February 16, 2001
Patients Bill of Rights Includes Coverage for Clinical Trials
Bipartisan patients bill of rights legislation (S. 283 and H.R. 526) introduced Feb. 7 and 8 would require health plans to cover the "routine" costs of care for chronically ill patients who choose to participate in government-sponsored clinical trials. The legislation includes clinical trials funded either by the National Institutes of Health (NIH), the Food and Drug Administration, the Department of Defense or the Department of Veterans Affairs.
Senate sponsors of the legislation include Sens. John McCain (R-Ariz.) and Edward Kennedy (D-Mass.) as well as 10 other senators. House sponsors include Reps. Greg Ganske (R-Iowa) and John Dingell (D-Mich.) as well as 55 other representatives. Patients bill of rights legislation was held up in the 106th Congress over the differences in opinion over health plan liability. Sponsors of S. 283 and H.R. 526 include language that would allow patients to pursue causes of action in federal and state courts, with federal courts hearing cases on contractual agreements disputes and state courts hearing cases pertaining to disputes over medical judgement.
Information: Lynne L. Davis, AAMC Office of Governmental Relations, 202-828-0526.
