2010-03-18
With the House expected to adopt the Senate-passed version of
health reform legislation, an ASH-supported
provision to require coverage of routine patient costs associated with clinical
trial participation is expected to be included in the final bill.
The provision, which was included in
the Senate-passed health reform bill (HR 3590),
would prohibit insurers from dropping coverage because an individual chooses to
participate in a clinical trial and from denying coverage for routine care that
they would otherwise provide just because an individual is enrolled in a
clinical trial. It would apply to all insurance products, including those
offered in the Federal Employees Health Benefits Program, and to all clinical
trials that treat cancer or other life-threatening diseases. States that have
enacted laws and policies that go above and beyond the federal standard laid
out in the provision would not be preempted.
ASH supported this provision during the Senate's consideration of
health reform legislation in December.
back to top
