Endowment Fund

Daniel Brian Hurley, M.D. passed away August 3, 2023, from dedifferentiated chondrosarcoma at age 50 surrounded by his loved ones. His wife Traci and their three kids Rachel, Sam, and Sarah were the light of his life. His family, including his parents, in-laws, and siblings were very dear to him. In addition to being a family man, Dan was a compassionate and highly competent Otolaryngologist, trusted advisor, and respected leader to physician peers and patients. He was a selfless person, always wanting to help and make things better for others.

Dan Hurley MD was discouraged when his insurance company denied a PET scan requested by his physician which resulted in his care plan being altered. This incident, in conjunction with an insurance denial of his son’s orthopedic surgery a few years earlier, fueled his desire to enact change. He enrolled in law school to dedicate himself to fighting for dignity and justice for chondrosarcoma (and other) patients. Dan’s mission was to bring transparency and accountability to the physicians on the insurance side who are denying and delaying care as recommended by the patient’s chosen physician. He recognized the magnitude of this issue through personally experiencing frequent denials and delays in his own care. Based on his experience, Dan joined the Chondrosarcoma Foundation and wrote an article on navigating through the insurance authorization process and the subsequent denials for the Foundation’s website.

Insurance Authorizations and Getting Your Care Approved (csfshayna.org)

“Dan informed me that he wanted to tell his story so others wouldn’t have the same experience. He told me he wanted to dedicate his life to exposing this problem in the hopes of changing the insane system of insurance company denials.” Ron Howrigon, President of Fulcrum Strategies

Honoring Dan Hurley’s Legacy:

In honor of Dan Hurley, M.D., and his wish to end insurance denials for cancer patients, the Chondrosarcoma Foundation along with Dan’s family, friends and patients are establishing the: Daniel B. Hurley, M.D. Endowment Fund. This fund will be used to provide legal advice and if necessary legal aid to any Chondrosarcoma patient that has been (1) discriminated against because they cannot work and/or (2) received an insurance claim denial for the diagnosis and /or treatment of Chondrosarcoma.

1. Efforts will be made to resolve any disputes before legal counsel is considered.
2. The process of legal funding will involve the patient / caregiver and / or family member sending a detailed e-mail, and inclusion of all relevant documents pertaining to the discrimination or insurance denials.
3. If Legal Counsel is needed, they will be retained in the state where the Patient resides.
4. Efforts will be made to recoup any legal fees from settlements, mediation, and / or court cases.

What to do if you need legal services:

If you or a family member has been discriminated at work because you were diagnosed with chondrosarcoma or were denied an insurance claim for diagnostic or treatment services and you desire to consult with an attorney; please send an e-mail with the details of the incident and any supporting documents to: endowment@csfshayna.org

Making A Donation:

If you wish to donate to the endowment fund: www.csfshayna.org/donate and check the box for the Daniel B. Hurley, M.D. endowment fund.