BioCentury
ARTICLE | Politics, Policy & Law

Managed care pact limited to NIH

February 16, 1999 8:00 AM UTC

Although a clinical trials agreement between representatives of the managed care industry and NIH establishes a framework for expanding patient access to experimental therapies, it is far too early to expect insurers to apply the model to clinical trials conducted by the private sector.

Last week, the American Association of Health Plans agreed to guidelines designed to encourage its members to pay for routine patient care costs associated with NIH-sponsored trials. NIH Director Harold Varmus and AAHP officials will meet later this month to sign the agreement, according to association spokesperson Donald White...