Governor Matt Blunt travels to the Siteman Cancer Center at Barnes-Jewish Hospital in St. Louis to sign into law legislation requiring health insurers to cover primary health care costs for patients involved in approved phase II clinical trials for cancer. Doctor John DiPersio, Deputy Director of the Center, says to many cancer patients have gone without potentially life-saving treatment because their incurance companies balked. Under the new law health insurers will be required to cover primary and routine patient care for those involved in these phase II clinical trials for cancer treatment. Health officials consider clinical trials to be vital in providing the best possible cure for cancer patients and ultimately contributing to finding a cure for cancer. The legislation also provides an incentive for employees to remain tobacco free by allowing their employers to provide or contract for health insurance at a lower deductible level for employees who do not smoke or use tobacco products.
