New Jersey Task Force To Examine Drug Maker-Physician Incentive Links
The task force will examine the effects of drug and device makers' gifts and fees to physicians on the doctor-patient relationship, as well as how much gift-giving informs physicians about new treatments. The task force also will examine ways to prevent and identify abuses, including requiring public disclosure of gifts, limiting payments physicians can accept or requiring doctors to inform patients about such payments (Johnson, AP/Houston Chronicle, 9/18).
Milgram said, "The facts gathered by the task force and the [state] Board of Medical Examiners will be critical in deciding whether additional reforms are needed to eliminate conflicts and provide greater transparency." The panel comprises 16 members, including state Department of Health and Senior Services Commissioner Fred Jacobs, state Board of Medical Examiners associates, physicians, and industry and consumer representatives (Gruen, Newark Star-Ledger, 9/19). Milgram said the committee likely would hold a public meeting before it releases its proposals in six months (Philadelphia Inquirer, 9/19).
New Jersey has one of the largest concentrations of pharmaceutical corporations in the U.S. Vermont, Maine, Minnesota, West Virginia and Washington, D.C. already have passed regulations requiring disclosures of compensation and gift-giving. Last week, Sens. Chuck Grassley (R-Iowa) and Herb Kohl (D-Wis.) called on pharmaceutical companies with annual profits of at least $100 million to release gift-giving and compensation data on a public Web site created by HHS (Newark Star-Ledger, 9/19).
Ken Johnson, senior vice president for the Pharmaceutical Research and Manufacturers of America, in a statement said that there already are adequate safeguards in place to prevent inappropriate gift-giving (Philadelphia Inquirer, 9/19).
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New Jersey Task Force pentru a examina Drug Maker-Medic stimulativ Link-uri - New Jersey Task Force To Examine Drug Maker-Physician Incentive Links - articole medicale engleza - startsanatate