Clinical Trials

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Clinical trials are a key component of high-quality care for cancer patients and enable cancer breakthroughs. Clinical trials help cancer patients access the latest innovations in cancer care, and they help advance new standards of care that can improve survival rates and quality of life for people with cancer.  

Unfortunately, clinical trial participation can be difficult and unreachable for many cancer patients, who often have to take time off work, travel long distances, and incur significant costs to participate. This leads to many clinical trials being unable to enroll enough participants and increasingly is leading to more clinical trials for new treatments and therapies being conducted outside of the U.S.  

ACS CAN is working to reduce barriers to clinical trial participation and increase enrollment among underrepresented groups, including rural residents, those with limited income, older adults and communities of color. 

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Man in treatment

Tell Congress: Increase patient access to the latest advancements in cancer care

By passing the Clinical Trial Modernization Act, Congress can remove barriers to clinical trial participation and ensure more cancer patients have access to the latest scientific advancements and cutting-edge treatments.

Latest Updates

May 1, 2026
National

A new bill that would improve access to clinical trials was recently introduced in the U.S. Senate. Sponsored by Senators Tim Scott (R-S.C.) and Mark Warner (D-Va.), the Clinical Trial Modernization Act (S. 4440) would help reduce cost and geographic barriers, making it easier for patients to take part in clinical trials. U.S. Representatives Raul Ruiz (D-Calif.) and August Pfluger (R-Texas) introduced the House version (H.R. 3521) of this legislation in May 2025.

February 10, 2026
National

Today, the American Cancer Society Cancer Action Network (ACS CAN) was joined by 24 other organizations in proposing the Health and Human Services Office of Inspector General adopt a new regulatory safe harbor from the Anti-kickback Statute that would allow clinical trial sponsors to financially support patients to offset indirect or non-medical costs associated with clinical trial participation, such as travel, parking and lodging.

May 20, 2025
National

New federal legislation that would make it easier for all cancer patients to participate in clinical trials was introduced today in the House of Representatives. Sponsored by U.S. Reps. Raul Ruiz (D-Calif.) and August Pfluger (R-Texas), the Clinical Trial Modernization Act would help remove cost and geographic hurdles that prevent patients from participating in clinical trials.

Clinical Trials Resources

People who live in rural and remote areas have specific challenges in accessing cancer treatments and preventive services. It is estimated that up to 20% of the U.S.

Over 130 organizations have endorsed the Clinical Trial Modernization Act (H.R. 3521).  The legislation would address known barriers to cancer clinical trial participation, enabling financial and technical support of patients enrolled on trials while protecting them from unexpected tax burdens from that support. 

The Clinical Trial Modernization Act (H.R. 3521 / S. 4440) increases access to clinical trials by allowing clinical trial sponsors to provide financial support to patients for costs associated with their trial participation, including medical cost-sharing like copays, and non-medical expenses such as travel, parking, food and lodging.