To help you remain abreast of current congressional attention to conflict-of-interest issues, the ASN provides an overview of current and recent legislation related to the topic. Please note that this site is updated periodically to reflect changes and progress in bills and amendments in progress.
H.R. 3200: "America's Affordable Health Choices Act of 2009" To provide affordable, quality health care for all Americans and reduce the growth in health care spending, and for other purposes.
Introduced: 7/14/2009
Bill Sponsor: Rep. John D. Dingell
Bill Overview: A bill to reform health care in order to provide affordable, quality health care for all Americans and reduce the growth in health care spending, and for other purposes. Major provisions in the bill include measures to:
- Set forth provisions governing health insurance plans and issuers
- Establish the Health Insurance Exchange within the Health Choices Administration in order to provide individuals and employers access to health insurance coverage choices, including a public health insurance option
- Amend title XVIII (Medicare) of the Social Security Act to revise provisions relating to payment, coverage, and access
- Require the Secretary of Health and Human Service (HHS) to provide for the development of quality measures for the delivery of health care services in the United States
- Establish a Center for Comparative Effectiveness Research within the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality
- Set forth provisions relating to the health workforce
The bill also includes language similar to H.R. 3138 and S.301, but expands the definition of 'covered recipient' from physicians and physician practices to include other health care entities such as:
- (A) A physician.
- (B) A physician group practice.
- (C) Any other prescriber of a covered drug, device, biological, or medical supply.
- (D) A pharmacy or pharmacist.
- (E) A health insurance issuer, group health plan, or other entity offering a health benefits plan, including any employee of such an issuer, plan, or entity.
- (F) A pharmacy benefit manager, including any employee of such a manager.
- (G) A hospital.
- (H) A medical school.
- (I) A sponsor of a continuing medical education program.
- (J) A patient advocacy or disease specific group.
- (K) A organization of health care professionals.
- (L) A biomedical researcher.
- (M) A group purchasing organization.
Recent Activities: 7/21/2009: House committee/subcommittee actions: Committee Consideration and Mark-up Session held.
More Information: http://thomas.loc.gov/cgi-bin/bdquery/z?d111:h.r.3200:
H.R. 3138: To amend title XI of the Social Security Act to provide for transparency in the relationship between physicians and manufacturers of drugs, devices, biologicals, or medical supplies for which payment is made under Medicare, Medicaid, or SCHIP.
Introduced: 7/09/2009
Bill Sponsor: Rep. Baron P. Hill
Bill Overview: Amends part A (General Provisions) of title XI of the Social Security Act to provide for transparency in the relationship between physicians and any manufacturers of a covered drug, device, biological, or medical supply with respect to payments and other transfers of value and physician ownership or investment interests in manufacturers.
Recent Activities: 7/9/2009: Referred to the Committee on Energy and Commerce, and in addition to the Committee on Ways and Means, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.
More Information: http://thomas.loc.gov/cgi-bin/bdquery/z?d111:h.r.3138:
S. 914: "Cures Acceleration Network and National Institutes of Health Reauthorization Act of 2009" A bill to establish an independent Cures Acceleration Network agency, to sponsor promising translational research to bridge the gap between laboratory discoveries and life-saving therapies, to reauthorize the National Institutes of Health, and for other purposes.
Introduced: 4/28/2009
Bill Sponsor: Sen. Arlen Specter
Bill Overview: Establishes the Cures Acceleration Network, an independent agency, to awards grants and contracts to eligible entities to accelerate the development of cures and treatments of diseases, including through the development of medical products and behavioral therapies. Defines "medical product" as a drug, device, biological product, or product that is a combination of drugs, devices, and biological products. Sets forth the functions of the Network as well as provisions governing conflict of interest policies for the Network.
Recent Activities: 4/28/2009: Read twice and referred to the Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions.
More Information: http://thomas.loc.gov/cgi-bin/bdquery/z?d111:s.914:
S. 301: "Physician Payment Sunshine Act" A bill to amend title XI of the Social Security Act to provide for transparency in the relationship between physicians and manufacturers of drugs, devices, biologicals, or medical supplies for which payment is made under Medicare, Medicaid, or SCHIP.
Introduced: 1/22/2009
Bill Sponsor: Sen. Chuck Grassley
Bill Overview: Amends part A (General Provisions) of title XI of the Social Security Act to provide for transparency in the relationship between physicians and any manufacturers of a covered drug, device, biological, or medical supplies with respect to payments and other transfers of value and physician ownership or investment interests in manufacturers.
Recent Activities: 1/22/2009: Read twice and referred to the Senate Committee on Finance.
More Information: http://thomas.loc.gov/cgi-bin/bdquery/z?d111:s.301: