Alaskans read in the newspaper or the Internet daily about new advances made in the "battle" against cancer. These advances are made possible, in large part, by patients participating in clinical trials. A clinical trial is a way to test scientifically whether a new treatment is safe, effective and superior to existing treatments.
My passion is that all cancer patients in Alaska have this option, but they face many barriers, one of which is insurance coverage. In 2000, the federal government removed this barrier for Medicare recipients by requiring coverage of the routine medical costs for patients who participate in qualified trials.
SB 10, sponsored by Alaska Sen. Bettye Davis, is designed to help level the playing field in Alaska, by requiring state-regulated insurers cover these same routine costs. Similar legislation or special agreements have been passed in 24 other states. Congress is currently evaluating a similar bipartisan bill, The Access to Cancer Clinical Trials Act, S.488.
Skeptics of SB10 may argue that this bill will increase the burden of cost to health insurers and, thereby, increase insurance premiums to Alaskans. This argument is false. Patients with cancer receive medical care whether or not they participate in a clinical trial.
SB10 requires only that the routine costs be covered by the insurer -- the same costs that occur on or off a clinical trial. Studies have shown that there are not significant differences in cost of care for patients in clinical trials compared to routine treatment. Many costs associated with clinical trials are borne by the sponsor of the trial. Oversight provided by research staff can actually result in better care without additional cost. Clinical trials often produce better survival for patients with cancer, while eliminating ineffective, costly treatments.
SB10 made significant progress during the 2009 legislative session and it is critical to continue this momentum during the 2010 session. If you ran, walked, or supported a loved one in the Alaska Run for Women, then you will understand the importance of improving care for current and future Alaskans with cancer. I urge all Alaskans who want to decrease the burden of cancer in our community to contact your state legislator to vote in favor of SB10.
Jeanne E. Anderson, MD, is a medical oncologist in private practice in Anchorage. For more information, contact the American Cancer Society Cancer Action Network at acscan.org/alaska or call 1-800-478-9355.
By JEANNE E. ANDERSON, M.D.