WASHINGTON, D.C. June 18, 2013 The American Cancer Society Cancer Action Network (ACS CAN) together with 55 doctor and chronic disease groups sent a letter to the Secretaries of Health and Human Services and Labor today, urging the administration to issue regulations or guidance that ensures that routine medical costs are covered for patients enrolled in approved clinical trials, as required under the Affordable Care Act.æ The letter expresses the groups ' disappointment with the administration 's decision not to issue regulations relating to the ACA 's clinical trials provision before January 1, 2014. Although the administration issued a Frequently Asked Questions document that instructs health plans and issuers to use good faith when implementing the provision, the groups are highly concerned that without additional guidance, implementation of this provision will be very uneven across the country, and patients could be denied a new protection that should be guaranteed under the law.æ Through enhancing our understanding of serious and life-threatening conditions and of the risks and benefits of promising new therapies we improve treatment, diagnosis, and prevention options not just for participating patients but for all of us through the advancement of medical knowledge, the groups wrote. To encourage participation and guarantee strong implementation of the routine cost provision, the letter goes on to request guidance on treatment of complications, defining meaningful access, so patients aren 't required to make unreasonable travel for participation, mitigating access delays and administrative barriers to trials, and allowing the patient 's doctor, or other health professional to determine whether the individuals is an appropriate candidate for a clinical trial based on their condition. The full text of the joint letter can be viewed by clicking here. ACS CAN, the leading voice of patients in the health care debate, is working to ensure that critical provisions of the Affordable Care Act are implemented as strongly as possible for cancer patients, survivors and caregivers. For more information, visit https://www.fightcancer.org/healthcare. ACS CAN, the nonprofit, nonpartisan advocacy affiliate of the American Cancer Society, supports evidence-based policy and legislative solutions designed to eliminate cancer as a major health problem. ACS CAN works to encourage elected officials and candidates to make cancer a top national priority. ACS CAN gives ordinary people extraordinary power to fight cancer with the training and tools they need to make their voices heard. For more information, visit www.fightcancer.org. FOR MORE INFORMATION, CONTACT: Alissa Crispino or Steven Weiss American Cancer Society Cancer Action Network Phone: (202) 661-5772 or (202) 661-5711 Email: [email protected] or [email protected] #ACSCAN #cancer #accesstocare #aca #clinicaltrials #healthcare