Clinical Trials Can Lower Patient costs, Says Expert
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By Alice roberts | MINNEAPOLIS – 2025/06/22 06:30:02
Clinical trials can significantly reduce out-of-pocket expenses for oncology patients, according to Eric Lander, MD, site research leader at Minnesota Oncology. Lander shared his insights after participating in the institute for Value-Based Medicine meeting in Minneapolis on June 17, where discussions centered on National Extensive Cancer Network guidelines and their practical application.
Lander highlighted the financial advantages of clinical trials for both patients and providers, particularly in making oncology treatment more accessible.
This transcript has been lightly edited for clarity; captions were auto-generated.
Clinical Trials: A Financial Lifeline?
How are clinical trials financially beneficial to both practices and patients?
According to Lander, “clinical trials in general are favorable for patients and providers in the sense that they can actually reduce the overall cost of care for patients, in terms of the patient out-of-pocket costs.” He provided an example of enrolling a patient in an NCI study where the treatment was fully covered by the trial, relieving a significant financial burden for a family dependent on the patient’s income.
“Clinical trials in general are favorable for patients and providers in the sense that they can actually reduce the overall cost of care for patients.”
lander further explained that clinical trials frequently enough include additional tests for safety and efficacy monitoring, which are covered by the study, providing patients with closer care at no extra cost. While he acknowledged the difficulty in determining the financial benefits for practices, he emphasized that research should primarily focus on finding better treatments for patients.
Frequently Asked Questions
- What are the main benefits of participating in a clinical trial?
- Participating in a clinical trial can provide access to cutting-edge treatments, closer monitoring, and reduced out-of-pocket costs.
- Who covers the costs of treatment in a clinical trial?
- In many cases, the clinical trial covers the costs of the treatment and additional tests required for monitoring.
- Are clinical trials only for cancer patients?
- No, clinical trials are conducted for a wide range of diseases and conditions, not just cancer.
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