Press Conference : Illinois Needs to Expand Access to Clinical Trials for Cancer Patients

Illinois Needs to Expand Access to Clinical Trials for Cancer Patients
Medicaid, which serves 1 in 5 Illinois residents, does not cover routine costs

Chicago, Ill. – Feb. 4, 2020 – Public health advocates from across the state will come together next week to address their concerns about the state of clinical trials for cancer treatments in Illinois. Clinical trials are critical to advancing lifesaving cancer treatments. Patient participation in trials is crucial to their success. Currently the Illinois Medicaid program is one of the insurance programs in the U.S. that is not required to cover routine care for patients in cancer clinical trials. This has exacerbated the prevalence of health inequities and racial disparities that exist within clinical trial populations, which often do not reflect the diversity of the greater population. The legislature has an opportunity to ensure the viability of new cancer research in our state and to allow an additional 1 in 5 Illinois residents to have access to these new, potentially lifesaving treatments and therapies.

• Shana Crews, Illinois government relations director for the American Cancer Society Cancer Action Network
• Dr. John Stewart, professor of surgery and physician executive for oncology services at the University of Illinois at Chicago and associate director of clinical research at the University of Illinois Cancer Center
• Dr. Karriem Watson, associate executive director of UI Health Mile Square Health Center and associate director of community outreach and engagement at the University of Illinois Cancer Center
• Irene Honeycutt, clinical trial patient and cancer survivor
• Dr. Blase Polite, associate professor of medicine and executive medical director for cancer accountable care at the University of Chicago

FOR MORE INFORMATION, CONTACT:
Michael DuPré
American Cancer Society Cancer Action Network
Cell: 515.321.4031
Email: [email protected]