Sens. Grassley, Baucus Request Information on Rx Companies' Grants to States, Organizations

Main Category: Pharma Industry / Biotech Industry
Article Date: 12 Jun 2005 - 0:00 PDT

email to a friend   printer friendly   opinions  
.
Senate Finance Committee Chair Chuck Grassley (R-Iowa) and ranking member Max Baucus (D-Mont.) on Thursday sent letters to 18 pharmaceutical companies requesting information about grants awarded to state officials and other organizations that might have influenced prescription drug purchases by Medicare and Medicaid, the New York Times reports. The senators said that they sent the letters to ensure that the grants are used for allowable educational purposes and not to influence prescription drug purchases. Grassley said, "We need to know how this behind-the-scenes funneling of money is influencing decision makers. The decisions result in the government spending billions of dollars on drugs. The tactics look aggressive, and the response on behalf of the public needs to be just as vigorous." Baucus added that he was "concerned that some grants might be for purposes other than education" (Harris, New York Times, 6/10).

"Reprinted with permission from kaisernetwork.org kaisernetwork.org. You can view the entire Kaiser Daily Health Policy Report, search the archives, or sign up for email delivery at http://www.kaisernetwork.org/dailyreports/healthpolicy. The Kaiser Daily Health Policy Report is published for kaisernetwork.org, a free service of The Henry J. Kaiser Family Foundation . © 2005 Advisory Board Company and Kaiser Family Foundation. All rights reserved.

• Additional
• References
• Citations