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Barriers to clinical trials. Part I: Reimbursement problems
1University of Tennessee Center for the Health Sciences, Surgical Oncology, Department of Surgery, Memphis 38104.
Cancer
|November 1, 1994
Summary
Cancer clinical trials drive treatment advances, but rising insurance denials for associated care threaten future research. Addressing these cost barriers is crucial for developing new cancer therapies.
Area of Science:
- Oncology
- Clinical Research
- Health Economics
Background:
- Cancer clinical trials are pivotal for advancing cancer treatments.
- Most trials occur in community settings (60%) versus academic centers (40%).
- Trial costs are covered by insurance reimbursement and research funding.
Purpose of the Study:
- To examine the impact of managed care and health reform on third-party reimbursement for cancer clinical trials.
- To identify potential barriers to future cancer research funding and development.
Main Methods:
- Analysis of current trends in cancer clinical trial funding and reimbursement.
- Review of healthcare reform and managed care policies affecting clinical trial costs.
Main Results:
- Increasing resistance and denial from third-party insurance carriers for routine care within clinical trials.
- Potential for significant barriers to future cancer clinical research due to reimbursement issues.
Conclusions:
- Failure to address insurance reimbursement challenges will impede cancer clinical research.
- New treatment discovery and evaluation may decrease without resolution of these financial barriers.