Doctors must pay attention to drug company gift ban
March 30, 2009
Now that the state Public Health Council has approved of the most extensive and restrictive ban in the country on pharmaceutical companies giving gifts to doctors, physicians cannot rest easy.
While the regulations govern only the activity of drug and device companies, not doctors themselves, any prescriber who receives an improper benefit from a drug or device company still risks serious reputational damage – and possibly professional discipline or even prosecution under state anti-kickback laws, health law experts say. Read more
Health employers grapple with new disability law
March 30, 2009
Health care providers need to get up to speed on big new changes that significantly broaden the definition of disability and the number of employees who will be covered under the Americans with Disabilities Act, employment lawyers say. Read more
Tips for avoiding communication problems in the hospital
March 30, 2009
As hospital staffs become more diverse, cross-cultural and cross-gender communication snafus are common, according to Janet H. Moore, a trainer and executive coach based in Houston. Read more
Surgeon wins $1.6 million sex bias verdict
March 30, 2009
A federal jury has found that a prominent neurosurgeon and Brigham and Women’s Hospital subjected a female surgeon to a hostile work environment and then retaliated against her when she complained.
On Feb. 24 jurors awarded $1.6 million in damages to Dr. Sagun Tuli, 39, who had complained for several years about discriminatory treatment by Dr. Arthur Day, 61, chairman of Brigham and Women’s Hospital’s neurosurgery department. Read more
Tufts Medical Center makes deal with Blue Cross
March 30, 2009
Blue Cross Blue Shield has reached an agreement on a new contract with Tufts Medical Center, where physicians had threatened to stop accepting members of the state’s largest insurer. Read more
PIAM, Cardinal launch purchasing program for supplies
March 30, 2009
PIAM, a subsidiary of the Massachusetts Medical Society, has partnered with Cardinal Health to offer physician members direct-purchasing access to medical/surgical supplies; resources to analyze and improve practice profitability; and guidance on setup, design and cost-savings for new offices. Read more
Gift ban compels group to cancel Hub convention
March 30, 2009
A major medical group has canceled a multimillion-dollar convention in Boston, citing a recently implemented state law that cracks down on free gifts, meals and other items given to doctors by the pharmaceutical industry. Read more
Vaccine rulings may drive plaintiffs to sue manufacturers
March 30, 2009
Now that special masters in a federal vaccine court have rejected three test cases alleging that childhood vaccinations cause autism, plaintiffs are weighing whether to appeal or to sue the vaccine manufacturers in civil court. Read more
Drug giant will face Mass. suit
March 30, 2009
A U.S. District Court judge has ruled that the country’s biggest maker of generic drugs must face a lawsuit brought by Massachusetts over prices the company charged the state’s Medicaid program for anxiety medications, according to Bloomberg. Read more
First-ever insurance penalty data released
March 30, 2009
Most Massachusetts residents penalized in 2007 for not having health insurance paid the $219 they owed and many of the appeals protesting the penalty were approved, according to the State House News Service. Read more
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