Bill Positions

Bill Number: SB 196

Bill Title: Pharmaceutical Manufacturers - Disclosure of Payments to Physicians

Bill Sponsor(s): Senator Kelley

Subject: Health

Committee: FIN

Bill Summary: This bill would have required drug manufacturers to disclose to the MD Health Care Commission all payments made to physicians in Maryland for speeches, consulting or conducting research. The Commission would have been required to annually publish the results of the disclosures on its website.

History: The bill received an unfavorable report from the Finance Committee.

Chamber Position: Oppose

Position Summary: This bill would have been detrimental to Maryland's efforts to promote biotech research in the state. A similar law in Massachusetts has cost that state millions of dollars in lost biotech convention business and damaged the state's reputation among biotech companies.

Position Statement: Click here (pdf)

Chamber Staff: Ronald Wineholt

General Assembly: Click here to view the bill on the Maryland General Assembly's website.