S. 4440

119 S4440 IS: Clinical Trial Modernization Act
 U.S. Senate
 2026-04-29
 text/xml
 EN
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 II  119th CONGRESS  2d Session  S. 4440  IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES   April 29, 2026   Mr. Scott of South Carolina  (for himself and  Mr. Warner ) introduced the following bill; which was read twice and referred to the  Committee on Finance    A BILL
To modernize clinical trials and remove barriers for participation in clinical trials, and for other purposes.
1.
Short title
This Act may be cited as the   Clinical Trial Modernization Act  .
2.
Definition
For purposes of this Act, the term  underrepresented population  has the meaning given such term by the National Institutes of Health for purposes of the Toolkit for Patient-Focused Therapy Development (as published on April 1, 2024), in addition to such populations recognized by the Food and Drug Administration.
3.
Grants to encourage clinical trial enrollment by underrepresented populations
(a)
In general
The Secretary may issue grants to and enter into contracts with entities to support community education, outreach, and recruitment activities for clinical trials with respect to devices and drugs, including vaccines, for diseases or conditions that have a disproportionate impact on underrepresented populations. Such activities may include—
(1)
working with community clinical trial sites, including community health centers, academic health centers, sites in rural communities, and other facilities;
(2)
training health care personnel, including potential clinical trial investigators, with a focus on significantly increasing the number of underrepresented populations of health care personnel who are clinical trial investigators at the community sites for ongoing clinical trials;
(3)
engaging community stakeholders to encourage participation in clinical trials, especially in underrepresented populations; and
(4)
fostering partnerships with community-based organizations serving underrepresented populations, including employee unions and frontline health care workers.
(b)
Priority for grant and contract awards
In awarding grants and contracts under this section, the Secretary shall prioritize entities that—
(1)
develop educational, recruitment, and training materials in multiple languages; or
(2)
undertake clinical trial outreach efforts in communities that are traditionally underrepresented in clinical trials, such as tribal areas.
(c)
Authorization of appropriations
There is authorized to be appropriated for fiscal years 2027 and 2028 such sums as may be necessary to carry out this section.
4.
Encouragement of clinical trial participation by underrepresented populations through payment of study participant clinical trial expenses and provision of digital health technologies
(a)
In general
Section 1128A(i)(6)(F) of the Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. 1320a–7a(i)(6)(F)) is amended by striking   under regulations);  and inserting the following: “under regulations, including—
(i)
remuneration offered or transferred to an individual while participating in a clinical trial, as defined in subsection (d) of the first section 2709 of the Public Health Service Act for expenses incurred as part of the trial, other than patient cost-sharing obligations, including without limitation travel, transportation, and meal expenses, so long as such remuneration is made available to all study participants and facilitates inclusion of patients from all relevant demographic and socioeconomic populations and geographies including rural communities; and
(ii)
the free provision to an individual of digital health technologies where—
(I)
the use of the digital health technologies is intended to facilitate the participation of underrepresented patient populations; and
(II)
the digital health technologies are necessary for participation in such trial;
  .
(b)
Conforming amendment to the anti-Kickback statute
Section 1128B(b)(3) of the Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. 1320a–7b(b)(3)) is amended—
(1)
by striking  and  at the end of subparagraph (K);
(2)
by striking the period at the end of subparagraph (L) and inserting  ; and ;
(3)
by aligning the left margin of each of subparagraphs (J) and (K) with the left margin of subparagraph (I); and
(4)
by inserting after subparagraph (L) the following new subparagraphs:
(M)
any remuneration offered or transferred to an individual while participating in a clinical trial (as defined in subsection (d) of the first section 2709 of the Public Health Service Act) for expenses incurred as part of the trial, other than patient cost-sharing obligations, including without limitation travel, transportation, and meal expenses, so long as such remuneration is made available to all study participants and facilitates inclusion of patients from all relevant demographic and socioeconomic populations and geographies, including rural communities; and
(N)
the free provision to an individual of digital health technologies where—
(i)
the use of the digital health technologies is intended to facilitate in any phase of a clinical trial (as so defined) the participation of underrepresented patient populations; and
(ii)
the digital health technologies are necessary to such participation.
 .
(c)
Effective date
The amendments made by this section shall apply to remuneration provided on or after the date of enactment of this Act.
5.
Encouragement of clinical trial accessibility through support of clinical trial cost-sharing
The payment of patient cost-sharing obligations associated with participation in a clinical trial (as defined in subsection (d) of the first section 2709 of the Public Health Service Act) or for which a diversity action plan is required pursuant to sections 505(z) or 520(g)(9) of the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act by drug or device manufacturers or their agents for their clinical trial participants shall not be considered a violation of section 1128A of the Social Security Act ( 42 U.S.C. 1320a–7a ) (commonly known as the  Civil Monetary Penalties Law ), section 1128B of the Social Security Act ( 42 U.S.C. 1320a–7b ), or sections 3729 through 3733 of title 31, United States Code (commonly known as the  False Claims Act ), provided that the following requirements are met:
(1)
The trial and any coverage of items or services provided in the trial is consistent with all applicable coverage rules by any Federal health care programs providing coverage and reimbursement for beneficiaries participating in the trial as study subjects, including but not limited to, any existing trial qualification requirements imposed by the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services for Medicare coverage of the trial.
(2)
The proposed arrangement for the payment of patient cost-sharing obligations is a reasonable means of facilitating enrollment of an underrepresented set of subjects or reducing the likelihood of attrition in the trial by removing a potential financial barrier to participation in the trial.
(3)
Any sponsor payments of participating patient cost-sharing obligations must be available throughout the entirety of the clinical trial.
(4)
Any sponsor payments of participating patient cost-sharing obligations are not contingent on the future use or purchase of any product or service.
(5)
Any sponsor payments of participating patient cost-sharing obligations will not be provided in excess of the patient’s cost-sharing obligations under relevant Federal health care programs.
(6)
A participating patient receiving cost-sharing assistance from a sponsor will be required to agree not to accept other financial assistance to cover the patient’s cost-sharing obligations.
(7)
Any sponsor payments of participating patient cost-sharing obligations will cease upon the patient’s disenrollment from the clinical trial or the conclusion of the clinical trial, whichever is first.
(8)
The proposed arrangement for the payment of patient cost-sharing obligations includes the following elements to protect against improper increased costs or inappropriate utilization of items and services reimbursed in whole or in part under Federal health care programs:
(A)
The availability of cost-sharing subsidies will not be advertised, but may be disclosed as required or permitted by law in the informed consent forms, protocol, or other documentation associated with the study.
(B)
Participating Federal health care program beneficiaries must satisfy formal, objective, and predetermined enrollment criteria and execute an informed consent document.
(C)
The sponsor must enter into a written agreement with investigators that requires the investigators to comply with the written protocol for the study and to be subject to oversight and monitoring by an institutional review board or other similar body providing independent oversight for the trial.
(D)
Total enrollment for the trial is capped.
6.
Exclusion from gross income for remuneration provided by sponsors of approved clinical trials to participants
(a)
In general
Part III of subchapter B of  chapter 1  of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 is amended by inserting before section 140 the following new section:
139J.
Remuneration provided by sponsors of approved clinical trials to participants
(a)
In general
Gross income shall not include the value of any payment received by an individual from participation in an approved clinical trial (as defined in subsection (d) of the first section 2709 of the Public Health Service Act).
(b)
Limitation
The amount excluded from gross income under subsection (a) for any taxable year shall not exceed $2,000.
 .
(b)
Clerical amendment
The table of sections for part III of subchapter B of  chapter 1  of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 is amended by inserting before the item relating to section 140 the following new item:
Sec. 139J. Remuneration provided by sponsors of approved clinical trials to participants.
  .
(c)
Effective date
The amendments made by this section shall apply to taxable years beginning after the date of enactment of this Act.
7.
Rule of construction
Nothing in section 4 or section 5 of this Act shall be construed to limit or narrow in any way any other protections from liability under section 1128A or 1128B of the Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. 1320a–7a; 1320a–7b) or sections 3729 through 3733 of title 31, United States Code, whether such other protections are set forth in statute, regulation, or any form of guidance, that may apply to any practice or arrangement encouraging participation in or accessibility of clinical trials.