House Bill 437 Summary

• Requires pharmaceutical manufacturing companies to disclose annually to the State Department of Health by December 1 the value, nature, and purpose of any gifts, fees, payments, subsidies, or economic benefits provided to physicians, nurse practitioners, or their immediate family members in connection with drug marketing activities, including recipient names.

• Exempts from disclosure requirements: free drug samples for patients, prescription drug rebates and discounts, reasonable compensation for bona fide clinical trials, and food and beverages valued up to $10.00 per calendar year.

• Mandates physicians and nurse practitioners receiving benefits from pharmaceutical companies for prescribing specific drugs must inform each patient that they are receiving such benefits from the company for that drug prescription.

• Authorizes the State Department of Health to bring legal action against non-compliant pharmaceutical companies, seek injunctive relief, recover costs and attorneys fees, and impose civil penalties up to $10,000 per violation.

• Amends nursing and medical practice licensing laws to allow boards to discipline licensees who repeatedly fail to disclose pharmaceutical company benefits to patients.