Mar 3, 2008 3:19 pm US/Eastern
Massachusetts To Be 1st State To Ban Gifts To Docs
WORCESTER (WBZ) ―
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Senate President Therese Murray is pushing a bill that would make Massachusetts the first state to ban pharmaceutical marketing gifts to doctors.
It also would require the state to adopt electronic medical records and increase financial incentives for students to become primary care physicians in Massachusetts.
The bill sets aside $25 million to help create the statewide system of electronic medical records by 2015. Doctors would have to show competency in the technology for medical board registration.
The bill also sets a deadline of 2012 for statewide adoption of Computerized Physician Order Entry systems.
Under Murray's bill, Massachusetts would bar representatives of pharmaceutical companies from offering marketing gifts and bans physicians from accepting gifts of any kind. The ban extends to physicians' staff and family members.
The legislation allows distribution of drug samples to doctors for exclusive use of their patients.
The bill also strengthens the financial incentives for students to become primary care physicians in Massachusetts and also toughens penalties for doctors who accept the incentives and then don't fulfill their terms as a primary care physician.
The bill calls for a "increase in the workforce capacity of nurses and primary care physicians through loan forgiveness programs and expanded enrollment at the state medical school." It also allows patients to choose nurse practitioners as their primary care providers.
Murray said the bill is the future of Massachusetts.
"This legislation represents a defining moment for the Commonwealth," said Murray in a press release. "Our efforts today are crucial to the future vitality of our health care system and our economy, and this bill makes good on the promise I made in October to propose bold measures to ensure the success of health care reform in Massachusetts."
Senator Richard Moore, the Senate chair of the Joint Committee on Health Care Financing, said in a press release that this bill is key to Massachusetts moving forward with it's landmark healthcare reform.
"If we expect to realize the full promise of the state's landmark health reform law – to achieve universal health coverage with safe, high quality and affordable care for all – this bill is vital," said Moore. "We must expand access to care, ensure a transparent system of quality improvement and cost containment, and improve the overall health of the people of Massachusetts."
The bill also would require a public hearing for hospitals and insurance companies to justify consumer costs and in order to make cost-reduction recommendations. It would also require public review of any insurance rate increases above seven percent.
Other highlights in the bill include: a statewide standard for uniform billing and coding among providers and insurance companies, a better "determination of need" process, and reform of public and private "pay-for-performance" efforts. The bill would also authorize the Department of Insurance to investigate the costs of medical malpractice coverage for health care providers
The bill was unveiled Monday at the University of Massachusetts Medical School in Worcester.
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