How does your state measures up?
Inform your representatives:
If
desired, you may copy the text that follows into your message to your representative:
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Please pass legislation to require insurance companies to
cover the cost of routine patient care for patients
receiving treatment in clinical trials.
"Routine patient care costs" are the usual costs of medical
care, such as doctor visits, hospital stays, clinical laboratory
tests, x-rays, etc., that you would receive whether or not you
were participating in a clinical trial.
Some health plans don't cover these costs once you join a
trial,
even though studies have shown that they are not appreciably
higher
than costs for patients who are not enrolled in trials." ~ ACS
Position
Statement of Patients Against Lymphoma:
We
believe that it's the moral and contractual responsibility of heath
insurance providers to reimburse for "routine
patient care" whether the patient is receiving standard or certified
investigational treatment for life-threatening conditions such as
cancer.
The standard of care for many cancers often provides limited benefit
and significant toxicities. Progress against all cancers clearly depends on a greater participation of patients in clinical
trials.
Out State governments can accelerate progress against
cancers - and come to the aid of the heroes that are willing
to participate in clinical trials - by mandating coverage
for costs related to routine care.
As of 2007, 23 states have acted by passing legislation to address
this issue (see below).
Common provisions of
legislation:
* Coverage of routine care
associated with Phase I, II, III, and IV clinical trials for
treatment
or prevention of cancer approved by one of the following:
An Institutional Review Board
National Institutes of Health (NIH)
U.S. Food and Drug Administration
U.S. Department of Defense or Veterans Affairs
U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs
* There is no clearly superior,
non-investigational alternative.
* Data provide a reasonable
expectation that the treatment will be at least as
effective
as the alternative.
