For Illinois Residents who are considering clinical trials for cancer treatment and are on Medicaid Senator Manar is hoping to prevent rejection of coverage for care. The Senate Human Services Committee is pushing out legislation in the form of Senate Bill 2499 that through the American Cancer Society, Medicaid would cover routine care costs incurred for an approved clinical trial involving the prevention, detection, or treatment of cancer or other life-threatening diseases. Senator Manar says that the latest advanced cancer treatments can mean the difference between literal life and death.

More than 20% of Illinoisans are covered by Medicaid which makes it the second-largest type of insurance in the state behind Medicare. Most private insurance carriers and medicare already provide coverage for routine costs. This bill would just align Medicare with those plans. Illinois would become the 14th state in the Union to cover clinical trials for people who use Medicaid.

SB 2499 heads to the Senate Floor for consideration after passing the house.