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Cancer Patient Dies Amid Insurance Fight
10 Apr
Summary
- Man died after insurance approval delays for cancer treatment.
- Histotripsy treatment denied, then approved too late.
- New West Virginia law aims to speed up urgent care approvals.
A 58-year-old West Virginia man, Eric Tennant, died in September 2025 after significant delays in obtaining insurance approval for a vital cancer treatment. Diagnosed with stage 4 cholangiocarcinoma, Tennant was a candidate for histotripsy, a non-invasive procedure. His insurer, PEIA, initially deemed the USD 50,000 treatment not medically necessary, leading to multiple denied appeals.
The insurer eventually reversed its decision in May 2025, reportedly after media attention, but Tennant's condition had worsened, making him ineligible for the procedure. He subsequently entered hospice care.
Tennant's case has brought attention to prior authorization practices. A new West Virginia law, signed March 31, 2026, mandates faster response times for urgent cases and allows patients alternative treatments without fresh approval. This legislation aims to prevent similar tragedies by reducing delays during critical treatment windows.
