What is the status of the Consensus Agreement to cover cancer clinical trials?
As of December 16, 1999, members of the New Jersey Association of Health Plans, which represents the state’s ten largest health insurers, have agreed to voluntarily cover the routine health care costs of any of their members enrolled in Phase I, II, and III approved cancer clinical trials. NJAHP members provide health plan coverage or administration to 4.8 million New Jerseyans and 98% of the state’s HMO market. What is an approved cancer clinical trial as defined under this agreement? An approved cancer clinical trial is a trial authorized or approved by one of the following: • The National Institutes of Health (NIH) • The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) • The U.S. Department of Defense (DOD) • The U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) What costs are covered by this agreement? Routine medical costs will be borne by the health plans. All other costs (administrative, additional tests mandated by protocol, monitoring) will be paid for either by the investigating company, the i
