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Medicare Will Cover Clinical Trials
Tue, 06/06/2000 - 11:00pm — Karen Stevenson
Description:
Today President Clinton will issue an Executive Memorandum directing the Medicare program to revise its payment policy and immediately begin to explicitly reimburse providers for the cost of routine patient care associated with participation in clinical trials, and to take additional action to promote the participation of Medicare beneficiaries in clinical trials for all diseases.
Citing studies which show that seniors' participation in clinical trials is alarmingly low, Clinton indicated that Medicare must improve its reimbursement policy to encourage better participation.
Current Medicare reimbursement policies often discourage seniors from participating in clinical trials, since neither the participants nor the clinical trial investigators can be sure whether or not Medicare will cover the cost of the care provided. Medicare beneficiaries who take parts in these trials must assume that they will have to pay these costs out of pocket, discouraging them from participation. The uncertain reimbursement policies also mean that investigators and research centers may be reluctant to recruit Medicare beneficiaries into these trials.
Clinton's executive order will revise Medicare program guidance to explicitly authorize payment for routine patient care costs associated with clinical trials. This week, the Health Care Financing Administration (HCFA) will inform all claims processing contractors that Medicare will immediately begin to reimburse for the routine patient care costs as well as costs due to medical complications associated with participation in a clinical trial. In addition, HCFA will launch activities to increase beneficiary awareness of the new coverage option, including adding information on clinical trial coverage to the Medicare handbook and posting information on their website.
Today President Clinton will issue an Executive Memorandum directing the Medicare program to revise its payment policy and immediately begin to explicitly reimburse providers for the cost of routine patient care associated with participation in clinical trials, and to take additional action to promote the participation of Medicare beneficiaries in clinical trials for all diseases.
Citing studies which show that seniors' participation in clinical trials is alarmingly low, Clinton indicated that Medicare must improve its reimbursement policy to encourage better participation.
Current Medicare reimbursement policies often discourage seniors from participating in clinical trials, since neither the participants nor the clinical trial investigators can be sure whether or not Medicare will cover the cost of the care provided. Medicare beneficiaries who take parts in these trials must assume that they will have to pay these costs out of pocket, discouraging them from participation. The uncertain reimbursement policies also mean that investigators and research centers may be reluctant to recruit Medicare beneficiaries into these trials.
Clinton's executive order will revise Medicare program guidance to explicitly authorize payment for routine patient care costs associated with clinical trials. This week, the Health Care Financing Administration (HCFA) will inform all claims processing contractors that Medicare will immediately begin to reimburse for the routine patient care costs as well as costs due to medical complications associated with participation in a clinical trial. In addition, HCFA will launch activities to increase beneficiary awareness of the new coverage option, including adding information on clinical trial coverage to the Medicare handbook and posting information on their website.
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@1994-2008 ElderWeb