NY Gov to curb gifts, etc to physicians in USA

New York State, USA, Governor David Paterson has proposed legislation this month to limit the influence of pharmaceutical manufacturers over prescription decisions. The Governor's bill would ban gifts and payments from drugmakers to physicians and other prescribers in excess of $50 per year. The bill would also require practitioners who make presentations at continuing medical education events to disclose any financial relationship they have with drug firms. In addition, it would increase transparency and promote competition among pharmacy benefit managers by requiring them to disclose information to health plans, doctors and patients.

In his statement, Gov Paterson noted that pharmaceutical manufacturers spend "billions of dollars each year on gifts and payments to doctors," and $1.0 billion annually to support or sponsor at least half of the CME events attended by physicians. The Governor's bill would prohibit a drug manufacturer from giving to a prescriber, and also prevent the latter from accepting payments or gifts that exceed a total of $50 in value in each calendar year. These restrictions would also apply to the prescriber's employees.