The Cancer Support Community supports H.R. 8412, the Clinical Trial Modernization Act, to remove barriers to participation in clinical trials and increase the participation of underrepresented populations.
This bipartisan legislation would encourage clinical trial participation by allowing for increased financial support for clinical trial participants through medical cost-sharing and remunerations that cover non-medical expenses of participating in the study, such as transportation, travel, and meals. Additionally, the bill would allow the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services to provide grants for community education, outreach, and recruitment activities for clinical trials that study diseases or conditions with a disproportionate impact on underrepresented populations.
This bill would remove the financial barriers that prevent millions of Americans from participating in clinical trials by encouraging equitable access to clinical treatments. Specifically, this bill intends to increase the participation of medically underserved, racial and ethnic minorities, older adults, rural populations, and other historically under-resourced and underrepresented population groups within clinical research. More diverse, inclusive, and representative participation in clinical trials has the potential to transform what we know about cancer and help develop lifesaving therapies.
