[Congressional Record Volume 142, Number 117 (Friday, August 2, 1996)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1497]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




  IMPROVING ACCESS TO CLINICAL TRIALS FOR ENROLLEES OF FEDERAL HEALTH 
                                PROGRAMS

                                 ______
                                 

                         HON. NANCY L. JOHNSON

                             of connecticut

                    in the house of representatives

                         Friday, August 2, 1996

  Mrs. JOHNSON of Connecticut. Mr. Speaker, today I am introducing two 
bills to give Americans covered by Federal health insurance programs 
access to peer-reviewed clinical trials when no standard therapies are 
available to treat their very serious medical conditions.
  The first bill would require the Medicare, Federal employee and 
military health plans, and the Department of Veterans Affairs to cover 
the medical costs associated with the clinical investigation. In 
addition, the bill ensures that Federal matching funds under Medicaid 
would be available to States electing to cover clinical trials in their 
Medicaid programs. Finally, the bill requires the Secretary of Health 
and Human Services to make available information about on-going 
clinical investigations and the results of those studies.
  The second bill is limited to a Medicare demonstration project 
covering clinical trials for cancer treatment.
  Both bills stipulate that the Federal Government is only to pay for 
routine medical costs associated with the patient's treatment, such as 
hospital room and board, and radiology and laboratory services to 
monitor the patient's condition. The Federal Government would not be 
paying for the cost of the investigational agent itself.
  Tragically, many patients must turn down these opportunities because 
they cannot afford to pay the routine costs associated with the 
clinical trial--a terrible irony, in my opinion, as these plans will 
cover the same medical treatment if it were provided as part of 
standard medical therapy.
  Until a new therapy, technique or device is proven, many private 
payers of health care will cover the patient's medical costs. 
Therefore, I am pleased that one of my home State insurers, Aetna, has 
been a leader in working with researchers to pay some of the costs of 
patients enrolled in clinical studies. Such access gives these patients 
hope that their medical conditions may be improved or even cured, when 
no other door is open to them.
  Mr. Speaker, the Federal Government already funds potentially life-
saving clinical research every year, but bringing breakthroughs into 
standard medical practice requires these investigations. These 
initiatives back up the Federal Government's investment in the basic 
research with financial backing to bring these promises to fruition.

                          ____________________