For more information about insurance coverage of clinical trial costs, see this feature's main page: States That Require Health Plans to Cover Patient Care Costs in Clinical Trials 1. Agreement: Senate Bill 186 2 Effective: October 4, 2008 What clinical trials are covered? Trials with therapeutic intent for patients with cancer that are approved by one of the following: U.S. National Institutes of Health or one of its cooperative groups or centers U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) U.S. Department of Defense U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs Who is required to pay? All Ohio health insurers. Other key provisions: Health insurers may exclude coverage for the service or product that is being tested in the clinical trial. any service or product not used in the direct clinical management of the patient. investigational drugs or devices not approved for marketing by the FDA. transportation, food, lodging, or other expenses of the patient or a family member or companion for travel to or from the facility conducting the clinical trial. services or products provided free of charge to patients by the clinical trial sponsors. services or products eligible for reimbursement by a party other than the health insurer, including the clinical trial sponsor . State employees enrolled in the Ohio Med Plan continue to be covered (as they have been since 1999) for participation in National Cancer Institute-sponsored phase II and III cancer treatment clinical trials, provided that trial participation is preauthorized.