The leader of the Massachusetts State Senate has proposedlegislation banning all gifts to doctors from pharmaceutical companies. Ifenacted, the move would make the state the first in the country to ban giftsoutright.
“There’s going to be a climate change, and there has to be aclimate change; otherwise our healthcare reform will implode, just under thecosts,” said Therese Murrary, Massachusetts State Senate president, inpublished reports.
Murray’s measure is part of a set of healthcare reformsfiled in a bill that also includes requiring all doctors statewide to adoptelectronic medical records by 2015, allowing patients to choose nursepractitioners as primary care providers, and forcing public reviews of anyinsurance company efforts to boost annual premiums by more than 7%.
The ban forbids the industry from giving doctors—theirfamilies or employees—gifts from drug companies. Gifts include payments,entertainment, meals, travel, honorariums, subscriptions, even a pen with adrug company logo.
The legislation would continue to permit distribution ofdrug samples to doctors for the exclusive use of their patients. Anyone whoviolates the ban could be fined $5,000, face two years imprisonment, or both,under the proposal.
Currently Minnesota and Vermont are the only states withmandatory physician gift reporting laws.
In Minnesota, legislators enacted a ban on gifts in excessof $50 from pharmaceutical companies. In Vermont, legislators have passed lawsrequiring pharmaceutical company representatives to disclose the dollar valueof gifts over $25 to doctors.
Julie Corcoran, deputy vice president of PhRMA, told TheBoston Globe that the industry’s sales people are “highly educated and trainedby their companies.” The group opposes any ban, saying the pharmaceuticalindustry is already heavily regulated by the FDA.
“I’m not aware of any kindof evidence or studies that link promotional or marketing materials with thecost of healthcare,” she said.
From the April 01, 2008 Issue of MM+M - Medical Marketing and Media
