Disney Filmmaker Travels in Footsteps of
Legend
When Choosing Retirement Locations Consider Access to Health Care
Pinched
by the Economy, Older Adults Put Themselves at Risk
Senior Health: Preventing
a Fall Can Save Your Life
Senior Thoughts: Afternoon Talk Show’s Upbeat Entertainment Has Me Hooked
Ted Ruhig: Pointing the Way to the Future Through Change
Dutch Treat: My Garage Door Opener Has a Mind of Its Own
Senate Bill Increases Physician Drug Awareness
By
Michael A. Piekarz
Staff Writer
Congress
continued its effort to change the way the pharmaceutical industry
interacts with doctors through the July 2008 introduction of an “academic
detailing” bill to provide doctors and prescribers with unbiased
information on prescription drugs based on independent, scientific
research.
In September 2007, concerns about the influence of the pharmaceutical industry
on physicians led to the introduction of the Physician Payment Sunshine Act requiring
manufacturers of pharmaceutical drugs, medical devices and biologics to disclose
the amount of money they give to doctors through payments, gifts, honoraria,
travel and other means.
The introduction of the Sunshine Act drew challenges from the drug industry,
which claimed that the legislation restricted their ability to inform doctors
about new drugs.
Currently, pharmaceutical sales representatives are one of the only ways doctors
can learn about new drugs on the market. Evidence has shown that interaction
with these sales representatives can impact doctors’ prescribing patterns.
In April, the Journal of the American Medical Association published an editorial
underscoring the need for physician access to unbiased research about the drugs
available on the market.
The latest bill by the Senate is an attempt to address the challenges made by
the drug industry, concerns about undue influence on prescribing patterns and
to increase physician awareness about prescription drugs.
Senate leaders believe the legislation is a positive step towards improving health
care.
“This bill will provide an important alternative to the way doctors currently
get their information about drugs — from the drug companies themselves,” said
U.S. Senate Special Committee on Aging Chairman Herb Kohl, D-WI.
“This practice seems to be fraught with conflicts of interest. By providing
physicians with thorough, independent research on all the drugs available to
them, we believe we can improve the quality of health care and reduce the cost
of prescription drugs in America,” he said.
Senator Kohl introduced the legislation accompanied by Senate Majority Whip Dick
Durbin, D-Ill., along with Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and
Pensions Committee Chairman Ted Kennedy, D-Mass., and Senator Bob Casey, D-Pa.
They were joined by House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform Chairman
Henry Waxman, D-Calif., and House Energy and Commerce Subcommittee on Health
Chairman Frank Pallone, D-N.J., because the Senate bill was introduced along
with a similar bill in the House.
“Providing doctors with objective information about prescription drugs
allows them to prescribe the most effective treatment to their patients,” explained
Congressman Pallone. “Through this legislation, medical professionals will
have the option of hearing independent and scientific opinions on a wider range
of drugs, devices and medical interventions, which also has a proven record of
lowering health care costs.”
The bill provides for grants to produce educational materials for doctors on
the safety, efficacy and cost of prescription drugs, including generic and over-the-counter
drugs.
A second set of up to 10 grants would be made available in order to dispatch
trained medical staff (such as pharmacists, nurses and other health care professionals)
into physicians’ offices to distribute and discuss the independent information.
Neutrality is ensured by forbidding drug company financial ties to grant recipients.
If the bill becomes law, it is expected to lower the cost of prescription medications
because informed doctors are more likely to prescribe the most effective treatment
instead of the latest brand-name blockbuster drug. They are also more likely
to prescribe lower cost generic drugs.
A study in the New England Journal of Medicine projected that for every dollar
spent on academic detailing, two dollars can be saved in drug costs.
Testimony at a recent Aging Committee hearing discussed both the documented cost
savings of academic detailing programs and how patients stand to benefit when
doctors have access to unbiased information.
The bill has drawn widespread support from advocates including The Prescription
Project/Community Catalyst, Consumers Union, and the Medicare Rights Center.
“We need a program like this to counter the pharmaceutical industry’s
marketing free-for-all,” said Robert Restuccia, executive director of the
Prescription Project. “Academic detailing programs already exist in other
countries and in several states, and they’ve been shown to improve care
and generate savings.”
Supporters also include physician’s groups and insurers such as the American
Medical Student Association, the National Physician’s Alliance, and Blue
Cross/Blue Shield, “As long time proponents of comparative effectiveness research, the Blue
Cross and Blue Shield Association supports this legislation and its goal of making
sure doctors have access to objective information about the safety and effectiveness
of pharmaceutical drugs,” said Scott P. Serota, president and CEO of the
Blue Cross and Blue Shield Association.
“Providing doctors with information based on independent, clinical research
will help patients get the best treatment and improve safety and affordability
of healthcare for everyone,” Serota concluded.
This page and its contents ©2008
Metropolitan News Company, Inc.
