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Congress·In Committee·H.R. 3521

Rep. Ruiz Introduces Clinical Trial Modernization Act to Pay for Patient Travel and Tech

Clinical Trial Modernization Act

10 months ago·View on Congress.gov
⏸

Stalled

No legislative action in over 90 days.

Legislative Progress

House
Senate
President
Law

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.
HealthcareTaxesCivil Rights

Impact Analysis

Personal Impact

Scores: 1 = low, 5 = highSentiment: -5 to +5 (net benefit)

Milestones

2 milestones2 actions
May 20, 2025House

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.

May 20, 2025

Introduced in House

Source Information

Document Type

Congressional Bill

Official Title

Clinical Trial Modernization Act

Bill NumberHR 3521
Congress119th Congress
ChamberHouse of Representatives
Latest ActionReferred 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.

Sponsor

Cosponsors

(5)
D: 3R: 2

Analysis generated by AI. Always verify with official sources.