Senate Bill Would Mandate Manufacturer/Physician Gift Disclosures

Sens. Herb Kohl (D-Wis.) and Chuck Grassley (R-Iowa) have introduced legislation to require medical device, drug and biologics manufacturers to disclose the amount of money and other gifts they give to physicians.

According to the senators, S. 2029, the Physician Payments Sunshine Act, introduced Sept. 6, builds on similar state initiatives in Minnesota, Vermont, Maine and West Virginia. It would apply to manufacturers with $100 million or more in annual gross revenues, with penalties for not reporting physician payments ranging from $10,000 to $100,000 per violation.

In addition, S. 2029 would require the HHS secretary to create a website and post payment information in a clear and understandable manner.