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All the answers to every question
Defiant Health is a new approach to cancer diagnosis. We help people who have symptoms or abnormal screening results for breast cancer get clear answers faster, through high-quality, expedited diagnostic services.
Yes, Defiant can work with your current primary care doctor or other specialists (such as a gynecologist) to help coordinate your care throughout the process. If you don’t have a primary care doctor, we can still help you.
Defiant currently offers services in the Greater Boston and South Shore areas of Massachusetts. We start with virtual consults with our expert clinicians that can be done in your own home. From there, we can help facilitate lab testing through your local Labcorp or Quest (if needed) and get you expedited appointments at our partner imaging facility located in Norwell, MA.
The number of appointments can vary depending on each individual’s situation. In most cases your appointments will consist of one virtual consult with a Defiant physician and an imaging appointment for a diagnostic mammogram and ultrasound. Any follow-up appointments that are needed will be on a case-by-case basis.
The goal of Defiant is to reduce the number of steps you have to take to get the answers you need. We’ll avoid repeating any diagnostic steps and only do so if it is in the best interest of your health.
All imaging and labs ordered by your Defiant Health clinician will be billed directly to your insurance by our partners. Defiant Health's clinical services and virtual services are not covered by insurance but are offered for a flat fee of $399.
Defiant Health is unable to offer some services to HMO and Medicaid health plans. If you’re unsure whether your insurance plan is accepted, reach out to us at support@defianthealth.com.
If your insurance plan will not cover imaging or lab tests, our imaging and lab partners do have cash pay options available. If you have questions, please email support@defianthealth.com.
Yes, the diagnostic service offered by Defiant Health is considered an eligible medical expense that can be paid for using FSA and HSA dollars.
We currently work with Akumin imaging centers as our radiology partner. Most of the breast imaging is done in their Norwell, MA location, but you may also be referred to other Akumin locations if further imaging is needed.
Our imaging partner is considered in-network by most health plans in the state of Massachusetts. However, Defiant Health is currently unable to offer some services to HMO and Medicaid health plans. The following non-HMO health plans are considered in-network with our imaging partner:
● Aetna
● AllWays
● Boston Medical Center
● Blue Cross Blue Shield
● CIGNA
● ConnectiCare
● Fallon
● Health New England
● Harvard Pilgrim Health Care (including Point32)
● Tufts Health Plans
● United Healthcare
● Wellsense
If you’re unsure whether your insurance plan is accepted, reach out to us at support@defianthealth.com.
We've partnered with Labcorp and Quest Diagnostics for all your lab needs. Labcorp and Quest have several locations that are conveniently located throughout Massachusetts. We will help you find the nearest location to your home or work and help schedule a lab appointment for you.
Most health plans work with either Labcorp or Quest labs. We will work with you to make sure that the lab partner is in-network with your health plan.
Getting the right diagnosis is critically important. To do this, it is important that Defiant Health get as much information about your medical history to help assess your risk and do the right diagnostic testing.
Mammograms and other imaging records are also critically important for the radiologists who are interpreting your imaging. Having old images to compare to can help radiologists determine if there are changes since your last imaging and helps give them a clear sense of where to focus their clinical evaluation.
Yes! Defiant Health, with your permission, can help facilitate the digital transfer of imaging records whenever possible. In the event that a physical CD copy is needed, Defiant can work with you and your imaging center to get a copy of this as quickly as possible.
Defiant Health is just like any medical practice in that we will keep a copy of your medical records and can provide you with copies of your results. With your permission, we can also share your medical results with your primary care doctor or specialist when appropriate to help with coordination of care.
No shows and cancellations within 24 hours of Defiant virtual consults will be charged a $99 cancellation fee. If another patient can take your appointment slot, we'll waive the fee.
If you need to cancel or reschedule, contact us at support@defianthealth.com.
You can reach out to us any time by emailing support@defianthealth.com or calling us at 617-860-4481 during our business hours, 8am-6pm ET.
Defiant acts as an independent third party in supporting you in selecting an oncology care provider, should you need one. Our support is based on clinical considerations with patient choice remaining paramount.
For more information, you can contact Defiant directly, and we will be happy to provide more information.
Dana-Farber partnered in founding Defiant because Dana-Farber believes that all patients deserve timely access to expert diagnosis. Dana-Farber powers Defiant through access to best practices and clinical protocols that inform Defiant’s diagnostic process.
In most cases, an ultrasound-guided biopsy can be offered to Defiant Health patients on the same day as the diagnostic mammogram and ultrasound. There are two situations where this may not be an option:
● For patients who take prescribed blood thinners or over-the-counter blood thinners such as aspirin or ibuprofen, the radiologist may want to wait on the biopsy and work with your doctor to adjust your medications to reduce the risk of bleeding during the procedure.
● Specialized biopsies such as stereotactic biopsies and MRI-guided biopsies cannot be performed on the same day, but Defiant Health will help with expedited scheduling.
We help people at every stage of their breast cancer diagnosis journey. Defiant is a good fit if:
● You’re worried you might have breast cancer.
● You have a concerning symptom–such as pain, nipple discharge, or a lump–and do not have or are unable to get a timely or convenient appointment with your primary care provider. We’ll handle the diagnostic workup so you can get answers quickly.
● You’ve already seen your primary care provider but still have questions or concerns. Defiant Health MDs are focused on breast health and can answer your questions and assess your situation, including ordering imaging and tests to rule out cancer.
● You’ve received an abnormal mammogram result and are waiting weeks–or even months–for diagnostic imaging. Defiant can get you scheduled for imaging within a week and provide support to make the process less stressful. If you end up with a cancer diagnosis, Defiant Health MDs will help you through the decisions you and your family will need to make.
So many patients go through this process without knowing where to turn or having a trusted expert to advocate for their care. We’re here to help!
