- What is a clinical trial?
A clinical trial is a research study conducted with people. Treatment trials
answer specific questions about new ways to improve medical care. The result
of such research is that many people with cancer are surviving and living
longer, more comfortable lives.
- Why are clinical trials conducted?
Clinical trials are conducted with patients to find out whether promising
treatments are safe and more effective than those already available. Cancer
clinical trials help doctors and researchers find better ways to prevent,
diagnose, and treat cancer.
- Why do people consider participating in a clinical trial?
Reasons to consider a cancer clinical trial include the following:
- To be among the first to benefit from new treatments
- To gain access to promising, new treatments that are not widely available
- To obtain high-quality care from doctors who are cancer specialists
- To help future patients with the same type of cancer
- Why don't people participate in clinical trials?
- New drugs
or procedures may have unknown side
effects or risks.
- Even if a new cancer treatment looks promising, it may be less effective
than standard
care.
- The trial may require more visits to the doctor than standard care.
- People may not be aware that Medicare provides coverage for clinical
trials.
- Patients or their doctors may not be aware that a cancer trial might
be a treatment option for their type of cancer.
- Should I take part in a clinical trial?
Only you can make this decision after your doctor has given you all of the
facts. An informed
consent process is required, which can provide you with information to
help you make educated decisions about whether or not to begin or continue
participating in a trial.
Medicare Coverage of Clinical Trials
- If I am in a clinical trial, what will Medicare pay?
Any cancer care normally covered by Medicare is also covered when it is part
of a clinical trial. This care may include the following:
- Routine tests, procedures, and doctor visits
- Services or items usually associated with the experimental
treatment, such as costs to administer investigational
drugs
- Health care associated with being in a clinical trial, such as a test
or hospitalization due to an unanticipated side effect
- What costs are not covered?
- Investigational drugs, items, or services being tested in a trial
- Items or services used solely for the data collection needs of the trial
- Anything being provided free by the sponsor of the trial
- Any coinsurance and deductibles
- What kinds of clinical trials are covered?
Cancer clinical trials are covered if:
- They are funded by the National
Cancer Institute (NCI), NCI-Designated Cancer Centers, NCI-Sponsored
Clinical Trials Cooperative Groups, or another Federal agency that funds
cancer research.
- They are designed to treat or diagnose cancer.
- The purpose or subject of the trial is within a Medicare benefit category.
For example, cancer diagnosis and treatment are Medicare benefits, so these
trials are covered. Cancer prevention
trials are not currently covered.
If your trial is not described above, or if you are not sure whether your
trial meets all of the requirements, discuss these concerns with your doctor
or call the Medicare information number. Other trials may be covered, so ask
about these trials before you begin participating in a clinical trial that
is not covered.
How To Learn More
- How can I learn more about cancer clinical trials?
Discuss this option with your doctor and refer to these resources from the
NCI:
Over the Internet:
- NCI's Web site (http://www.cancer.gov)
provides information on most types of cancer. The Web site's content is
reviewed and updated by expert cancer specialists.
- The clinical trials page of the NCI's Web site (http://www.cancer.gov/clinicaltrials)
lists trials for patients with cancer and includes in-depth information
about cancer clinical trials.
- If you do not have access to a personal computer, your local library
or senior center may be able to help you find this information.
Over the Phone:
- Call the NCI's toll-free Cancer
Information Service at 1–800–4–CANCER (1–800–422–6237)
for cancer information and help locating cancer clinical trials. If you
are deaf or hard of hearing, call the TTY number toll-free at 1–800–332–8615.
- How can I learn more about what Medicare covers?
Over the Internet:
Over the Phone:
- 1–800–MEDICARE (1–800–633–4227), Medicare's
toll-free number for beneficiaries, offers information about benefits. If
you are hearing or speech impaired, call the TTY/TDD line toll-free at 1–877–486–2048.