New York Gov. David Paterson is proposing new, tougher prohibitions on pharmaceutical companies, restricting them from dispensing gifts and misleading production information to doctors while promoting the use of specific drugs. New York would join at least nine states that have enacted legislation affecting pharmaceutical marketing, according to the National Conference of State Legislatures.
"This will benefit patient care and reduce costs in the Medicaid program, as more expensive drugs will not be prescribed for the wrong reasons," Paterson said.
Paterson wants to prevent pharmaceutical companies from influencing the prescribing habits of doctors.
"Cracking down on the gifts that the drug industry gives to doctors could lead to more independent prescribing by physicians," said Bill Ferris, a lobbyist for AARP, an advocacy group for older Americans. "Doctors are constantly being solicited to prescribe high-cost brand name drugs when equally effective less expensive drugs may be available."More
5 comments:
We have been forbidden to give docs anything except drug samples and modest meals (such as pizza and donuts) for more than 1 year.
This just shows how all this posturing is just for show. There isn't a physician in the US that has received a pen or a post it in a year. I can buy you lunch, in your office- not out and I can spend 8 dollars including tax. And you MUST talk to me to get it. I have docs that I've known for a dozen years- see me at Starbucks and want to sit and have a cup of coffee? Sorry I can't buy it. My friend that sells radiology equip to the hospital will take you to a 4 star restaurant. Seats on the 50 yard line. Fly you and your family to Disney. His expenses for the month are more than mine for 18 months. Yeah. I'm the reason health care is too expensive.
As usual, the Gov of NY is late to the game. The "party" ended years back for drug reps! Hello, Gov Patterson, are your poll ratings that low you need to shrill for the populist vote?
Aye, a wee bit late Laddie. Maybe you should focus on off-label promotion, that is still happening at an alarming rate.
Actually this will probably increase the costs as companies will need to put systems into place to demonstrate compliance. One more state reporting form.
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