{"id":109859,"date":"2020-01-21T13:05:31","date_gmt":"2020-01-21T23:05:31","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.hawaii.edu\/news\/?p=109859"},"modified":"2020-03-13T11:58:19","modified_gmt":"2020-03-13T21:58:19","slug":"cancer-center-med-quest-patients","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.hawaii.edu\/news\/2020\/01\/21\/cancer-center-med-quest-patients\/","title":{"rendered":"UH<\/abbr> Cancer Center to help Med-QUEST<\/abbr> patients with clinical trials access"},"content":{"rendered":"Reading time: <\/span> 2<\/span> minutes<\/span><\/span>

\"Outside<\/p>\n

The State of Â鶹´«Ã½<\/span> Department of Human Services Med-QUEST<\/abbr> Division, a patient-centric Medicaid program, has worked with the University of Â鶹´«Ã½<\/span> Cancer Center<\/a> to ensure access to clinical trials for cancer patients in Â鶹´«Ã½<\/span>. Med-QUEST<\/abbr> issued a memorandum “ to provide guidance regarding the coverage of routine costs associated with qualifying clinical trials ” for the prevention, diagnosis, treatment or supportive care of cancer.<\/p>\n

“Â鶹´«Ã½<\/span> was one of only a dozen states without legislation or a formal policy to provide coverage of routine care costs associated with cancer clinical trial participation for Medicaid beneficiaries, who make up about one quarter of the state\u2019s population and over 40 percent of all of the children. The guidance clarified that Medicaid patients can participate in clinical trials which offers the best treatment options and highest quality of care for cancer patients, ” said Jessica Rhee<\/strong>, UH<\/abbr> Cancer Center\u2019s Clinical Trials Office medical director.<\/p>\n

“I\u2019m very appreciative to Dr. Judy Mohr Peterson, Med-QUEST division administrator, Dr. Curtis Toma, Med-QUEST medical director and Dr. Jessica Rhee for working so diligently and collaboratively to create a policy that addresses the needs of some of the most vulnerable cancer patients in Â鶹´«Ã½<\/span>,” said Randall Holcombe<\/strong>, UH<\/abbr> Cancer Center director. “This is an effort supported by multiple state legislators and healthcare organizations, Â鶹´«Ã½<\/span> Society of Clinical Oncology, and the Â鶹´«Ã½<\/span> chapters of American Cancer Society and Susan G. Komen.”<\/p>\n

Help to cover costs<\/h2>\n
\"\"
Grace Lee<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Med-QUEST<\/abbr> cancer patients in Â鶹´«Ã½<\/span> receive coverage for routine care costs such as doctors\u2019 visits and laboratory tests.\u00a0Med-QUEST<\/abbr>, unlike Medicare and private insurance, is not federally required to cover these routine care costs for patients participating in clinical trials. This policy guidance will ensure equal access to the best treatments available on clinical trials for Med-QUEST<\/abbr> cancer patients.<\/p>\n

“I believe clinical trials coverage should be available to all cancer patients. I am proud of the work we have done to ensure Â鶹´«Ã½<\/span>\u2019s Medicaid enrollees have access to the most novel and potentially lifesaving treatments through clinical trials,” said Judy Mohr Peterson, Medicaid director and administrator for Med-QUEST<\/abbr>.<\/p>\n

“This is a major step forward and something that we have been discussing with Dr. Rhee for many months. As a lung cancer survivor who was told I had six to 12 months, I know the importance of having access to and coverage for any and all cancer treatment options,” said Grace Lee, a member of the community-based Patient Advocacy Committee that provides input to the UH<\/abbr> Cancer Center about community needs and concerns.\u00a0This effort aligns with the mission of UH<\/abbr> Cancer Center to reduce the burden of cancer through research, education, patient care and community outreach and will particularly benefit patients from our low-income communities by providing access to innovative and high-quality, cost-effective care.<\/p>\n

For more information about UH<\/abbr> Cancer Center clinical trials call (808) 586-2979.<\/p>\n

—By Nana Ohkawa<\/em><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

The University of Â鶹´«Ã½<\/span> Cancer Center is collaborating with the State of Â鶹´«Ã½<\/span>Department of Human Services Med-QUEST<\/abbr> Division to ensure patients have access to clinical cancer trials. <\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":16,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[26],"tags":[218,165,169,9],"class_list":["post-109859","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-community","tag-cancer","tag-health","tag-uh-cancer-center","tag-uh-manoa","entry","no-media"],"aioseo_notices":[],"aioseo_head":"\n\t\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t