The One Research Mastercard service was developed in response to a client’s request for a straightforward and cost-effective solution to cover patients’ clinical-research expenses. As a company that specialises in patient recruitment, we have seen the problems associated with slow reimbursement and how this can significantly impact on both recruitment and retention. In our recent survey of 3,500 patients, 60% of respondents said that travel expenses are a key consideration in deciding to take part in research.
All too frequently the onus is placed on the patient to fund their own participation and then submit an expense claim for later reimbursement. From feedback we have been given, many organisations attempt to reimburse patients in around two to four weeks, but it can take up to nine weeks for a claim to be processed.
We investigated card and expense providers from both the pharma and financial services industries but found that they didn’t offer the operational flexibility required and were also prohibitively expensive. Our findings prompted us to develop our own cost-effective, scalable and straightforward solution.
The One Research Mastercard is more than just a card. Key to its success is an understanding of the day-to-day needs of patients and the operational requirements of sites, CROs and sponsors.
For patients, a service that gives them the freedom to cover costs without using their own funds will increase enrolment and retention in research. Furthermore, patients don’t need to provide sensitive personal information or even set up or activate the card service. They can just spend and go.
Similarly, where sites are in demand from competing research organisations, protocols that minimise unnecessary administration are an attractive proposition. This is also an important factor in encouraging sites that may be new to research, helping to establish productive working relationships. Sites only need to give the cards to patients as they enrol; there aren’t any new systems to manage, or any lengthy training required.
With the One Research Mastercard service, efficient financial management is assured, reporting is in real-time and automatically blinded, ensuring study integrity. Ultimately, for CROs and sponsors time is saved and costs are lowered.
