Blue Mass Group

Reality-based commentary on politics.

Stop the Pharma Sneak Attack

By

Chapter 111N is the state’s historic drug and device marketing restrictions law, passed overwhelmingly in 2008 after a bitter struggle between consumers, doctors, hospitals and employer groups seeking lower health care costs, and the drug industry seeking to protect their sky-high profits on brand-name drugs. The law imposes reasonable restrictions and transparency on the inherent conflict of interest set up when drug companies pay off doctors to prescribe drugs. (Background info, more background info)

Now industry is pushing back, tacking on an unrelated provision onto a complex bill, a provision that never had a hearing or any public discussion during the last weeks of the session. This is a hail-mary pass by an industry that only looks out for its bottom line, without regard to ethics or patient needs.

The Boston Globe last week called Chapter 111N “one of the smartest steps Massachusetts has taken to get health costs under control.” DPH bent over backwards in its regulatory process to accommodate industry’s pleas to avoid burdening legitimate interactions, while making sure the public interest came first. The first public reports under the law are due next week.

The House debate on S. 2380 is scheduled for Wednesday. Call your Representative, and urge him or her to support Rep. Lewis and Rep Provost’s amendment to strip out section 105. This is not the time to undo a decision made just 2 years ago.

-Brian Rosman, Health Care For All

Cross-posted mostly from HCFA’s A Health Blog

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Comments

  2. What’s the prognosis that it will be removed?

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    p>Excellent work, Brian.

  3. Chapter 111N really is an important step at controlling health care costs. A number of states have passed similar legislation, but Massachusetts’s is one of the best.

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    p>Most on BMG are already well aware, but it is indeed quite shocking how much waste there is in the pharmaceutical industry. Anyone who claims to be concerned about “waste, fraud, and abuse” — I’m looking at you, Tea Partiers — should oppose the repeal of 111N. Don’t forget that it’s the taxpayers and consumers that ultimately pay for this Big Pharma waste.

    • Being a baby boomer and former occupant of an outsourced career, victim of mandatory Masshole required junk medical non-insurance I have taken myself off the medical surveillance grid and opted for natural health remedies as opposed to mandatory swine flu vaccinations.  Yes, if I fall off my horse and break my leg I am screwed but I have learned NOT to push the 1300 pound animal I am sitting upon when he happens to be in a crappy mood.

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      p>If Doc wants me to take something for my health I Google it first to see if lawyers are seeking my business also.

      • I have taken myself off the medical surveillance grid and opted for natural health remedies as opposed to mandatory swine flu vaccinations.

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        p>Whatever you’re doing for mental health… it’s not working.

    • Formally, the provision striking the pharmaceutical and device gifts restrictions is in the House Ways and Means recommended substitute to Senate 2380. But the HWM substitute has not been given a number yet, so it’s not online.

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      p>(See H4813, which is online, which the House adopted last week. This is the rule directing Reps. to submit amendments to the HWM substitute by today (Monday)).

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      p>Also, because of the death of a House member, the House will not be meeting in formal sessions this week. So the debate on this issue has been put off for a week.

      • Anyone have the time to summarize what it means?

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        p>Senate, No. 2380

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        p>Presented by:

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        p>An Act relative to economic development reorganization

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        p>4/8/2010 S  Text of S2345, printed as amended

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        p>4/8/2010 S  Passed to be engrossed – 37 YEAS to 0 NAYS (See Senate Roll Call, No. 217)

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        p>4/22/2010  H Read; and referred to the House Committee On Ways and Means

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        p>6/24/2010 H  Order governing special procedures adopted, see H4813

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        p>6/28/2010 H Accompanied by H4553, H4629 and H4705

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        p>6/28/2010 H  Committee recommended that the bill be amended by striking out all after the enacting clause and inserting in place thereof the text of H4820

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        p>6/28/2010 H  Bill reported favorably by committee and referred to the House Committee On Steering, Policy and Scheduling with the amendment pending

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        p>6/28/2010 H Rules suspended

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        p>6/28/2010 H Order amending special procedures adopted

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        p>

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