Medical gift law faces quick repeal
Two years after passing a law that required medical companies to disclose their gifts to doctors, Massachusetts legislators may now strike it down.
Health care advocates say such a move could put a quick halt to efforts to rein in health care costs and increase transparency in the industry. Those pushing for repeal say the law has made it harder to attract those businesses to the state.
The 2008 law requires pharmaceutical companies and medical device manufacturers to report any gifts to doctors and other health providers over $50. Violators face fines of up to $5,000.
The House passed an economic development bill last week that would eliminate the gift disclosure law. The Senate approved a version of the bill that did not include the repeal.
