Improved Patient Access to Clinical Studies Act of 1997

Read twice and referred to the Committee on Labor and Human Resources.

Congressional Research Service

Official summary

Version 00 · Introduced in Senate · Jan 21, 1997

Improved Patient Access to Clinical Studies Act of 1997 - Amends the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974 and the Public Health Service Act to prohibit a group health plan and a health insurance issuer offering coverage in connection with a group health plan from denying, limiting, or imposing additional conditions on coverage if: (1) the enrollee is participating in an approved clinical study; (2) the items and services are furnished according to the study's design or to treat conditions resulting from study participation; and (3) the items and services would otherwise be covered. Amends the Public Health Service Act to apply that prohibition to coverage offered by an issuer in the individual market.

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People & committees

Who introduced it

Sen. Snowe, Olympia J. [R-ME] · R–ME

Committees

Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions Committee

0 cosponsorship records, including any withdrawals

Legislative record

Actions

A procedural vote is different from passage. Passage in one chamber does not establish enactment. Explore the glossary.

Jan 21, 1997
Read twice and referred to the Committee on Labor and Human Resources.
Jan 21, 1997
Sponsor introductory remarks on measure. (CR S470-472)
Jan 21, 1997
Introduced in Senate

Primary sources

Bill text & related measures

Text links open the official source. We currently store references to these documents.

Introduced in Senate · Jan 21, 1997 Formatted Text PDF

Related bills identified by Congress.gov

No related bills are listed in this snapshot. This does not establish whether the proposal has appeared in earlier Congresses.

Source last updated: Aug 21, 2025. Consult Congress.gov for the current record.

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Neutral evidence review

Objective

Analyze S.88 as objectively as possible. Explain its main provisions, who would be affected, possible benefits and harms, implementation, exceptions, and uncertainties. Present the strongest arguments for and against it, and identify evidence needed to assess its public impact.

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Discuss S.88, 105th Congress: Improved Patient Access to Clinical Studies Act of 1997

Official record: https://www.congress.gov/bill/105th-congress/senate-bill/88

Text version to examine: Introduced in Senate · 1997-01-21.

Official full text: https://www.congress.gov/105/bills/s88/BILLS-105s88is.htm

Imported record last updated by the source: 2025-08-21T16:12:16Z. Verify current status and distinguish any later version from the version above.

Read the official text before answering. If you cannot access it, say so and ask me to provide it; do not assume a link means you have read the document. Distinguish proposals from enacted law, cite sources, and separate facts, interpretation, and uncertain predictions. Include counterarguments even when using a particular perspective.

Analyze S.88 as objectively as possible. Explain its main provisions, who would be affected, possible benefits and harms, implementation, exceptions, and uncertainties. Present the strongest arguments for and against it, and identify evidence needed to assess its public impact.

Fairness and public impact

Progressive lens

Examine S.88 through a progressive lens, focusing on fairness, access, economic inequality, and effects on vulnerable communities. Explain potential benefits, costs, and unintended consequences. Consider the strongest counterarguments and distinguish stated goals from demonstrated outcomes.

View full prompt & sources

Discuss S.88, 105th Congress: Improved Patient Access to Clinical Studies Act of 1997

Official record: https://www.congress.gov/bill/105th-congress/senate-bill/88

Text version to examine: Introduced in Senate · 1997-01-21.

Official full text: https://www.congress.gov/105/bills/s88/BILLS-105s88is.htm

Imported record last updated by the source: 2025-08-21T16:12:16Z. Verify current status and distinguish any later version from the version above.

Read the official text before answering. If you cannot access it, say so and ask me to provide it; do not assume a link means you have read the document. Distinguish proposals from enacted law, cite sources, and separate facts, interpretation, and uncertain predictions. Include counterarguments even when using a particular perspective.

Examine S.88 through a progressive lens, focusing on fairness, access, economic inequality, and effects on vulnerable communities. Explain potential benefits, costs, and unintended consequences. Consider the strongest counterarguments and distinguish stated goals from demonstrated outcomes.

Institutions and government scope

Conservative lens

Examine S.88 through a conservative lens, focusing on fiscal responsibility, institutional stability, federalism, and the scope of government. Explain potential benefits, costs, and unintended consequences. Consider the strongest counterarguments and any provisions that challenge this perspective.

View full prompt & sources

Discuss S.88, 105th Congress: Improved Patient Access to Clinical Studies Act of 1997

Official record: https://www.congress.gov/bill/105th-congress/senate-bill/88

Text version to examine: Introduced in Senate · 1997-01-21.

Official full text: https://www.congress.gov/105/bills/s88/BILLS-105s88is.htm

Imported record last updated by the source: 2025-08-21T16:12:16Z. Verify current status and distinguish any later version from the version above.

Read the official text before answering. If you cannot access it, say so and ask me to provide it; do not assume a link means you have read the document. Distinguish proposals from enacted law, cite sources, and separate facts, interpretation, and uncertain predictions. Include counterarguments even when using a particular perspective.

Examine S.88 through a conservative lens, focusing on fiscal responsibility, institutional stability, federalism, and the scope of government. Explain potential benefits, costs, and unintended consequences. Consider the strongest counterarguments and any provisions that challenge this perspective.

Individual rights and government power

Liberty lens

Examine S.88 through a civil-liberties and limited-government lens. Consider individual rights, privacy, voluntary choice, accountability, and government power. Explain tradeoffs, possible safeguards, and the strongest counterarguments without assuming the proposal is beneficial or harmful.

View full prompt & sources

Discuss S.88, 105th Congress: Improved Patient Access to Clinical Studies Act of 1997

Official record: https://www.congress.gov/bill/105th-congress/senate-bill/88

Text version to examine: Introduced in Senate · 1997-01-21.

Official full text: https://www.congress.gov/105/bills/s88/BILLS-105s88is.htm

Imported record last updated by the source: 2025-08-21T16:12:16Z. Verify current status and distinguish any later version from the version above.

Read the official text before answering. If you cannot access it, say so and ask me to provide it; do not assume a link means you have read the document. Distinguish proposals from enacted law, cite sources, and separate facts, interpretation, and uncertain predictions. Include counterarguments even when using a particular perspective.

Examine S.88 through a civil-liberties and limited-government lens. Consider individual rights, privacy, voluntary choice, accountability, and government power. Explain tradeoffs, possible safeguards, and the strongest counterarguments without assuming the proposal is beneficial or harmful.