Clinical Trial Modernization Act
Rep. Ruiz Introduces Clinical Trial Modernization Act to Pay for Patient Travel and Tech
Stalled
No legislative action in over 90 days.
Legislative Progress
Key Points
- This bill aims to make medical research more diverse by helping people from different backgrounds join clinical trials. It focuses on reaching people in rural areas, tribal communities, and other groups that are often left out of studies for new drugs and medical devices.
- To make it easier to participate, the bill allows medical companies to pay for a patient's travel, meals, and lodging. Currently, these types of payments can sometimes be seen as illegal, but this change would protect companies that are simply trying to help patients get to the study site.
- The policy also lets researchers give patients free digital health tools, like tablets or wearable monitors, if they are needed for the study. This helps people who might not have the latest technology at home still take part in cutting-edge medical research.
- If a person receives money for participating in a clinical trial, the first $2,000 of that payment would be tax-free. This ensures that people who volunteer for medical studies aren't penalized by having to pay extra income taxes on the small stipends they receive for their time.
- The bill allows drug and device makers to cover a patient's out-of-pocket medical costs, like copays, during the trial. This removes a major financial barrier for low-income patients who want to access new treatments but can't afford the extra medical bills that come with being in a study.
Impact Analysis
Personal Impact
Life & Work
The bill specifically mentions employee unions as potential partners for community-based outreach efforts to encourage clinical trial participation. This could create small new engagement opportunities for unions representing frontline healthcare workers and other members from underrepresented groups.
Programs
Disabilities
Milestones
Referred to the Committee on Energy and Commerce, and in addition to the Committee on Ways and Means, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.
Sent to a congressional committee for expert review. The committee decides whether this bill moves forward.
Introduced in House
The bill was officially filed and given a number. It now enters the legislative queue.
Votes
No votes have been recorded for this legislation yet.
Related News
3 articles
Patient and Health-Care Professional Groups Express Support for Bipartisan Clinical Trial Bill
More than 100 organizations expressed support for the Clinical Trial Modernization Act, introduced by Reps. Raul Ruiz and August Pfluger. The bill aims to remove cost and geographic barriers by allowing sponsors to cover travel, lodging, and digital health tools for participants.
Weekly Rundown: Gilead jumps into in vivo CAR T cell space
The Clinical Trial Modernization Act, a bipartisan bill introduced in May 2025, would allow sponsors to cover medical and non-medical costs such as copays, travel, and childcare, while ensuring financial support doesn't jeopardize eligibility for safety-net programs.
Financial Toxicity in Cancer Clinical Trials: An Issue in Need of Clarity and Solutions
The Clinical Trial Modernization Act authorizes grants for underrepresented populations and allows payment for participant expenses like food and lodging. It creates safe harbors from the Anti-Kickback Statute to facilitate these reimbursements.
Source Information
Document Type
Congressional Bill
Official Title
Clinical Trial Modernization Act
Data Sources
Sponsor
Cosponsors
(5)Analysis generated by AI. Always verify with official sources.