“My pain is real, but no one can tell me why.”
I keep the search going — organizing your history, preparing the right questions, and making sure "complex" never becomes a reason to write you off.
Independent Patient Advocate · Los Angeles · Virtual Nationwide
The healthcare system is complex. Your voice shouldn't get lost in it.
You deserve to be heard
I help people living with chronic pain and complex illness — and the families who love them — understand diagnoses, prepare for appointments, coordinate care, and make empowered decisions. So the system finally hears your whole story.
- Board-Certified Patient Advocate
- Independent — no hospital or insurer ties
- Lived experience with chronic pain
Who I Help
If this sounds familiar, you're in the right place
“Three specialists, three different answers.”
I connect the dots across providers — medications, tests, and plans — so decisions get made from your whole picture, not one narrow lane.
“My doctor doesn't listen — appointments feel rushed.”
I prepare you for visits, attend with you in person or by phone, and make sure your concerns actually land.
“I just got a diagnosis and I don't know what to do next.”
I research your condition in plain language, organize your questions, and build a clear plan for the road ahead.
“I'm caring for a parent and drowning in logistics.”
I coordinate providers, records, medications, and family communication so nothing falls through the cracks.
“These medical bills can't be right.”
I review bills and explanations of benefits line by line, catch errors, and handle appeals and negotiations.
Role Clarity
What I do — and what I don't
You stay the decision-maker at every step. My job is to make sure every decision you face is an informed one.
What I do
- Listen to your whole story — and believe it
- Research conditions, treatments, and options in plain language
- Prepare questions and agendas before appointments, and attend them with you
- Coordinate records, referrals, and medications across providers
- Review medical bills and support appeals of claim denials
- Follow through until tasks are actually done
What I don't do
- Diagnose, treat, or prescribe — I'm an advocate, not your clinician
- Give medical, legal, or financial advice
- Make decisions for you — you keep the final say, always
- Accept referral fees from providers, facilities, or vendors
- Promise specific medical or financial outcomes
- Replace emergency services — in an emergency, call 911
Services
How I help
Diagnosis & treatment navigation
Plain-language research on your condition and options, second-opinion coordination, and question lists so you walk into every decision informed.
Learn more about diagnosis & treatment navigationAppointment preparation & accompaniment
Agenda-setting before visits, note-taking and advocacy during them, and clear summaries with next steps after.
Learn more about appointment preparation & accompanimentCare coordination
One point of contact across specialists, facilities, and pharmacies — records transferred, referrals chased, medications reconciled.
Learn more about care coordinationMedical billing & insurance review
Line-by-line bill audits, claim denials appealed, and negotiations with providers and insurers on your behalf.
Learn more about medical billing & insurance reviewHow It Works
Three steps to being heard
Free consultation
A 20-minute call. You tell me your story; I tell you honestly whether and how I can help.
A clear plan
We define goals and scope together — a written plan with priorities, timeline, and transparent pricing.
I get to work
Research, calls, appointments, appeals. You get regular plain-language updates and stay in control of every decision.
About
Rebecca Share-Howard
Independent, board-certified patient advocate
I've lived with chronic pain since childhood — through the searching, the dismissals, the fragmented care, and the hard-won lessons. I started Whole Story Advocacy so no one has to face that system alone.
Every client gets what every patient deserves: someone who knows the system, has the time to listen, and answers only to you. I work independently — I'm not employed by any hospital, insurer, or provider. My only interest is yours.
- Board Certified Patient Advocate (BCPA)
- Years of hands-on clinical care coordination experience
- Lived experience with chronic pain and complex illness
“Undiagnosed doesn't mean untrue, and complex doesn't mean unsolvable. Far too few people are willing to take a crack at the puzzle — I make sure every client always has at least one person who will.”— Rebecca Share-Howard, BCPA
Kind Words
From clients & families
“Rebecca turned three months of chaos into a plan in one week. For the first time, I felt like someone was actually on our side.”
“She caught billing errors that saved us thousands — and she explained everything without ever talking down to us.”
“Having her in the appointment changed how the doctors spoke to my mother. We were finally heard.”
Illustrative examples for this preview site — to be replaced with real client words, shared with permission.
Resources
Guides for the road you're on
Plain-language, task-oriented help — each guide ends with something you can do this week.
Bills & Insurance · 3 min read
How to Appeal a Health Insurance Denial, Step by Step
A denial letter is not the final answer — it's the opening position. Here's the appeal process in plain language, deadline by deadline.
Records & Organization · 3 min read
How to Organize Your Medical Records: A System That Survives a Flare
Your records are scattered across every provider you've ever seen. Here's how to gather them and build a system your future self can actually use.
Appointments · 3 min read
How to Prepare for a Doctor's Appointment (Even When You're Exhausted)
Most appointments are decided before you walk in. Here's the preparation system I use with clients — built for people who are running on fumes.
FAQ
Common questions
What exactly does a patient advocate do?
I work only for you — not a hospital or insurer. I research, translate medical information into plain language, prepare and attend appointments, coordinate care across providers, and fight billing errors and claim denials. You make the decisions; I make sure they're informed ones.
Are you a doctor or lawyer? Do you give medical advice?
No. I don't diagnose, treat, or give medical or legal advice. I help you understand your options, ask the right questions, and get the most out of the licensed professionals on your team.
How much does it cost?
The first 20-minute consultation is free. After that, work is billed hourly or as a flat-fee package depending on scope — you'll get transparent pricing in writing before anything begins. Details are on the fees page.
Let's start with your story
A free, no-obligation 20-minute call
Tell me what's going on — I'll tell you honestly whether and how I can help. No pressure, no jargon, and nothing shared without your permission.