Congress Must Prioritize Affordable Cancer Care in the Budget Reconciliation Package
In a recent poll, 51% of cancer patients and survivors report incurring medical debt as a result of their cancer care.
Clinical trials are key to advancing new standards of care that can improve survival and quality of life for people with cancer. However, cost to trial participants is often a barrier to their enrollment. Patients are frequently responsible for non-medical costs such as transportation and lodging associated with trial enrollment. Offering to reimburse patients for ancillary costs associated with trials can increase overall enrollment and may also increase participation from underrepresented groups. The bipartisan DIVERSE Trials Act (H.R. 5030/S. 2706) could increase diversity in clinical trials and make it easier for all people with cancer to participate in clinical trials by reducing financial and geographic barriers to enrollment.