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Becky Barnes

About

Becky Barnes, MSW

Independent patient advocate. Kentucky Certified Community Health Worker. 15+ years of legislative advocacy experience, brought directly to individual clients.

Education & Credentials

  • Master of Social Work (MSW), University of Kentucky
  • Kentucky Certified Community Health Worker (CCHW)
  • Registered representative before the Social Security Administration
  • Incoming PhD student, Social Work, University of Kentucky (Fall 2026), with a research focus on cancer disparities and rural Appalachian healthcare access

Research Focus

Rural Appalachian Kentucky faces some of the highest cancer incidence and mortality rates in the country, driven by geographic isolation, transportation barriers, poverty, and a shortage of healthcare providers. Research consistently shows these barriers reduce screening rates and interrupt treatment. Patients travel long distances for care, struggle to complete adjuvant therapy, and often face delays between diagnosis and treatment.

Patient navigation has been shown to directly address these gaps, improving treatment adherence, shortening time to diagnosis and treatment, and helping patients better understand their care. My doctoral research will build on this evidence, examining how patient advocacy specifically affects treatment adherence, appointment follow-through, and overall health outcomes for cancer patients in rural Appalachian communities.

Legislative Advocacy

For over 15 years, I've served as a volunteer legislative patient advocate with the National Patient Advocate Foundation (NPAF), lobbying constituents' concerns directly to lawmakers in Frankfort and Washington, DC.

This work has contributed to real policy change, including support for the Medical Debt Relief Act (H.R. 2362), Kentucky's Oral Chemotherapy Parity Bill, and the Palliative Care and Hospice Education and Training Act (PCHETA).

Legislative advocacy on Capitol Hill

National Roles & Recognition

  • •NORD (National Organization for Rare Disorders) Ambassador for Kentucky
  • •PCORI (Patient-Centered Outcomes Research Institute) Ambassador
  • •PQA (Pharmacy Quality Alliance) Patient Advisory Council member
  • •ASCENT Consortium LEAP member
  • •Advisory board member, rare disease patient engagement research (Center for Innovation & Value Research)
  • •Top 3 Finalist, NPAF's Donna Guinn Patient Advocate of the Year Award
  • •2025-2026 Vital Voices Visionaries Fellow, selected from a global applicant pool
  • •Listed with Greater National Advocates (GNA), a national directory of independent patient advocates

Relationship to Patient Voices Matter Foundation: Becky Barnes is also the founder of Patient Voices Matter Foundation (PVMF), a Kentucky 501(c)(3) nonprofit providing free patient advocacy education and resources across Central Appalachian Kentucky. The Patient's Advocate, LLC and PVMF are separate, independently operated organizations with separate finances and governance. No funds, staff time, or organizational resources are shared between them, and PVMF does not provide one-on-one paid advocacy services. If you're looking for free educational resources, visit PVMF here. If you're seeking individual, paid advocacy support, that's provided exclusively through The Patient's Advocate, LLC.

Disclaimer: Becky Barnes is a non-clinical advocate. She does not diagnose, treat, or provide medical care. Services are limited to non-medical navigation, coordination, and advocacy support. See our Privacy & Security Policy for how client information is protected.

Let's Talk

Reach out for a free 30-minute introductory conversation about how I can help.

info@thepatientsadvocate.org