Solutions

If we are to address the serious conflicts-of-interest issues that undermines access to and the quality of health care in Minnesota, a number of steps need to be taken.

Over the years Minnesota has developed a national reputation for the quality and cost effectiveness of its health care. A part of this came as result of the recognition, as early as 1993, that conflicts of interest between the pharmaceutical industry and the medical profession needed to be address. In that year the state passed its landmark pharmaceutical gifting ban which has brought a needed state and national spotlight to the problems caused by the undue influence of the industry on doctor's prescribing behaviors. 

The Minnesota Prescription Coalition supports significant reforms that will reduce these conflicts, improve the quality of prescribing in Minnesota, and reduce costs for both patients and payers. 

An Enhanced and Strengthened Pharmaceutical Gift Ban

was introduced in the Senate (S.F. 1237 - John Marty) and the House (H.R. 1641- Rep. Tina Liebling). It builds on and improves the landmark 1993 legislation which bans or limits most pharmaceutical gifting. Read more...

Pharmaceutical Commercial Data Mining Ban 

This legislation introduced in the House (HF 491-Rep Tina Liebling) and the Senate (SF 1044- Senator John Doll) prohibits Pharmaceutical companies from buying doctors’ prescribing records and using the information to target their marketing to individual doctors. Use of prescriber data for marketing often leads to biased and inaccurate information about health risks, and encourages the prescribing of new drugs that might be riskier to patients than already established treatments. Read more... 

Independent Prescriber Educational Program-  “Academic Detailing”

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. Read more...