Florida Action Center

Advocacy Victory for Cancer Patients - Florida Cancer Trials Compact Signed

After weeks of negotiations, there is great news for cancer patients in Florida.  Today in Tallahassee, a number of parties, including ACS, signed an agreement with insurance companies representing about 90% of covered lives in this state to ensure that patients do not lose coverage for routine and customary procedures when they enter most cancer clinical trials in this state.

This issue has been on the Florida Division’s legislative agenda for several years, and it is a notable victory in a state where insurance coverage requirements favoring patients are particularly difficult to secure.

Senator Don Gaetz (R-Ft. Walton Beach), chairman of the Senate Health Regulation Committee, is largely responsible for brokering the deal.  Also playing a role, and surely helping to prompt movement by the health insurers, was the House Appropriations Council Chairman, Representative David Rivera (R-Miami).  These legislators in particular are to be commended for their efforts on behalf of cancer patients and their families. 

Under the agreement, insurance companies that are a party to the compact will have to pay for the routine costs of patient care when covered individuals enroll in a cancer trial that is in phases II, III, or IV. This includes items, devices, and services (e.g. blood tests, x-rays, etc.) that would otherwise be covered if the patient were not in a trial, and in limited cases even the drug involved if the drug is already FDA-approved.  When this compact goes into effect, it will remove a barrier for patients to enroll in clinical trials, and thereby increase cancer clinical trials accrual in Florida.  

Early press coverage of the compact signing can be seen by clicking on the following link: http://blogs.tampabay.com/buzz/2010/01/lawmakers-insurers-sign-compact-for-cancer-trial-coverage.html

Florida Updates

• Week 4 - Legislative Update
• Week 3 - Legislative Session Update
• Week 3 - 2012 Legislative Session Update
• Week 2 - 2012 Legislative Session Update
• Week 1 - 2012 Legislative Session Update
• Governor's Proposed Budget Released Today
• ACS NAMES BILL HAGER FRESHMAN OF THE YEAR IN FLORIDA HOUSE
• Week 9 - Legislative Session Update