House to offer bill for registry of drug firm gifts to doctors

Pharmaceutical companies would have to report gifts of $25 or more.

By Dave Hansen, AMNews staff. Nov. 26, 2007.

Washington -- A U.S. House lawmaker plans to introduce legislation to create a registry in which pharmaceutical manufacturers would have to report any gifts that are given to physicians.

The measure by Rep. Peter DeFazio (D, Ore.) would be similar to legislation that already was offered in the Senate. But the House bill might apply to companies with less than $100 million in revenues, the threshold set by the Senate bill, said Ed Hill, a legislative assistant for DeFazio. The House and Senate bills would require manufacturers to list both gifts of $25 or more and the physicians who received them.

Between five and eight Democrats have agreed to co-sponsor the House measure, Hill said, adding that DeFazio hopes to get some Republicans to join them. A House vote by the end of 2007 is probably too optimistic, Hill said, but the lawmaker plans to promote the legislation next year.

The American Medical Association has not taken a position on the legislation. But the AMA's ethical guidelines prohibit doctors from accepting gifts of substantial value or any gifts with conditions attached. Gifts also must primarily benefit patients or be related to a physician's work.

Anticipating the House introduction, several groups held a Nov. 8 briefing in Washington, D.C., to show support for a national registry.

The bill is necessary because it would publicize potential conflicts of interest between the pharmaceutical industry and physicians, explained American Medical Student Assn. Director of Student Programming Paige Hatcher, who attends the University of Kansas.