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MORE TRANSPARENCY, FEWER KICKBACKS FOR DOCTORS
In today’s NY Times , Gardiner Harris reports on renewed interest by federal prosecutors in going after doctors who accept illegal kickbacks from drug and device manufacturers in return for using their products. The Department of Health and Human Services is concerned about “marketing tactics that enrich doctors but increase health care costs and sometimes endanger patients,” according to Mr. Harris. Doctors could face loss of their licenses, fines and jail time for violations.
The federal prosecutors vow to bring greater transparency to the public about the nature of consulting relationships between doctors and drug and device companies, which will not only curb illegal agreements enriching doctors, but will (hopefully) restore the public’s trust in such relationships, and the products produced as a result of them.