of the BRA Society, to unpack how one woman’s relentless fight for access to care led to real legislative change.

Gail shares her deeply personal story of being diagnosed at 38 and navigating a broken insurance system that nearly denied her the muscle-sparing surgery she needed. Instead of giving up, she researched surgical options, challenged insurance denials, switched jobs for better coverage, and ultimately pushed through Senate Bill 1137 in Oregon to expand access to breast reconstruction procedures for others like her.

📌 What You’ll Learn

• Why many insurance plans are quietly switching from PPOs to EPOs—and what that means for access
• What led Gail to write a bill and how she got it passed unanimously in the Oregon legislature
• The hidden cost of “ghost networks” and the real risk of balance billing
• The rise of the BRA Society and how it’s helping patients nationwide
• A breakdown of Senate Bill 1137—and what it could mean for future federal legislation
• How you can take action in your own state

💪 Call to Action

✔️ Visit brasociety.org for resources, advocacy tools, and grant info
📞 Contact your state and federal representatives, your story matters
💸 Donate to the BRA Society to expand grants for women needing out-of-area care
🗣️ Share your story, because stories fuel change

🎧 Also Mentioned

• Center for Restorative Breast Surgery (New Orleans)
• DIEP Flap vs. MS-TRAM vs. Apex technique
• The Women's Health and Cancer Rights Act (WHCRA)

Previous Interview with Gail 

Interview w/ Gail on Central Oregon Daily News 

Interview with Dr. Elizabeth Potter 

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Jamie Vaughn in the News!

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I am not a doctor and not all information in this podcast comes from qualified healthcare providers, therefore may not constitute medical advice. For personalized medical advice, you should reach out to one of the qualified healthcare providers interviewed on this podcast and/or seek medical advice from your own providers .