The Access To Cancer Clinical Trials Act of 2009 (Rep. Sue Myrick)

Clinical trials are so critical for patients and or medical research, yet many patients find that their health insurance won’t cover the rest of their routine cancer treatment if they decide to enroll in clinical trials.  We’re not asking insurance companies to pay for clinical trials.  This bill simply state that insurers must continue to pay for routine treatments — that they would be paying for regardless — if patients enroll in a clinical trial.

No patient should ever have to fear exploring all treatment options at the cost of losing coverage.  We should be encouraging participation in clinical trials, not discouraging it by removing coverage for routine care.  Were it not for patients who have enrolled in past trials, the medial advancements we’ve experienced toward finding a cure for cancer would not be possible.