December 7, 2009
The Honorable Sherrod Brown
United States Senate
Washington, D.C. 20510
The Honorable Kay Bailey Hutchison
United States Senate
Washington, D.C. 20510
Dear Senators Brown and Hutchison:
The undersigned cancer patient, provider, and research organizations lend their enthusiastic support to your amendment to H.R. 3590 establishing a policy for third-party coverage of routine patient care costs for patients participating in clinical research studies. We consider the ability to receive treatment in a clinical trial an important part of a quality health care system and applaud your effort to remove the significant financial barriers to access.
Access to clinical trials is a clear benefit to the individual patient, but we are also mindful of the contribution that participation in clinical research makes to the advance of medical knowledge and ultimately to improved patient outcomes for all. The long-term success of health care reform will depend on the capacity of our health care system to foster the sort of medical progress that requires robust participation in clinical trials, which will unquestionably be encouraged by this amendment.
The cancer community appreciates your leadership on clinical trials payment issues. We look forward to working with you to enhance access to treatment in clinical trials.
Sincerely,
Cancer Leadership Council
American Cancer Society Cancer Action Network
American Psychosocial Oncology Society
American Society for Radiation Oncology
American Society of Clinical Oncology
Bladder Cancer Advocacy Network
Breast Cancer Network of Strength
C3: Colorectal Cancer Coalition
Cancer Care
The Children's Cause for Cancer Advocacy
Coalition of Cancer Cooperative Groups
Education Network to Advance Cancer Clinical Trials (ENACCT)
International Myeloma Foundation
Kidney Cancer Association
Lance Armstrong Foundation
The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society
Lymphoma Research Foundation
Multiple Myeloma Research Foundation
National Coalition for Cancer Survivorship
National Comprehensive Cancer Network
National Lung Cancer Partnership
National Patient Advocate Foundation
North American Brain Tumor Coalition
Ovarian Cancer National Alliance
Pancreatic Cancer Action Network
Prevent Cancer Foundation
Sarcoma Foundation of America
Susan G. Komen for the Cure Advocacy Alliance
Us TOO International Prostate Cancer Education and Support Network
The Wellness Community