{"id":2110687,"date":"2025-11-21T05:00:00","date_gmt":"2025-11-21T10:00:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/kffhealthnews.org\/?post_type=article&#038;p=2110687"},"modified":"2025-11-21T08:04:43","modified_gmt":"2025-11-21T13:04:43","slug":"prior-authorization-denials-cancer-treatment-west-virginia-death","status":"publish","type":"article","link":"https:\/\/kffhealthnews.org\/news\/article\/prior-authorization-denials-cancer-treatment-west-virginia-death\/","title":{"rendered":"After Series of Denials, His Insurer Approved Doctor-Recommended Cancer Care. It Was Too Late."},"content":{"rendered":"\n<p>For nearly three years, Eric Tennant endured chemotherapy infusions, rounds of radiation, biopsies, and hospitalizations that left him weak and depleted.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<aside class=\"block--sidebar alignright \">\n\t\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-kaiser-health-news-partner block--partner\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<a class=\"partner__image--link\" href=\"https:\/\/www.newsfromthestates.com\/article\/wva-man-dies-months-after-his-health-insurance-repeatedly-denied-cancer-treatment\">\n\t\t\t\t<img decoding=\"async\" class=\"partner__image\" src=\"https:\/\/kffhealthnews.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2022\/12\/logolong.png?w=120\" alt=\"Partner logo\" \/>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t<p class=\"partner__content\">\n\t\tThis story also ran on <a href=\"https:\/\/www.newsfromthestates.com\/article\/wva-man-dies-months-after-his-health-insurance-repeatedly-denied-cancer-treatment\">States Newsroom<\/a>. It can be <a href=\"https:\/\/kffhealthnews.org\/news\/article\/prior-authorization-denials-cancer-treatment-west-virginia-death\/view\/republish\/\">republished for free<\/a>.\t<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"has-eyebrow is-style-classic  wp-block-kff-common-promo\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"wp-block-kff-common-promo__image\">\n\t\t\t<a class=\"wp-block-kff-common-promo__link\" href=\"https:\/\/kffhealthnews.org\/news\/article\/prior-authorization-insurer-denials-patients-run-out-of-options\/\">\n\t\t\t\t<img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"500\" height=\"333\" src=\"https:\/\/kffhealthnews.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2025\/06\/Tennant_15.jpg?w=500\" class=\"attachment-medium size-medium\" alt=\"A husband sits at the kitchen table. His wife is seen close on the left of the frame. She is blurred slightly as the camera is focused on the husband.\" \/>\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<div class=\"wp-block-kff-common-promo__inner\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"wp-block-kff-common-promo__eyebrow\">related coverage<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<h3 class=\"wp-block-kff-common-promo__title\">\n\t\t\t\t<a class=\"wp-block-kff-common-promo__link\" href=\"https:\/\/kffhealthnews.org\/news\/article\/prior-authorization-insurer-denials-patients-run-out-of-options\/\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\u2018Not Accountable to Anyone\u2019: As Insurers Issue Denials, Some Patients Run Out of Options\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t<\/h3>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<a class=\"wp-block-kff-common-promo__read-more wp-block-kff-common-promo__link\" href=\"https:\/\/kffhealthnews.org\/news\/article\/prior-authorization-insurer-denials-patients-run-out-of-options\/\">Read More<\/a>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n<\/aside>\n\n\n\n<p>\u201cIt\u2019s good to be home,\u201d he said after one hospital stay in early June, \u201cyet I\u2019m tired and ready to get on with things.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>In 2023, Tennant, of Bridgeport, West Virginia, was diagnosed with cholangiocarcinoma, a rare cancer of the bile ducts that had spread throughout his body.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>None of the initial treatments prescribed by his doctors had eradicated the cancer. But a glimmer of hope came in early 2025, when Tennant was recommended for histotripsy, a relatively new procedure that would use ultrasound waves to target, and potentially destroy, the largest tumor in his body \u2014 in his liver.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>\u201cMy dad was a little nervous because it was something new, but it definitely gave us some hope that he would be around a little bit longer,\u201d said Tennant\u2019s daughter, Amiya.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>There was just one hitch: His insurer wouldn\u2019t pay for it.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Tennant, 58, died of cancer on Sept. 17. His story illustrates how a bureaucratic process called prior authorization <a href=\"https:\/\/kffhealthnews.org\/news\/tag\/prior-authorizations\/\">can devastate patients and their families<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"block--side-by-side-photo alignfull \">\n\t<div class=\"wp-block-columns side-by-side__columns\">\n\t\t<div class=\"wp-block-column side-by-side__column\" style=\"flex-basis:604.28571428571px\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<figure class=\"wp-block-image side-by-side__block-image side-by-side__block-image--left\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"768\" src=\"https:\/\/kffhealthnews.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2025\/11\/Tennant_03.jpg\" class=\"wp-image-2111505 size-full attachment-full\" alt=\"A photo of a man in a medical bed surrounded by his wife and daughter.\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 781px) 100vw, 768px\" srcset=\"https:\/\/kffhealthnews.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2025\/11\/Tennant_03.jpg 2560w, https:\/\/kffhealthnews.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2025\/11\/Tennant_03.jpg?resize=150,113 150w, https:\/\/kffhealthnews.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2025\/11\/Tennant_03.jpg?resize=500,375 500w, https:\/\/kffhealthnews.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2025\/11\/Tennant_03.jpg?resize=768,576 768w, https:\/\/kffhealthnews.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2025\/11\/Tennant_03.jpg?resize=1270,953 1270w, https:\/\/kffhealthnews.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2025\/11\/Tennant_03.jpg?resize=1536,1152 1536w, https:\/\/kffhealthnews.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2025\/11\/Tennant_03.jpg?resize=2048,1536 2048w, https:\/\/kffhealthnews.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2025\/11\/Tennant_03.jpg?resize=120,90 120w, https:\/\/kffhealthnews.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2025\/11\/Tennant_03.jpg?resize=170,128 170w, https:\/\/kffhealthnews.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2025\/11\/Tennant_03.jpg?resize=300,225 300w, https:\/\/kffhealthnews.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2025\/11\/Tennant_03.jpg?resize=315,236 315w, https:\/\/kffhealthnews.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2025\/11\/Tennant_03.jpg?resize=630,473 630w, https:\/\/kffhealthnews.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2025\/11\/Tennant_03.jpg?resize=1200,900 1200w\" \/><!-- image-left -->\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<figcaption>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\tBecky Tennant thinks her husband might have lived longer if their health insurer had not repeatedly denied a new treatment recommended by his doctor early this year. \u201cIt may not have changed the outcome,\u201d she says, \u201cbut they took that away from us to know.\u201d\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"photo-credit\">(Rebecca Tennant)<\/span><\/figcaption>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/figure>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<div class=\"wp-block-column side-by-side__column\" style=\"flex-basis:805.71428571429px\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<figure class=\"wp-block-image side-by-side__block-image side-by-side__block-image--right\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"576\" src=\"https:\/\/kffhealthnews.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2025\/11\/Tennant_02.jpg\" class=\"wp-image-2111507 size-full attachment-full\" alt=\"A photo of an insurance denial letter.\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 781px) 100vw, 768px\" srcset=\"https:\/\/kffhealthnews.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2025\/11\/Tennant_02.jpg 1920w, https:\/\/kffhealthnews.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2025\/11\/Tennant_02.jpg?resize=150,84 150w, https:\/\/kffhealthnews.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2025\/11\/Tennant_02.jpg?resize=500,281 500w, https:\/\/kffhealthnews.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2025\/11\/Tennant_02.jpg?resize=768,432 768w, https:\/\/kffhealthnews.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2025\/11\/Tennant_02.jpg?resize=1270,714 1270w, https:\/\/kffhealthnews.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2025\/11\/Tennant_02.jpg?resize=1536,864 1536w, https:\/\/kffhealthnews.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2025\/11\/Tennant_02.jpg?resize=120,68 120w, https:\/\/kffhealthnews.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2025\/11\/Tennant_02.jpg?resize=170,96 170w, https:\/\/kffhealthnews.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2025\/11\/Tennant_02.jpg?resize=300,169 300w, https:\/\/kffhealthnews.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2025\/11\/Tennant_02.jpg?resize=315,177 315w, https:\/\/kffhealthnews.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2025\/11\/Tennant_02.jpg?resize=630,354 630w, https:\/\/kffhealthnews.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2025\/11\/Tennant_02.jpg?resize=1200,675 1200w\" \/><!-- image-right -->\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<figcaption>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\tFor months, Eric Tennant\u2019s health insurer refused to cover a cancer treatment recommended by his doctor, claiming the procedure was \u201cnot medically necessary,\u201d a common reason used by insurers to deny care. (A portion of this photo is digitally blurred to protect patient privacy.)\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"photo-credit\">(NBC News)<\/span><\/figcaption>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/figure>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<p>It&#8217;s infeasible to count the people harmed by this <a href=\"https:\/\/www.kff.org\/patient-consumer-protections\/kff-health-tracking-poll-public-finds-prior-authorization-process-difficult-to-manage\/\">overwhelmingly unpopular practice<\/a>, which, by delaying or denying care, helps drive health insurers\u2019 profits. No government agency or private group tracks such data.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>That said, KFF Health News has heard from hundreds of patients in recent years who claim that they or someone in their family has been harmed by prior authorization. More than 1 in 4 physicians <a href=\"https:\/\/www.ama-assn.org\/system\/files\/prior-authorization-survey.pdf\">surveyed by the American Medical Association<\/a> in December said that prior authorization had led to a serious adverse event for a patient in their care. And 8% responded that prior authorization led to a disability, birth defect, or death.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>In June, the Trump administration <a href=\"https:\/\/kffhealthnews.org\/news\/article\/5-takeaways-from-insurers-pledge-to-improve-prior-authorization\/\">announced a pledge<\/a>, signed by dozens of private insurers, to streamline prior authorization, which often requires patients or their medical teams to ask insurers for permission before proceeding with many types of care. It remains unclear when patients can expect to see improvement.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The commitments &#8220;depend on the full cooperation of the private insurance sector\u201d and will \u201ctake time to achieve their full effect,\u201d said Andrew Nixon, a spokesperson for the Department of Health and Human Services. But the pledge exists, he said, \u201cto prevent tragic deaths like Eric\u2019s from occurring at the hands of an inefficient system.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n<div\n\tclass=\"wp-block block--newsletter  \"\n\tdata-type=\"kaiser-health-news\/newsletter\"\n\tdata-align=\"center\"\n\tstyle=\"\"\n>\n\t<h4 class=\"newsletter__title\">\n\t\t<a href=\"\/email\/\">\n\t\t\tEmail Sign-Up\t\t<\/a>\n\t<\/h4>\n\t<p class=\"newsletter__description\">\n\t\tSubscribe to KFF Health News&#039; free weekly newsletter, &quot;The Week in Brief.&quot;\t<\/p>\n\t\n<form\n\taction=\"\/email-signup\/\"\n\tclass=\"kaiser-hubspot-mini-signup-form\"\n\tmethod=\"post\"\n>\n\t<input type=\"hidden\" id=\"kaiser_hubspot_nonce\" name=\"kaiser_hubspot_nonce\" value=\"87a489a56a\" \/><input type=\"hidden\" name=\"_wp_http_referer\" value=\"\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/article\/2110687\" \/>\t\t\t\t<label\n\t\tclass=\"kaiser-hubspot-mini-signup-form__label--email\"\n\t\tfor=\"kaiser-hubspot-mini-signup-form-email\"\n\t>\n\t\t<span class=\"screen-reader-text\">\n\t\t\tYour Email Address\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t<input\n\t\t\tautocomplete=\"email\"\n\t\t\tclass=\"kaiser-hubspot-mini-signup-form__input--email\"\n\t\t\tid=\"kaiser-hubspot-mini-signup-form-email\"\n\t\t\tname=\"kaiser_hubspot_email\"\n\t\t\ttype=\"email\"\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\tplaceholder=\"Your email address\"\n\t\t\t\t\t\/>\n\t<\/label>\n\t<button class=\"kaiser-hubspot-mini-signup-form__submit\">\n\t\tSign Up\t<\/button>\n<\/form>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<p>Chris Bond, a spokesperson for AHIP, a health insurance industry trade group, said he could not speak to any specific insurer\u2019s prior authorization policies. Broadly, though, he said prior authorization \u201cacts as a guardrail\u201d to make sure medicines and treatments are not used inappropriately.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>At the same time, he said, insurers recognize that patients can be frustrated when their doctor-recommended care is denied. That\u2019s why \u201cthere is a dedicated effort across the industry to make the process more straightforward, faster, and simpler for patients and providers,\u201d Bond said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>In the meantime, the process continues to take its toll on people like Eric Tennant, whose <a href=\"https:\/\/kffhealthnews.org\/news\/article\/prior-authorization-insurer-denials-patients-run-out-of-options\/\">grave diagnoses<\/a> often require expensive health care services.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>\u201cEric is gone,\u201d his widow, Becky, said. \u201cHe\u2019s not coming back.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image alignwide size-full\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1440\" height=\"1080\" src=\"https:\/\/kffhealthnews.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2025\/11\/Tennant_08.jpg\" alt=\"A photo of Eric and Becky Tennant lying down. A dog is with them.\" class=\"wp-image-2111518\" srcset=\"https:\/\/kffhealthnews.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2025\/11\/Tennant_08.jpg 1440w, https:\/\/kffhealthnews.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2025\/11\/Tennant_08.jpg?resize=150,113 150w, https:\/\/kffhealthnews.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2025\/11\/Tennant_08.jpg?resize=500,375 500w, https:\/\/kffhealthnews.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2025\/11\/Tennant_08.jpg?resize=768,576 768w, https:\/\/kffhealthnews.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2025\/11\/Tennant_08.jpg?resize=1270,953 1270w, https:\/\/kffhealthnews.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2025\/11\/Tennant_08.jpg?resize=120,90 120w, https:\/\/kffhealthnews.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2025\/11\/Tennant_08.jpg?resize=170,128 170w, https:\/\/kffhealthnews.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2025\/11\/Tennant_08.jpg?resize=300,225 300w, https:\/\/kffhealthnews.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2025\/11\/Tennant_08.jpg?resize=315,236 315w, https:\/\/kffhealthnews.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2025\/11\/Tennant_08.jpg?resize=630,473 630w, https:\/\/kffhealthnews.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2025\/11\/Tennant_08.jpg?resize=1200,900 1200w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1440px) 100vw, 1440px\" \/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Eric and Becky Tennant rest in Eric\u2019s hospice bed with their dog, Molly. Eric died at home of cancer on Sept. 17.<span class=\"photo-credit\">(Amiya Tennant)<\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>Tennant was a safety instructor for the West Virginia Office of Miners\u2019 Health Safety and Training and insured by the state\u2019s Public Employees Insurance Agency, which contracts with UnitedHealthcare to administer benefits for state employees, their spouses, and dependents.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>In February and March, UnitedHealthcare, the Public Employees Insurance Agency, and an outside reviewer issued a series of denials that concluded Eric\u2019s benefits would not cover histotripsy, claiming the treatment was not medically necessary. Becky Tennant estimated the procedure would cost the family about $50,000 out-of-pocket.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<aside class=\"block--sidebar alignright \">\n\t\n\n<div class=\"is-style-classic  wp-block-kff-common-promo\">\n\t\t<div class=\"wp-block-kff-common-promo__inner\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<h3 class=\"wp-block-kff-common-promo__title\">\n\t\t\t\t<a class=\"wp-block-kff-common-promo__link\" href=\"https:\/\/kaiserfamilyfoundation.wufoo.com\/forms\/w19lp8m31l8mow5\/\">\n\t\t\t\t\tWe Want To Hear Your Story.\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t<\/h3>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<p class=\"wp-block-kff-common-promo__excerpt\">Do you have experience with prior authorization you\u2019d like to share with us for KFF Health News&#8217; reporting? <a href=\"https:\/\/kaiserfamilyfoundation.wufoo.com\/forms\/w19lp8m31l8mow5\/\">Click here<\/a> to reach us.<\/p>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<a class=\"wp-block-kff-common-promo__read-more wp-block-kff-common-promo__link\" href=\"https:\/\/kaiserfamilyfoundation.wufoo.com\/forms\/w19lp8m31l8mow5\/\">contact us<\/a>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n<\/aside>\n\n\n\n<p>Although the treatment wasn\u2019t guaranteed to work, it was worth a shot, the Tennants thought, so they considered withdrawing money from their retirement savings. But then, in May, after KFF Health News and NBC News posed a series of questions to UnitedHealthcare and the Public Employees Insurance Agency about Eric\u2019s case, the agency reversed course. PEIA decided to cover his treatment.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Notably, the agency contacted KFF Health News about the approval hours before it notified the Tennant family of the decision.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>But the approval came too late. Eric was hospitalized in late May and prescribed medication that prevented him from undergoing histotripsy at that time. His family held out hope that his health would improve and he would qualify for the procedure that summer.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>In July, they took a family vacation to Marco Island, Florida. It would be their last. Two days after they returned home, a scan revealed Eric\u2019s cancer had continued to spread. Histotripsy was out of the question.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image alignwide size-full\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"4017\" height=\"2678\" src=\"https:\/\/kffhealthnews.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2025\/11\/Tennant_04.jpg\" alt=\"A photo of the Tennant family standing on a beach in Florida.\" class=\"wp-image-2111519\" srcset=\"https:\/\/kffhealthnews.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2025\/11\/Tennant_04.jpg 4017w, https:\/\/kffhealthnews.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2025\/11\/Tennant_04.jpg?resize=150,100 150w, https:\/\/kffhealthnews.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2025\/11\/Tennant_04.jpg?resize=500,333 500w, https:\/\/kffhealthnews.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2025\/11\/Tennant_04.jpg?resize=768,512 768w, https:\/\/kffhealthnews.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2025\/11\/Tennant_04.jpg?resize=1270,847 1270w, https:\/\/kffhealthnews.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2025\/11\/Tennant_04.jpg?resize=1536,1024 1536w, https:\/\/kffhealthnews.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2025\/11\/Tennant_04.jpg?resize=2048,1365 2048w, https:\/\/kffhealthnews.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2025\/11\/Tennant_04.jpg?resize=770,513 770w, https:\/\/kffhealthnews.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2025\/11\/Tennant_04.jpg?resize=840,560 840w, https:\/\/kffhealthnews.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2025\/11\/Tennant_04.jpg?resize=720,480 720w, https:\/\/kffhealthnews.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2025\/11\/Tennant_04.jpg?resize=570,380 570w, https:\/\/kffhealthnews.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2025\/11\/Tennant_04.jpg?resize=370,247 370w, https:\/\/kffhealthnews.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2025\/11\/Tennant_04.jpg?resize=270,180 270w, https:\/\/kffhealthnews.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2025\/11\/Tennant_04.jpg?resize=170,113 170w, https:\/\/kffhealthnews.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2025\/11\/Tennant_04.jpg?resize=100,67 100w, https:\/\/kffhealthnews.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2025\/11\/Tennant_04.jpg?resize=120,80 120w, https:\/\/kffhealthnews.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2025\/11\/Tennant_04.jpg?resize=1170,780 1170w, https:\/\/kffhealthnews.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2025\/11\/Tennant_04.jpg?resize=300,200 300w, https:\/\/kffhealthnews.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2025\/11\/Tennant_04.jpg?resize=200,134 200w, https:\/\/kffhealthnews.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2025\/11\/Tennant_04.jpg?resize=315,210 315w, https:\/\/kffhealthnews.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2025\/11\/Tennant_04.jpg?resize=630,420 630w, https:\/\/kffhealthnews.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2025\/11\/Tennant_04.jpg?resize=1200,800 1200w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 4017px) 100vw, 4017px\" \/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">In July, Eric Tennant took one last vacation with his family to Marco Island, Florida: (from left) his daughter, Amiya; wife, Becky; daughter-in-law, Jaimee; and son, Arryn.<span class=\"photo-credit\">(Jaimee Tennant)<\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>\u201cI\u2019m sad for what we will miss out on,\u201d Becky said. \u201cI\u2019m sad at the unfairness of it.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>She said if Eric had been able to undergo histotripsy in February, as originally recommended by his doctor, it might have destroyed the tumor in his liver that ultimately killed him.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>\u201cWe&#8217;ll never know. That\u2019s the thing. Any lawyer for the insurance will say, \u2018Well, you don\u2019t know it would have helped.\u2019 No. You took that chance away from us,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>In October, Samantha Knapp, a spokesperson for the West Virginia Department of Administration, told KFF Health News that the Public Employees Insurance Agency has not changed its policies related to prior authorization for histotripsy and continues to follow UnitedHealthcare\u2019s guidelines.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>UnitedHealthcare declined to answer questions for this article.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>On Sept. 17, in a hospice bed set up in their dining room, Eric was surrounded by his family and their dogs as he died. Becky held his hand as his heart rate began to drop.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>\u201cHe wasn\u2019t afraid to die, but he didn&#8217;t want to die,\u201d she said. \u201cAnd you could tell the last day that he was fighting it big time.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>At the very end, she whispered in his ear: \u201cYou know I love you. You have been the best husband and the best dad, and you\u2019ve always taken such good care of us,\u201d Becky recalled.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>And then, she said, he gasped. His eyebrows seemed to shoot up in wonder. During his last moment alive, she said, he smiled.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>\u201cThe look on his face was pure, total amazement,\u201d she said. \u201cI still can\u2019t believe he\u2019s not here.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image alignwide size-full\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"3840\" height=\"2560\" src=\"https:\/\/kffhealthnews.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2025\/11\/Tennant_09.jpg\" alt=\"A photo of Eric Tennant from afar. He is lounging in a chair on the beach.\" class=\"wp-image-2111509\" srcset=\"https:\/\/kffhealthnews.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2025\/11\/Tennant_09.jpg 3840w, https:\/\/kffhealthnews.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2025\/11\/Tennant_09.jpg?resize=150,100 150w, https:\/\/kffhealthnews.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2025\/11\/Tennant_09.jpg?resize=500,333 500w, https:\/\/kffhealthnews.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2025\/11\/Tennant_09.jpg?resize=768,512 768w, https:\/\/kffhealthnews.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2025\/11\/Tennant_09.jpg?resize=1270,847 1270w, https:\/\/kffhealthnews.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2025\/11\/Tennant_09.jpg?resize=1536,1024 1536w, https:\/\/kffhealthnews.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2025\/11\/Tennant_09.jpg?resize=2048,1365 2048w, https:\/\/kffhealthnews.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2025\/11\/Tennant_09.jpg?resize=770,513 770w, https:\/\/kffhealthnews.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2025\/11\/Tennant_09.jpg?resize=840,560 840w, https:\/\/kffhealthnews.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2025\/11\/Tennant_09.jpg?resize=720,480 720w, https:\/\/kffhealthnews.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2025\/11\/Tennant_09.jpg?resize=570,380 570w, https:\/\/kffhealthnews.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2025\/11\/Tennant_09.jpg?resize=370,247 370w, https:\/\/kffhealthnews.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2025\/11\/Tennant_09.jpg?resize=270,180 270w, https:\/\/kffhealthnews.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2025\/11\/Tennant_09.jpg?resize=170,113 170w, https:\/\/kffhealthnews.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2025\/11\/Tennant_09.jpg?resize=100,67 100w, https:\/\/kffhealthnews.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2025\/11\/Tennant_09.jpg?resize=120,80 120w, https:\/\/kffhealthnews.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2025\/11\/Tennant_09.jpg?resize=1170,780 1170w, https:\/\/kffhealthnews.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2025\/11\/Tennant_09.jpg?resize=300,200 300w, https:\/\/kffhealthnews.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2025\/11\/Tennant_09.jpg?resize=200,134 200w, https:\/\/kffhealthnews.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2025\/11\/Tennant_09.jpg?resize=315,210 315w, https:\/\/kffhealthnews.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2025\/11\/Tennant_09.jpg?resize=630,420 630w, https:\/\/kffhealthnews.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2025\/11\/Tennant_09.jpg?resize=1200,800 1200w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 3840px) 100vw, 3840px\" \/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">In their week on Marco Island, the family played card games and lounged by the water. \u201cHe slept a lot. He was very, very tired,\u201d Eric\u2019s daughter, Amiya, recalls.<span class=\"photo-credit\">(Jaimee Tennant)<\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p><em>Do you have an experience with prior authorization you\u2019d like to share? <\/em><a href=\"https:\/\/kaiserfamilyfoundation.wufoo.com\/forms\/w19lp8m31l8mow5\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\"><em>Click here<\/em><\/a><em> to tell KFF Health News your story.<\/em><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Eric Tennant\u2019s doctors recommended histotripsy, which would target, and potentially destroy, a cancerous tumor in his liver. But by the time his insurer approved the treatment, Tennant was no longer considered a good candidate. He died in September.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"featured_media":2111510,"template":"","meta":{"_cr_original_post":"","_cr_replace_post_id":"","_cr_replacing_post_id":"","jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false,"kff_featured_video":0,"kff_show_featured_video":false,"kff_show_mute_audio_button":false,"custom_shortlink":"\/MjExMDY4Nw","kaiser_health_news_byline_override":"","kaiser_health_news_can_republish":true,"kaiser_health_news_featured_image_caption":"","kaiser_health_news_header_overlay_color":"","kaiser_health_news_header_theme_slug":"","kaiser_health_news_hero_image":0,"kaiser_health_news_backdrop_padding":115,"kaiser_health_news_hide_partner":false,"kaiser_health_news_kicker":"Deadly Denials","kaiser_health_news_kicker_background_color":"","kaiser_health_news_kicker_text_color":"","kaiser_health_news_kicker_url":"https:\/\/kffhealthnews.org\/news\/tag\/prior-authorizations\/","kaiser_health_news_nav_theme_slug":"compact","kaiser_health_news_nav_transparency":false,"kaiser_health_news_sharing_title":"","kaiser_health_news_show_featured_image":true,"kaiser_health_news_subheadline":"","kaiser_health_news_suppress_kicker":false,"kaiser_health_news_suppress_subheadline":false,"kaiser_health_news_update_time":"","kaiser_health_news_vertical_image":0,"kaiser_health_news_title_align_left":false,"kaiser_health_news_custom_header_image":0,"photo_byline":[],"story_update":"","update_position":"bottom","kaiser_syndication_sites":[],"apple_news_api_created_at":"2025-11-21T10:05:59Z","apple_news_api_id":"e4e8b4d0-fbe2-4500-b8cf-5c68ffddba96","apple_news_api_modified_at":"2025-11-21T13:04:49Z","apple_news_api_revision":"AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA==","apple_news_api_share_url":"https:\/\/apple.news\/A5Oi00PviRQC4z1xo_926lg","apple_news_cover_media_provider":"image","apple_news_coverimage":0,"apple_news_coverimage_caption":"","apple_news_cover_video_id":0,"apple_news_cover_video_url":"","apple_news_cover_embedwebvideo_url":"","apple_news_is_hidden":"","apple_news_is_paid":"","apple_news_is_preview":"","apple_news_is_sponsored":"","apple_news_maturity_rating":"","apple_news_metadata":"\"\"","apple_news_pullquote":"","apple_news_pullquote_position":"","apple_news_slug":"","apple_news_sections":["https:\/\/news-api.apple.com\/sections\/20265c01-23d7-4d15-96e0-0691b89c3772"],"apple_news_suppress_video_url":false,"apple_news_use_image_component":false,"_ef_editorial_meta_date_first-draft-date":"","_ef_editorial_meta_paragraph_assignment":"","_ef_editorial_meta_checkbox_needs-photo":"","_ef_editorial_meta_user_copyeditor":"","_ef_editorial_meta_paragraph_tweets":"","_ef_editorial_meta_text_partner-pitch":"","_ef_editorial_meta_date_estimated-pub-date":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[178379,12498,439528530,31304,36835],"tags":[4252,439529530,1657,439524082],"primary-topic":[],"partners":[439529210],"funder":[439528750],"coauthors":[439528979],"class_list":["post-2110687","article","type-article","status-publish","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-health-industry","category-insurance","category-southern-bureau","category-states","category-syndicate","tag-cancer","tag-prior-authorizations","tag-florida","tag-west-virginia","partners-states-newsroom","funder-robert-wood-johnson-foundation"],"apple_news_notices":[],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO plugin v27.3 - https:\/\/yoast.com\/product\/yoast-seo-wordpress\/ -->\n<title>After Series of Denials, His Insurer Approved Doctor-Recommended Cancer Care. It Was Too Late. - KFF Health News<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"Eric Tennant\u2019s doctors recommended histotripsy, which would target, and potentially destroy, a cancerous tumor in his liver. But by the time his insurer approved the treatment, Tennant was no longer considered a good candidate. He died in September.\" \/>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/kffhealthnews.org\/news\/article\/prior-authorization-denials-cancer-treatment-west-virginia-death\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"After Series of Denials, His Insurer Approved Doctor-Recommended Cancer Care. It Was Too Late. - KFF Health News\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"Eric Tennant\u2019s doctors recommended histotripsy, which would target, and potentially destroy, a cancerous tumor in his liver. But by the time his insurer approved the treatment, Tennant was no longer considered a good candidate. He died in September.\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:url\" content=\"https:\/\/kffhealthnews.org\/news\/article\/prior-authorization-denials-cancer-treatment-west-virginia-death\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:site_name\" content=\"KFF Health News\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:modified_time\" content=\"2025-11-21T13:04:43+00:00\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:image\" content=\"https:\/\/kffhealthnews.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2025\/11\/Tennant_05.jpg\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:width\" content=\"3508\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:height\" content=\"2338\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:type\" content=\"image\/jpeg\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:card\" content=\"summary_large_image\" \/>\n<script type=\"application\/ld+json\" class=\"yoast-schema-graph\">{\"@context\":\"https:\\\/\\\/schema.org\",\"@graph\":[{\"@type\":\"WebPage\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/kffhealthnews.org\\\/news\\\/article\\\/prior-authorization-denials-cancer-treatment-west-virginia-death\\\/\",\"url\":\"https:\\\/\\\/kffhealthnews.org\\\/news\\\/article\\\/prior-authorization-denials-cancer-treatment-west-virginia-death\\\/\",\"name\":\"After Series of Denials, His Insurer Approved Doctor-Recommended Cancer Care. It Was Too Late. - KFF Health News\",\"isPartOf\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/kffhealthnews.org\\\/#website\"},\"primaryImageOfPage\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/kffhealthnews.org\\\/news\\\/article\\\/prior-authorization-denials-cancer-treatment-west-virginia-death\\\/#primaryimage\"},\"image\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/kffhealthnews.org\\\/news\\\/article\\\/prior-authorization-denials-cancer-treatment-west-virginia-death\\\/#primaryimage\"},\"thumbnailUrl\":\"https:\\\/\\\/kffhealthnews.org\\\/wp-content\\\/uploads\\\/sites\\\/2\\\/2025\\\/11\\\/Tennant_05.jpg\",\"datePublished\":\"2025-11-21T10:00:00+00:00\",\"dateModified\":\"2025-11-21T13:04:43+00:00\",\"description\":\"Eric Tennant\u2019s doctors recommended histotripsy, which would target, and potentially destroy, a cancerous tumor in his liver. But by the time his insurer approved the treatment, Tennant was no longer considered a good candidate. He died in September.\",\"breadcrumb\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/kffhealthnews.org\\\/news\\\/article\\\/prior-authorization-denials-cancer-treatment-west-virginia-death\\\/#breadcrumb\"},\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\",\"potentialAction\":[{\"@type\":\"ReadAction\",\"target\":[\"https:\\\/\\\/kffhealthnews.org\\\/news\\\/article\\\/prior-authorization-denials-cancer-treatment-west-virginia-death\\\/\"]}]},{\"@type\":\"ImageObject\",\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/kffhealthnews.org\\\/news\\\/article\\\/prior-authorization-denials-cancer-treatment-west-virginia-death\\\/#primaryimage\",\"url\":\"https:\\\/\\\/kffhealthnews.org\\\/wp-content\\\/uploads\\\/sites\\\/2\\\/2025\\\/11\\\/Tennant_05.jpg\",\"contentUrl\":\"https:\\\/\\\/kffhealthnews.org\\\/wp-content\\\/uploads\\\/sites\\\/2\\\/2025\\\/11\\\/Tennant_05.jpg\",\"width\":3508,\"height\":2338,\"caption\":\"Eric Tennant with his wife, Becky.\"},{\"@type\":\"BreadcrumbList\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/kffhealthnews.org\\\/news\\\/article\\\/prior-authorization-denials-cancer-treatment-west-virginia-death\\\/#breadcrumb\",\"itemListElement\":[{\"@type\":\"ListItem\",\"position\":1,\"name\":\"Articles\",\"item\":\"https:\\\/\\\/kffhealthnews.org\\\/news\\\/article\\\/\"},{\"@type\":\"ListItem\",\"position\":2,\"name\":\"After Series of Denials, His Insurer Approved Doctor-Recommended Cancer Care. It Was Too Late.\"}]},{\"@type\":\"WebSite\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/kffhealthnews.org\\\/#website\",\"url\":\"https:\\\/\\\/kffhealthnews.org\\\/\",\"name\":\"KFF Health News\",\"description\":\"\",\"potentialAction\":[{\"@type\":\"SearchAction\",\"target\":{\"@type\":\"EntryPoint\",\"urlTemplate\":\"https:\\\/\\\/kffhealthnews.org\\\/?s={search_term_string}\"},\"query-input\":{\"@type\":\"PropertyValueSpecification\",\"valueRequired\":true,\"valueName\":\"search_term_string\"}}],\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\"}]}<\/script>\n<!-- \/ Yoast SEO plugin. -->","yoast_head_json":{"title":"After Series of Denials, His Insurer Approved Doctor-Recommended Cancer Care. It Was Too Late. - KFF Health News","description":"Eric Tennant\u2019s doctors recommended histotripsy, which would target, and potentially destroy, a cancerous tumor in his liver. But by the time his insurer approved the treatment, Tennant was no longer considered a good candidate. He died in September.","robots":{"index":"index","follow":"follow","max-snippet":"max-snippet:-1","max-image-preview":"max-image-preview:large","max-video-preview":"max-video-preview:-1"},"canonical":"https:\/\/kffhealthnews.org\/news\/article\/prior-authorization-denials-cancer-treatment-west-virginia-death\/","og_locale":"en_US","og_type":"article","og_title":"After Series of Denials, His Insurer Approved Doctor-Recommended Cancer Care. It Was Too Late. - KFF Health News","og_description":"Eric Tennant\u2019s doctors recommended histotripsy, which would target, and potentially destroy, a cancerous tumor in his liver. But by the time his insurer approved the treatment, Tennant was no longer considered a good candidate. He died in September.","og_url":"https:\/\/kffhealthnews.org\/news\/article\/prior-authorization-denials-cancer-treatment-west-virginia-death\/","og_site_name":"KFF Health News","article_modified_time":"2025-11-21T13:04:43+00:00","og_image":[{"width":3508,"height":2338,"url":"https:\/\/kffhealthnews.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2025\/11\/Tennant_05.jpg","type":"image\/jpeg"}],"twitter_card":"summary_large_image","schema":{"@context":"https:\/\/schema.org","@graph":[{"@type":"WebPage","@id":"https:\/\/kffhealthnews.org\/news\/article\/prior-authorization-denials-cancer-treatment-west-virginia-death\/","url":"https:\/\/kffhealthnews.org\/news\/article\/prior-authorization-denials-cancer-treatment-west-virginia-death\/","name":"After Series of Denials, His Insurer Approved Doctor-Recommended Cancer Care. It Was Too Late. - KFF Health News","isPartOf":{"@id":"https:\/\/kffhealthnews.org\/#website"},"primaryImageOfPage":{"@id":"https:\/\/kffhealthnews.org\/news\/article\/prior-authorization-denials-cancer-treatment-west-virginia-death\/#primaryimage"},"image":{"@id":"https:\/\/kffhealthnews.org\/news\/article\/prior-authorization-denials-cancer-treatment-west-virginia-death\/#primaryimage"},"thumbnailUrl":"https:\/\/kffhealthnews.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2025\/11\/Tennant_05.jpg","datePublished":"2025-11-21T10:00:00+00:00","dateModified":"2025-11-21T13:04:43+00:00","description":"Eric Tennant\u2019s doctors recommended histotripsy, which would target, and potentially destroy, a cancerous tumor in his liver. But by the time his insurer approved the treatment, Tennant was no longer considered a good candidate. He died in September.","breadcrumb":{"@id":"https:\/\/kffhealthnews.org\/news\/article\/prior-authorization-denials-cancer-treatment-west-virginia-death\/#breadcrumb"},"inLanguage":"en-US","potentialAction":[{"@type":"ReadAction","target":["https:\/\/kffhealthnews.org\/news\/article\/prior-authorization-denials-cancer-treatment-west-virginia-death\/"]}]},{"@type":"ImageObject","inLanguage":"en-US","@id":"https:\/\/kffhealthnews.org\/news\/article\/prior-authorization-denials-cancer-treatment-west-virginia-death\/#primaryimage","url":"https:\/\/kffhealthnews.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2025\/11\/Tennant_05.jpg","contentUrl":"https:\/\/kffhealthnews.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2025\/11\/Tennant_05.jpg","width":3508,"height":2338,"caption":"Eric Tennant with his wife, Becky."},{"@type":"BreadcrumbList","@id":"https:\/\/kffhealthnews.org\/news\/article\/prior-authorization-denials-cancer-treatment-west-virginia-death\/#breadcrumb","itemListElement":[{"@type":"ListItem","position":1,"name":"Articles","item":"https:\/\/kffhealthnews.org\/news\/article\/"},{"@type":"ListItem","position":2,"name":"After Series of Denials, His Insurer Approved Doctor-Recommended Cancer Care. It Was Too Late."}]},{"@type":"WebSite","@id":"https:\/\/kffhealthnews.org\/#website","url":"https:\/\/kffhealthnews.org\/","name":"KFF Health News","description":"","potentialAction":[{"@type":"SearchAction","target":{"@type":"EntryPoint","urlTemplate":"https:\/\/kffhealthnews.org\/?s={search_term_string}"},"query-input":{"@type":"PropertyValueSpecification","valueRequired":true,"valueName":"search_term_string"}}],"inLanguage":"en-US"}]}},"authors":[{"name":"Lauren Sausser","link":"https:\/\/kffhealthnews.org\/news\/author\/lauren-sausser\/","id":"1472216"}],"jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"amp_enabled":true,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/kffhealthnews.org\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/article\/2110687","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/kffhealthnews.org\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/article"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/kffhealthnews.org\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/article"}],"version-history":[{"count":20,"href":"https:\/\/kffhealthnews.org\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/article\/2110687\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":2122262,"href":"https:\/\/kffhealthnews.org\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/article\/2110687\/revisions\/2122262"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/kffhealthnews.org\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/2111510"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/kffhealthnews.org\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=2110687"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/kffhealthnews.org\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=2110687"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/kffhealthnews.org\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=2110687"},{"taxonomy":"primary-topic","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/kffhealthnews.org\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/primary-topic?post=2110687"},{"taxonomy":"partners","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/kffhealthnews.org\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/partners?post=2110687"},{"taxonomy":"funder","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/kffhealthnews.org\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/funder?post=2110687"},{"taxonomy":"author","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/kffhealthnews.org\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/coauthors?post=2110687"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}