How does your state measures up?

	Map of states that mandate coverage cancer.gov
	Clinical Trials: State Laws Regarding Insurance Coverage http://www.cancer.org

Inform your representatives:
 

Click here to write to your representatives. Click here to write to your senators

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.