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Government

Consumers Must Make Own Choices as Health Guidelines Change

Nancy Hicks April 19, 2013

Welcome to the ambivalent world of healthcare, where confusion reigns as shifts in science and guidelines seemingly raise more questions than they answer.

Obama budget would bleed pharmas

Matthew Arnold April 10, 2013

The White House released its proposed budget for the 2014 fiscal year this morning, and while it gives a modest boost to Health and Human Services, it also seeks to extract more cost savings from pharmas.

For Obama's head-less CMS, third time's the charm

Matthew Arnold April 09, 2013

Acting administrator Marilyn Tavenner seems on track for confirmation, with the blessings of all industry stakeholders

Success in emerging markets hinges on broad network

Deborah Weinstein April 03, 2013

Execs told Booz & Co researchers that the relationships web in emerging markets needs to be deeper than one-on-one sales pitches.

Court could punt "Pay for Delay" back to Congress

Matthew Arnold March 25, 2013

Eight members of the Supreme Court heard testimony in the case of FTC v. Actavis this morning, and the fate of so-called "pay for delay" settlements hangs in the balance.

Senate vote puts ACA's device tax in doubt

Matthew Arnold March 22, 2013

In a big win for the device industry, Senators voted overwhelmingly on a symbolic— but politically potent—motion to scrap the 2.3% device excise tax.

Sequester cuts could snarl approvals for years

Matthew Arnold March 06, 2013

With sequester cuts taking effect and no sign of a deal to end them in sight, FDA stands to lose 5% of its 2013 budget—though coming five months into the Federal fiscal year, it will feel more like 9%—and while the agency has said it has no plans at present for layoffs, it's certain the approvals process will slow as the agency absorbs the loss.

CMS warms to some stakeholders, burns others with Sunshine rule

Matthew Arnold February 11, 2013

Clinical Research Organizations, marketing research firms, accredited CME providers and lawyers look to be the big winners in CMS's Sunshine Act rule.

CMS releases "Sunshine" final rule: federal preemption, August start date

Matthew Arnold February 01, 2013

CMS issued its long-delayed final rule for collecting data on industry payments to physicians, ordering data collection to begin in August and asserting that the federal law preempts state laws.

Congress spares pharmas from going over another cliff—for now

Matthew Arnold January 02, 2013

For the drug industry, the big news in the "fiscal cliff" deal is that the next big congressional showdown—one that could have big implications for the healthcare industries—has been kicked down the road a couple months.

Congress loses a healthcare mover, and pharma an unlikely ally on IPAB

Matthew Arnold December 27, 2012

The November elections were arguably the most important for healthcare policy in 40 years, cementing, as they did, the Affordable Care Act by awarding President Obama a second term. But with all eyes glued to the drama at the top of the ticket, many missed a major Congressional upset that could have big implications for healthcare policy.

Amgen pleads guilty, takes CIA in $762 million False Claims Act case

Matthew Arnold December 20, 2012

Amgen "marketed the spread" between the price practices pay for Aranesp and that patients pay as a means of driving sales—to the point of having speakers tell docs that they could make a million more each year by prescribing the Amgen anemia drug over its competitor, Procrit.

FDA regulatory policy chief to take on compounding question

Matthew Arnold December 19, 2012

FDA's Jane Axelrad is leaving the Office of Regulatory Policy to head the agency's compounding policy rethink.

CBO: more scripts filled, less healthcare spending

Deborah Weinstein December 04, 2012

The nonpartisan Congressional Budget Office is tallying medical savings differently, adding a new perspective to chatter about the financial implications of nonadherence and rising drug prices.

Congressmen spar over meningitis blame

Deborah Weinstein November 14, 2012

Members of the House Energy and Commerce committee alternatively blamed and excused the FDA over the meningitis outbreak that has killed 32 patients.

Full steam ahead for Obamacare, but gridlock isn't going anywhere

Matthew Arnold November 12, 2012

President Obama has cemented his greatest legislative achievement, the Affordable Care Act, but the status quo should prove anything but boring, with implementation of the law sure to mean more political fireworks

Voting with their wallets, pharmas say no thanks to change

Matthew Arnold November 06, 2012

Barack Obama edged Mitt Romney in fundraising from pharmas in the 2012 election, even as the industry favored Republicans in other contests. Were change-weary drug companies voting for the status quo?

Sunshine Act could scare docs away from commercially-supported CME

Matthew Arnold September 13, 2012

Physicians are reconsidering their participation in industry-sponsored CME, fearful that their inclusion in Sunshine Act databases as having received payments from companies will tarnish their reputations and fuel perceptions of conflicts of interest, a survey has found.

HHS expands 9/11 health program to cover cancers

Matthew Arnold September 11, 2012

The Department of Health and Human Services observed the anniversary of the September 11, 2001 attacks by extending coverage of a program for first responders sickened by their work at Ground Zero, the Pentagon and the Flight 93 crash site in Shanksville, PA to cover some 50 cancers.

Amid misspent billions, the promise of personalized medicine

Matthew Arnold September 10, 2012

The Institute of Medicine has released a report putting the cost of unnecessary medical care at $750 billion a year and counting. What does it mean for pharmas? Depends on how you read it.

Healthcare takes center stage at political conventions

Matthew Arnold September 06, 2012

Healthcare policy is having its day in the spotlight of presidential politics as Republicans and Democrats rekindle their sparring over the Affordable Care Act, Medicare and Medicaid.

GSK in biggest-ever $3b marketing fraud settlement

Matthew Arnold July 02, 2012

GlaxoSmithKline will pay $3 billion to settle state and federal charges that it promoted antidepressants Paxil and Wellbutrin for unindicated uses and withheld safety data on diabetes drug Avandia.

In PhRMA-White House emails, little sizzle, less scandal

Matthew Arnold June 05, 2012

Congressional Republicans are trumpeting a cache of emails that give a glimpse into how the White House's deal with the pharma industry on healthcare reform came together. There's not much 'there' there, but there are some titillating glimpses into the legislative sausage factory.

PhRMA's Washington wish list

Matthew Arnold May 21, 2012

PhRMA presented Washington with its legislative wish list - and a warning that plenty of other countries are trying to woo the industry away from the US.

Obamacare Court fail could hit pharmas with "double whammy"

Matthew Arnold April 02, 2012

If the Supreme Court finds the "individual mandate" provision of the Affordable Care Act unconstitutional, as now seems surprisingly possible, the biopharma industry could be looking at a worst possible outcome situation.

Obamacare reconsidered: a pretty good deal for the drug industry

Matthew Arnold March 26, 2012

As the Supreme Court weighs the constitutionality of the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act's "Individual Mandate"—and maybe the law itself—a pretty sweet deal for the drug industry hangs in the balance.

President's budget would deal a wallop to biopharma wallets

Matthew Arnold February 13, 2012

President Obama's proposed 2013 budget would mandate an estimated $156 billion in new rebates to low-income seniors through Medicare over the next decade - discounts that would come out of the pockets of drug companies and could cost tens of thousands of jobs, according to PhRMA.

DOJ hit pharmas for $2.2 billion in 2011 False Claims Act cases

Matthew Arnold December 20, 2011

Pharmas shelled out $2.2 billion in False Claims Act fines and settlements with the Justice Department this year as the feds' healthcare fraud haul hit an all-time high.

Merck wraps up Vioxx litigation with feds, states: $1b in fines, new CIA

Matthew Arnold November 22, 2011

Seven years after the biggest drug safety scandal since thalidomide was found to cause birth defects, Merck and the Justice Department announced a nearly $1 billion settlement of litigation over Vioxx, the Cox-2 pain drug found to cause strokes and heart attacks.

Grassley blasts CMS foot-dragging on Sunshine Act

Matthew Arnold November 01, 2011

The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, now a month overdue to issue draft guidelines for reporting pharma-physician contacts as required under healthcare reform legislation, said the department is working on it, but offered nothing in the way of a timeline.

Web Exclusive

Angelina Jolie's fearless but flawed message

Paul Oestreicher, Ph.D. May 17, 2013

Angelina Jolie's story raises important questions about education, outreach and access—but her nod to holistic treatments is less helpful

Podcasts

How to engage even the busiest physicians

March 04, 2013

Sponsored by TRUE Health + Wellness. The increasingly demanding schedules of healthcare professionals continue to narrow the window of opportunity for pharma sales teams, and, as a result, marketers are focusing more on non-personal promotion. However, there's a lot more to it than simply bombarding physicians with brand messages, as Anne Stroup, Managing Director at TRUE Health + Wellness, explains to MM&M's James Chase in this special podcast presentation.

2013 Hall of Fame Inductees

An entertaining look at the extraordinary lives and careers of the Medical Advertising Hall of Fame's 2013 inductees: Peter Frishauf, Dorothy Philips and David Labson. Clips produced by JUICE Pharma.

Slideshows

Peter Frishauf, founder of Medscape, delivers his acceptance speech.

MAHF 2013: Honors Class

A gallery of images from the 2013 Medical Advertising Hall of Fame induction dinner

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