For decades, David Hoffmann has championed the cause of herbal medicine, shaping the practices of countless herbalists and advocating for a healthcare model built on connection, ecology, and care. Now, our community has an opportunity to return that support as he navigates a baffling health insurance maze. Although David has received an encouraging prognosis regarding a recently-discovered pancreatic tumor, the US government has trapped him in a cycle of unresolved errors, leaving him responsible for significant medical costs that Medicare should have covered. We are launching this fund to help cover his immediate financial needs while this issue remains in limbo, ensuring David can focus on his continued health rather than the stress of mounting bills.

The Health Journey: Last fall, David had to seek emergency care for intense GI symptoms and fatigue. Masses were identified on his pancreas, understandably causing alarm for him and everyone who loves him. Immediate investigations, including biopsies and scanning, thankfully revealed that the masses on the pancreas are slow-growing tumors, with no evidence of spread. His doctors believe this condition is connected to GI hyperacidity and inflammation; by controlling these factors, and because the tumors are very slow-growing, David should be able to manage his symptoms and prevent the acute distress he experienced last fall without requiring invasive surgery.

This is good news given the circumstances, and we are grateful that our friend and mentor can continue his work with watchful monitoring.

The Administrative Limbo: The financial reality of navigating this crisis has become a nightmare. Through a series of clerical errors not of his making, David has been denied the Medicare coverage he is owed. The system has acknowledged the mistake yet failed to rectify it. This leaves David and his partner Lois in a very precarious position! The latest instruction from government representatives is to "wait a few more months" and call back if the issue remains unresolved.

Currently stuck in limbo, David owes significant sums to the healthcare providers who treated him during his acute phase and ran extensive testing to understand the health situation. Furthermore, he will need to provide ongoing payments for the follow-up and monitoring essential to keeping his condition stable. As herbalists, we know that this added stress in the middle of a health scare is not something anyone should have to carry, least of all someone who has dedicated his life to the wellbeing of others.

How You Can Help: We are raising funds to act as a bridge for David. The money gathered here will go directly toward:

1. Clearing the backlog of hospital and specialist bills from his diagnosis and treatment so far, which Medicare is currently failing to cover.

2. Funding the ongoing monitoring and management required to keep things stable and monitor the pancreatic tumors.

3. Alleviating the stress of financial uncertainty so David can focus entirely on his health, his well-being, and his teaching.

A Call to His Community: David has been a teacher to many of us, often providing the green man’s inspiration for our own paths in herbal medicine. If you are a former student, a colleague, or someone whose life has been changed by his books and teachings, please consider contributing.

We also ask that you share this call within your own networks. The herbal community is strong and interconnected: if we all pitch in, we can easily dismantle the financial trap the system has built around him. Let us offer David the same cooperative, loving support he has always offered us through connection and community.