http://www.wholehealthcenters.com/blog Tue, 11 Oct 2011 21:55:16 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.8.4 en hourly 1 http://www.wholehealthcenters.com/blog/reports/massachusetts-leads-the-way-in-controlling-drug-company-gifts/ http://www.wholehealthcenters.com/blog/reports/massachusetts-leads-the-way-in-controlling-drug-company-gifts/#comments Mon, 29 Dec 2008 13:19:15 +0000 Paul Murray, CNC, L.Ac. http://www.wholehealthcenters.com/blog/?p=682 The government of Massachusetts has taken a big step to control the amount of influence that drug compa­nies and medical device manufacturers have on doctors in their state. Governor Deval Patrick has signed a bill into law that will put more transparency into financial relationships between doctors and suppliers.

Payment to doctors was an important part of the Act to Promote Cost Containment, Transparency and Ef­ficiency in the Delivery of Quality Health Care. The bill contains a section that requires pharmaceutical and medical device manufacturing companies to report any gifts to healthcare professionals of $50 or more. The state Department of Public Health will record such payments and make them publicly available on the state’s website: http://www.mass.gov.

State Senator Mark Montigny was one of the first to compliment the governor on signing this bill into law. He had been the author of earlier legislation aimed at banning all such gifts. The legislation that did pass at the $50 mark represented a compromise between members of the state’s House of Representatives and the Senate.

“Biased marketing and financial inducements are destructive to the sacred doctor-patient relationship,” Senator Montigny said. “Cost controls, disclosure and transparency are imperative as we demand universal ac­cess to quality healthcare. I commend the governor for standing firmly on the side of the patient and the tax­payer.”

Many states are getting more involved in working to control the rising costs of healthcare and it is likely that more restrictions will be forthcoming on the doctor and pharmaceutical industry relationships in the fu­ture. Massachusetts has taken the lead in implementing such reforms according to Senate President Therese Murray. “Massachusetts is known around the world for cutting-edge, top notch healthcare and medical re­search. We are leading the way, and this legislation allows us to continue that leadership, while proving the best healthcare possible for the people of the Commonwealth.”

Governor Patrick added his thoughts on the expectations he has for doctors and suppliers as a result of this bill. “This measure will set a marketing code of conduct to help ensure healthcare providers make choices about prescription drugs and medical devices for their patients based on therapeutic benefits and cost-effective­ness.”

Also included in this bill along with the transparency measures were an adoption of uniform billing and electronic health records, incentives for medical students and nurses to continue their education, and awards to hospitals who wish to upgrade their computer technology. It also gives the state more influence over curtail­ing the rising cost of health insurance.

Source: The State of Massachusetts Office of the Governor.
“Governor Patrick Signs Bill Enhancing Quality, Cost-Effectiveness and Transparency of Health Care.” August 2008.
http://www.mass.govfipageID=gov3pressreleasediL=18t1.0=Homedtsid=Agov3dtb=pressreleasedtf=080811_dr_gifts&csid=Ag

]]> http://www.wholehealthcenters.com/blog/reports/massachusetts-leads-the-way-in-controlling-drug-company-gifts/feed/ 0 http://www.wholehealthcenters.com/blog/reports/cities-now-engaging-in-campaigns-to-bring-wellness-to-local-companies/ http://www.wholehealthcenters.com/blog/reports/cities-now-engaging-in-campaigns-to-bring-wellness-to-local-companies/#comments Mon, 10 Nov 2008 16:44:51 +0000 Troy Krebs, L.Ac. http://www.wholehealthcenters.com/blog/?p=570 In a number of areas of the country, city-sponsored organizations are taking the lead to push for increased wellness for their residents. The city of Milwaukee, Wisconsin, and six others around the country are currently pushing area businesses and individuals toward higher participation through Well City campaigns to improve the overall health of their communities.

Milwaukee and other cities are working hand-in-hand with an organization known as Wellness Councils of America (WELCOA) to provide information and incentives for local businesses and organizations that offer wellness programs to their employees. In addition to Milwaukee, these municipalities are now involved: Greeley, CO., Fort Collins, CO., Fremont, NE., Morgantown, WV., Charleston, SC., and Mesa County, CO.

The aim of the campaign is to get business organizations motivated toward providing and pro­moting wellness programs to their employees. When this happens, the employees, the company, and, hopefully, entire cities and regions of the country benefit as well.

“More and more organizations are recognizing the contribution healthy lifestyles can have on the health and well-being of our entire region,” said Dick Tillmar who is the Co-chairman of the Well City Milwaukee campaign. “We’ll not only benefit from lower healthcare costs and healthier, more productive employees, but we’ll all benefit from making our region a healthier, more attrac­tive place to work, live and play.”

The Well City Milwaukee group is receiving excellent support throughout their community. It’s become a partnership that includes the City of Milwaukee, the Greater Milwaukee Committee and the Metropolitan Milwaukee Association of Commerce. The initiative gained strength with the recent addition of the YMCA, the Wellness Council of Wisconsin and several associations with healthcare providers and local businesses.

The area is now engaged in a 3-year campaign to get at least 20 percent of area workers employed by Well City award earning companies. When that happens, Milwaukee will be awarded Well City status with WELCOA. So far, nine cities and locales around the United States have achieved this status. They are: Jacksonville, FL., Omaha, NE., Chattanooga, TN., Hobart, IN., Lincoln, NE., Kearney, NE., Kanawha Valley, WV., Gainesville, FL., and Bangor, ME.

Well City Milwaukee launched a website on Valentine’s Day to provide information on the ini­tiative, data on how employers can get involved, plus numerous resources and support for compa­nies who wish to provide better wellness programs for their employees. “We are really gaining momentum,” said Co-chairperson Mary Meechan. “Our commitment to bringing the entire com­munity into the initiative is paving the way for participation and support from corporations across the community.”

Source: Well City Milwaukee. Press Release. “The City of Milwaukee gets Special Valentine.”

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