Community Conversation
Three Power Moves for Patient Advocates
We’ll keep this a practical, open conversation. I’ll walk through three moves advocates can use right away: when small claims court makes sense, how cash/self pay pricing can beat insurance rates, and simple ways to spot price gouging. We’ll also touch on how to frame and escalate appeals so denials get reversed before you ever consider court. We’ll trade real stories, swap scripts that work, and leave with a few next steps you can use tomorrow. Bring your cases and questions!
Learning Objectives:
- Understand when small claims court can create leverage, and what a short pre-suit demand letter should do.
- Know how to ask for a cash price, compare it to posted hospital and insurer “allowed” amounts, and use those figures inside an appeal.
- Be able to spot common gouging red flags and name one immediate step to push back or appeal in the moment.
About The Speaker –
Andrew Gordon, LSW / Marshall Allen Project
Andrew is a Licensed Social Worker, writer, advocate, and researcher dedicated to advancing transparency, affordability, and value in health care for patients, providers, and purchasers. He leads interview-driven research, engages industry leaders, and translates real patient experiences into clear insights that challenge the status quo. Nationally recognized, his current work is funded by a National Science Foundation grant through Princeton University.
Andrew has a blend of health care and business training — a master’s in social work from Rutgers University and a bachelor’s in marketing & entrepreneurship from Rider University. Before finding health care, he worked at tech startups, including early sales roles at a Khosla Venture backed Software-as-a-Service (SaaS) company.
He writes patient victory stories for the Marshall Allen Project Substack, reaching nearly 10,000 readers each month, spotlighting how everyday people push back and win against unfair bills and opaque processes. His goal: elevate voices, surface what’s broken, and equip stakeholders with actionable findings that improve access and value.