"Ban on drug industry gifts could be lifted" by Jim O’Sullivan, State House News Service | June 25, 2010
A two-year-old state ban on gifts in the medical and pharmaceutical industries would be repealed under an economic development bill that the House budget committee began polling its members on yesterday.
The ban, which prohibits drug firms from giving gifts and meals to health care professionals, has cut back on local business profits, a summary of the bill states. When it passed as part of a broader health care bill in 2008, supporters called it a way of curbing pharmaceutical companies’ influence.
Efforts to repeal the ban will probably draw opposition in the Legislature, where lawmakers had boasted of new overtures to transparency and accountability in trumpeting its passage two years ago....
What is the saying, good things never last?
It is amazing how some lobbies get action so quickly....
"House seeks to repeal gift reporting law
The Massachusetts House hopes to repeal a state law requiring drug companies report gifts to doctors. The repeal was included in an economic development bill approved by the House Wednesday. House leaders defended the vote to repeal the ban, approved just two years ago, saying it has made it harder to attract companies to Massachusetts. The Senate version of the bill did not include the repeal. The bill now heads to a committee to work out a compromise (AP)."
Now I'm feeling sick.
