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Insurance Coverage Laws for Patients in Clinical Trials
NCI recently updated its list of states that require health plans to cover patient care costs in clinical trials. The online feature, found at http://www.cancer.gov/clinicaltrials/ctlaws-home, is a useful resource for those who work to increase enrollment in cancer clinical trials. In the wake of new legislation, the Ohio entry was updated and a new entry for Washington, DC, was added. In addition, the interactive map was enlarged for easier use.
Some health plans don't cover routine care costs once a person joins a clinical trial, posing a barrier to enrollment. The NCI State Cancer Legislative Database Program tracks laws and voluntary agreements that require health plans to cover such costs. The Cancer.gov feature provides user-friendly links to current laws or agreements and their key provisions, as well as links to related resources.
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