New Jersey Rule on Doctor Gift Restrictions Now in Effect

New restrictions in New Jersey on gifts from manufacturers to doctors went into effect on Jan. 16.

Prohibited gifts include: financial benefits such as gifts, payments, stocks or scholarships; entertainment or recreational items; products with company logos; items intended for personal benefit; meals; and payments or direct subsidies to influence the attendance of an event, with certain exceptions.

Gifts that are not prohibited include: items designed for educational purposes; subsidized event registration fees, if available to all participants; modest meals provided through an event; compensation based on fair market value for bona fide speaking services; compensation for participation on advisory bodies or consulting arrangements; reasonable payment for travel and lodging; and royalties and licensing fees paid in return for contractual rights to use or buy a patented or legally recognized discovery.