Healthy Skepticism Library item: 10552

Warning: This library includes all items relevant to health product marketing that we are aware of regardless of quality. Often we do not agree with all or part of the contents.

Publication type: news

Vermont Governor Signs Bill That Aims To Increase Use of Generic Prescription Drugs
Daily Health Policy Report, KaiserNetwork.org 2007 Jun 14
http://www.kaisernetwork.org/daily_reports/rep_index.cfm?DR_ID=45591

Full text:

Vermont Gov. Jim Douglas ® on Monday signed into law legislation that is expected to increase the use of generic prescription drugs by providing patients and physicians with information about their effectiveness, the Burlington Free Press reports. Under the law, doctors will receive vouchers for generic drugs intended to balance the influence of free samples provided by drug manufacturers. The legislation also will require that drug sales representatives provide doctors with “fact-based” information about their medicines and comparable drugs.

In addition, the law includes a provision that would restrict the prescribing records of physicians by allowing doctors to opt-in to make the information available to drug manufacturers for use in sales calls. The Vermont Medical Society said the requirement will “limit one of the biggest health care cost drivers — aggressive pharmaceutical marketing.” Paul Burns, executive director of the Vermont Public Interest Research Group, said, “This law is the right prescription for patients and their doctors in Vermont.”

However, Julie Corcoran, vice president of state policy for the Pharmaceutical Research and Manufacturers of America, said that it was “unfortunate” that the legislation was “signed into law,” adding that her organization would prefer to give doctors the opportunity to opt-out of sharing their records (Remsen, Burlington Free Press, 6/12).