WASHINGTON - Rep. Benjamin L. Cardin, author of the "Medicare Cancer Clinical Trial Coverage Act," applauded President Clinton's decision to issue an executive order instructing Medicare to provide coverage for all clinical trials. "This is a life saving step that will lead to medical advances in the treatment of cancer and other serious illnesses," said the Congressman.

Rep. Cardin has worked with other members of Congress over several years to require Medicare coverage for the routine costs associated with cancer trials of new treatments. Because Medicare rules exclude coverage of experimental treatments, payment for services that would otherwise have been paid has frequently been denied. President Clinton's announcement means that Medicare will cover the costs of routine patient care associated with all clinical trials. This expansion will become effective by the end of June.

Clinical trials are critical to advancements in therapy for cancer and other diseases. For example, clinical trials led to the discovery that breast-conserving surgery -- i.e. lumpectomy -- combined with radiation is as effective in treating breast cancer as the more invasive mastectomy.

"Expanding clinical trials to Medicare is an important step for medical advancement and for seniors seeking new, effective treatments against serious illnesses. The President's action is a result of bipartisan efforts over several years to ensure that Medicare patients can benefit from the most recent developments in medicine," said Rep. Cardin.

Seniors have been dramatically under-represented in clinical trials because of concerns that costs not borne by trial sponsors would not be covered by the Medicare program.