Mass Legislature Reaches Compromise on Pharma Conduct

Yesterday, the Massachusetts House and Senate reached anticipated compromises on a widely discussed pharma-code bill, reports the Boston Globe. The drafted bill, which is expected to be approved and sent to the state governor this weekend, now requires the following:

1. Companies will report any physician gifts exceeding $50 to the state's Department of Public Health, and the DPH should post this information online for public access.
2. The DPH will adopt something like the recently unveiled, voluntary PhRMA code, which bans branded trinkets and out-of-office meals with reps.
3. A $5000 fine will be levied for each violation by pharma or medical-device companies.