In Brief: Insurance coverage for clinical trials

Executive Summary

Insurance coverage for clinical trials: HR 3958 introduced by Rep. Johnson (R-Conn.) Aug. 2 to ensure coverage under federal health care programs for patients enrolled in clinical trials. The bill would also establish a government database to "make available to the public information about clinical investigations and results obtained from approved clinical studies." HR 3959, introduced by Johnson the same day, would establish a demonstration project limited to Medicare coverage of cancer patients in clinical trials. Johnson stressed that the bills would ensure coverage of "routine medical costs associated with the patient's treatment," but not the investigational agent itself...