ONS Connect - December 2008 - (Page 14) Types of National Cancer Institute– Designated Clinical Programs The Community Clinical Oncology Program is a large network that enables participation in clinical trials around the United States. Typical participants include community hospitals and private practices. The Community Cancer Centers Program is a three-year pilot program targeting community hospital-based cancer centers that offer multispecialty cancer care (medical, surgical, and radiation oncology) under one administrative, medical structure. Cancer centers generally conduct basic, population sciences, and clinical research and are encouraged to stimulate collaborative research involving more than one field of study. Comprehensive cancer centers must demonstrate expertise in three areas—laboratory, clinical, and behavioral and populationbased research—by conducting early-phase, innovative clinical trials. They also must conduct activities in outreach and education. Wilkinson has developed partnerships and is supporting new legislation that will help address financial challenges surrounding access to local trials. a physician visit but no physician is available on that clinic day.” Some challenges that Wilkinson’s team has encountered relate to finances, such as special clinical trials billing issues as well as reluctance on the part of local insurance companies to pay for services for patients participating in a study. “Medicare requires some special coding, so we must be careful to not charge patients for a drug or something that is provided by the study. This required developing new processes with our billing department. Another barrier has been insurance in Montana—we have more and more patients unable to participate because their insurance denies coverage for clinical trials. We are working with the companies at the state level and are supporting the legislation currently in the Senate (S. 2999).” Today Mr. A is enrolled in a clinical trial at his local oncologist’s office with a new drug provided to him free of charge through a cooperative group study. He notes, “Not only am I feeling great, I’m really happy that I can teach my grown son a thing or two. I can’t wait until he comes to visit so I can say ‘I told you so’ a few more times!” ✱ Contributing Editor Kristen L. Fessele, RN, MSN, APN-C, AOCN®, is the associate director for Human Research Services and an advanced practice nurse in the Breast Service at the Cancer Institute of New Jersey in New Brunswick. 14 ONS CONNECT December 2008
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