Massachusetts Health Care Containment

Dear Howard:
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> Thank you for your advocacy – it made a difference!
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> Last night, the Massachusetts Senate approved a health care cost containment bill with key provisions that may help to keep prescription drug costs down by limiting the marketing practices of the pharmaceutical industry.
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> Did you know that the pharmaceutical industry spends over $7 billion annually marketing to physicians, and that 94% of physicians receive meals and other payments from pharmaceutical companies? The cost of that marketing is passed along to consumers and other purchasers in the price of prescription drugs.
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> Today, pharmaceutical industry salespeople are the primary source of providers’ information about medications. The Senate bill includes a program in which medical professionals will provide physicians with unbiased data they need to make appropriate prescribing decisions, unlike pharmaceutical sales representatives who provide promotional information.
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> There are several additional steps in the legislative process before this becomes law but now is the time to thank the Senate for their leadership.