Congress, AdvaMed Urge Physician-Industry Transparency
BY LAUREN UZDIENSKI, JANUARY 7, 2009
According to a report by FDA News, Charles Grassley (R-Iowa) plans to reintroduce the Physician Payment Sunshine Act in the 111th Congress. The bill, first introduced in 2007, will require device makers to publicly disclose any payments or gifts given to physicians.
AdvaMed, who has voiced support for the Sunshine Act, issued their own call for physician-industry transparency last month with the adoption of a revised Code of Ethics. The updated code prohibits manufacturers from providing entertainment or recreation to healthcare professionals as well as providing gifts of any type, including non-educational branded promotional items, regardless of value. Additionally, the Code includes guidelines for royalty agreements and new guidelines for no-charge products distributed for educational purposes.
The Sunshine Act does not prohibit payments or gifts, only requires that they be disclosed. While the Act did not reach a vote with the last Congress, the legislation generated considerable support among healthcare organizations, including the AMA, as well as certain pharmaceutical companies, who would also be required to report physician payments under the law. The MDMA has said they'll work with Congress to ensure that the law is not unnecessarily burdensome for small manufacturers.
