Indepedent Prescriber Education Program

Independent Prescriber Educational Program “Academic Detailing”

Current Summary of Academic Detailing Legislation

The Independent Prescriber Educational Program was introduced in the Senate (S.F. 895 – Senator Kathy Sheran) and the House (H.F. 1640 – Rep. Tina Liebling). The Independent Prescriber Educational or Academic Detailing Program would provide doctors and other prescribers with objective information on prescription drugs, based on the best available evidence-based science.

Background:

Academic Detailing Programs provide prescribers with objective information on prescription drugs, based on the best available evidence-based science. By providing outreach visits to practitioners, the approach resembles the marketing approach of drug companies, but instead uses clinicians, pharmacists or nurses to present balanced, evidence-based information about common prescribing choices without a sales agenda. Over a twenty five year period academic detailing has been shown repeatedly to be effective in promoting safe and appropriate drug. Such programs have been well received by doctors, and have proved to be highly cost effective.

Academic Detailing General Background Information and Useful Links:

Current Status:

For the Curent Version of Independent Prescriber Education Act (SF 895), click here.

For Current MPC Summary of the Independent Prescriber Education Bill, (SF 895 and HR 1640), click here.

The Senate version passed the Senate Health Policy Committee on March 18, 2009. Supporting testimony came from Dr. Don Jacobs, President of Hennepin County Medical Faculty; and Marilyn Speedie, Ph.D. Dean, College of Pharmacy, U of M.

On January 25, 2010 the Senate Business, Industry and Jobs Committee (Sen Lewzen, Chair) and the House Commerce and Labor Committee (Rep Aitkin) held a rare joint Interim Information Hearing on all of MPC's key legislative issues including Academic Detailing.

Key expert testimony at that hearing came from Tom Snedden, the Director of the Academic Detailing Program in Pennsylvania.

•  PA Academic Detailing (iDIS) Report (December 2009)
•  PA Academic Detailing Report Summary (December 2009)
• PA Doctors Acceptance and Interest in the Academic Detailing Program (chart)

2010 Session Action:

The Senate State and Local Government Operations and Oversight Committee (Senator Ann Rest) reviewed and approved the Academic Detailing legislation with technical amendments on February 12^th and referred it on the Senate Finance. A fiscal note for the bill is now under development.

Peter Wyckoff Testimony (February 12, 2010 Hearing)

Dr Chris McCoy's Testimony (February 12, 2010 Hearing)

The bill was not acted on by House in 2009 but the Health Policy Committee is expected to take up the Bill in early March 2010.

Of Note:

The University of Minnesota College of Pharmacy (Duluth) is considering developing a rural pilot academic detailing program in four communities.  The College is working closely with the MPC on these issues.

There is now increased interest by the Federal Administration and Congress in promoting evidenced based prescribing. Federal legislation to support state efforts like the proposed MN legislation has been introduced  and is also apart of Federal stimulus funding.