As the founder of Apex Health Advocates, my mission is rooted in deeply personal experience and over three decades of professional insight.

For more than 30 years, I’ve worked in healthcare — as a provider, an executive, and a leader across the continuum of care. As a volunteer advocate for the Alzheimer's Assocation, I spent years lobbying in Washington D.C. and Sacramento to raise awareness and increase research funding. But nothing prepared me more for this work than the real-life moments when advocacy made all the difference for the people I love.

When my son suffered a traumatic snowboarding injury, we were stunned to discover that only two surgeons in our entire region could perform the procedure he needed — and neither was in-network. What followed was an 18-month battle to overturn a $37,000 denial, ultimately proving the insurer's network was deficient. It was advocacy that made the difference.

When my father became cognitively impaired after a routine back surgery due to the overprescription of benzodiazepines, hospital staff were preparing to send him to long-term care. I intervened, adjusted his care plan, and helped him regain clarity and mobility so he could go to rehab instead. Without that intervention, his quality of life would have been permanently altered.

And when a close friend was injured in a snowboarding accident out of state, I guided his family through every step — from coordinating his return home, to managing emergent surgery, to securing multiple levels of care. As his physical and cognitive recovery progressed, I remained their on-site advocate, helping them make informed decisions and giving them peace of mind.

Each of these moments reinforced what I already knew: even the best healthcare systems can fall short. Families often feel overwhelmed, unsupported, and unsure of how to protect their loved ones. But with the right advocate, outcomes can change — dramatically.

That’s why I founded Apex Health Advocates. To bring professional, compassionate, and expert guidance to families navigating complex care decisions. Because no one should have to go through it alone.

Yours in health,

Brett Frankenberg MPT, MHA

Principal Health Advocate