Wednesday, April 27, 2011

Mass. House votes to repeal gift ban on pharma, med devices

By Julie M. Donnelly, Boston Business Journal

The Massachusetts House of Representatives has voted to overturn the 2008 gift ban that regulates interactions between doctors and medical device and pharmaceutical companies. Opponents of the law say it discourages medical conference organizers from bringing their meetings to the state and hurts local restaurants, because it forbids companies from buying meals for doctors. They also say it discourages legitimate collaboration between doctors and companies designed to improve safety and effectiveness of devices and drugs.

Supporters of the gift ban say drug and device companies spend too much money wining and dining doctors, and this pushes up the cost of health care. They also say it creates a conflict of interest for doctors when they decide which treatments to prescribe.

The House voted 128-22 to repeal the law, as an amendment to its 2012 budget, according to the State House News Service.

But the road to repeal is likely to face hurdles in the Senate, where Senate President Therese Murray, among other top leaders, is a supporter of the gift ban.