The DoD Cancer Prevention and Treatment Clinical Trials Demonstration was conducted from 1996 through March 2008 to improve access to promising new cancer therapies, assist in meeting the National Cancer Institute (NCI) clinical trial goals, and assist in developing conclusions about the safety and efficacy of emerging cancer prevention and treatment therapies. Effective April 1, 2008, participation in cancer clinical trials was adopted as a permanent TRICARE benefit.
Note: TRICARE beneficiaries who began participation in the demonstration prior to its termination will continue to receive services as demonstration participants until discharged from the clinical trial.
There are three types of NCI clinical trials:
- Phase I trials: TRICARE does not cover Phase I trials, which are primarily concerned with assessing a drug’s safety, due to its highly experimental nature.
- Phase II trials: TRICARE beneficiaries may participate in Phase II trials, which study the safety and effectiveness of an agent or intervention on a particular type of cancer and evaluate how it affects the human body.
- Phase III trials: TRICARE beneficiaries may also participate in Phase III trials, which compare promising new treatments against standard approaches. These studies also focus on particular types of cancer.
Trial Costs
TRICARE cost-shares all medical care and testing required to determine eligibility for an NCI-sponsored trial. All medical care required to participate in a trial is processed under normal reimbursement rules (subject to the TRICARE maximum allowable charge), provided each of the following conditions is met:
- The provider seeking treatment for a TRICARE-eligible beneficiary in an NCI-approved protocol obtained prior authorization for the proposed treatment before initial evaluation.
- The treatments are NCI-sponsored Phase II or Phase III protocols.
- The patient continues to meet entry criteria for the protocol.
- The institutional and individual providers are TRICARE-authorized.
Trial Participation
Participation in NCI clinical trials requires prior authorization. You must contact a case manager before beginning the evaluation or any treatment under the clinical trial. For more information call Humana Military at 1-800-444-5445. The NCI web site lists some, but not all, of the Phase II and Phase III NCI-sponsored clinical trials. |
