SurvivLA

An AI-powered policy navigator that uses deterministic logic to map patient data to California laws, turning personal struggles into direct advocacy and policy action.

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SurvivLA: Policy Navigation Simulator

Inspiration

Fighting cancer is more than just a medical battle—it's a financial and legislative one. In Los Angeles, where housing costs are astronomical and the healthcare system is a complex maze, the "Cancer Tax" (the hidden, non-medical costs of treatment) often leads to bankruptcy or homelessness before the disease itself does. We were inspired by the millions of Angelenos who fall through the cracks of the system, not because they lack care, but because they lack access and advocacy.

What it does

SurvivLA is an interactive navigator that turns invisible systemic barriers into visible, actionable data:

  • Profile Simulation: Users input their specific financial and medical context (Zip code, income, rent, insurance type, etc.).
  • Financial Toxicity Analysis: Calculates "Disposable Income" after housing and reveals the real-world impact of the Cancer Tax.
  • Smart Policy Matching: Uses a deterministic engine to match users with specific California statutes (like SB 987 for Medi-Cal specialist access or LA Rent Protections).
  • AI-Driven Personalization: Generates empathetic, hyper-local summaries that translate complex policy into human terms.
  • Advocacy Tooling: Instantly drafts professional advocacy emails to state legislators, citing specific laws relevant to the user's situation.

How we built it

  • Backend: Built with FastAPI (Python) for high-performance API routing and Pydantic for rigid, production-grade data validation.
  • AI Engine: A hybrid logic system that avoids LLM hallucinations by using deterministic policy matching against a verified database of California statutes, combined with a hash-based dynamic text generator for varied user feedback.
  • Frontend: A premium, "Glassmorphic" interface built with React and Vite, featuring smooth animations via Framer Motion and professional iconography from Lucide-React.
  • Data Layer: Robust validation modules that sanitize inputs and handle complex business logic (e.g., rent-to-income ratios and Medi-Cal wait-time multipliers).

Challenges we ran into

  • Accuracy vs. Generative AI: Initially, we considered a pure LLM approach, but realized that in healthcare policy, 100% accuracy is non-negotiable. We had to pivot to a hybrid engine that uses "State Logic" to ensure we never misquote a law.
  • The "Cancer Tax" Math: Quantifying the hidden costs (lost wages, transportation, specialist wait times) into a "Barrier Score" required researching real-world LA County healthcare data.
  • UI/UX Balance: Designing a dashboard that feels "premium" and high-tech while remaining accessible and compassionate for users who might be in a high-stress medical state.

Accomplishments that we're proud of

  • Robustness: Our backend includes a comprehensive test suite (integration, validation, and dynamic summary tests) that ensures zero-crash performance.
  • Premium Aesthetics: We moved beyond standard MVP designs to create a "wow" factor with custom gradients, interactive meters, and a "dark mode" aesthetic that feels professional and secure.
  • Real Impact Logic: The system doesn't just show stats; it actually identifies that a Medi-Cal patient in the 90033 zip code faces a 40% specialist wait-time barrier—data that empowers them to fight back.

What we learned

  • Healthcare is a Housing Problem: We learned that for many cancer patients in LA, housing stability is the single biggest predictor of treatment success.
  • The "Wait Time Gap": Discovering the massive disparity in specialist wait times between PPO and Medi-Cal patients was a sobering lesson in systemic inequality.
  • Policy is Personal: We realized that most people don't know the laws designed to protect them—the gap is not in the legislation, but in the communication.

What's next for SurvivLA

  • PDF RAG Integration: Enabling the system to scan and index hundreds of new legislative bills in real-time.
  • Direct Legislator API: Connecting the "Take Action" button directly to the state legislature's contact systems.
  • Wider Coverage: Expanding from LA County to a state-wide California navigator, and eventually a national "Cancer Tax" database.
  • Real-Time Cost Tracking: Integrating with local rent and utility APIs to provide even more accurate financial health projections.

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