Thanks to Medicaid Expansion, More Black Americans Can Access Clinical Trials

Cancer clinical trials are essential for developing new treatments. These studies test experimental drugs and therapies to see if they are safe and effective. While they offer hope for a better future, participation in these trials has historically been uneven. Black and Hispanic patients have been underrepresented in cancer research. This means that new treatments might not work as well for everyone, as they haven’t been tested on a diverse population. A recent study in the Journal of Clinical Oncology has shed light on a potential solution to this problem: Medicaid. Medicaid is a government health insurance program for low-income individuals and families. The study analyzed data from nearly 50,000 participants in cancer clinical trials between 2012 and 2019. It revealed that in states with both Medicaid expansion and coverage mandates, Black and Hispanic patient enrollment increased by approximately 5 percent. However, in states with only Medicaid expansion, there was no significant change in enrollment rates. The study found that states with Medicaid policies covering the costs of participating in clinical trials saw a significant increase in the number of Black and Hispanic patients enrolling in cancer studies. Why does this matter? Fairness: Having a diverse group of people in...