The new law makes federal conforming changes to California law with respect to health insurance coverage of clinical trials, ensuring California law matches the Affordable Care Act (ACA), which provides more comprehensive coverage of clinical trials. Clinical trials allow patients to voluntarily take part in new drugs or procedures that have the potential to treat their cancer or other disease. Many of the most effective cancer and disease therapies are based on the results of clinical trials – trials that literally save lives. The ACA recognized this fact by mandating more comprehensive insurance coverage of clinical trials than what is required in California. By conforming California statute to federal law with respect to clinical trial coverage, SB 583 will protect patient access to life-saving experimental drugs and procedures while preserving cancer and disease research for future generations.
October 2, 2019