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S 1584

Provides for recall

2025 Regular Session Introduced by George Borrello and 2 co-sponsors

Limits industry influence on prescribing by restricting sponsor presentations: bans alcohol, restricts venues, mandates detailed reporting and receipts to the state DPH.

OPINION REFERRED TO JUDICIARY
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Bill Summary · S 1584

Summary — S.1584: "An Act to prevent undue influence on prescriber behavior"

Status: OPINION REFERRED TO JUDICIARY
Introduced: 01/16/2025 (filed); read twice and referred 05/01/2025
Committee activity: Hearing scheduled 06/11/2025; reported favorably to Senate Ways & Means 09/04/2025
Primary sponsor(s): Mark C. Montigny (filed); (additional sponsor list provided in bill metadata)

Purpose
- To limit industry influence on clinician prescribing by tightening rules governing pharmaceutical and medical device company‑sponsored presentations, improving disclosure of industry spending on such events, and increasing documentation requirements for reports to the Department of Public Health (DPH).

Key provisions and changes
1. New definition
- Adds “Modest Meals and Refreshments”: food/drinks paid by a pharmaceutical or medical device manufacturer/agent to a health care practitioner whose per‑person cost does not exceed the U.S. General Services Administration (GSA) meal allowance for Massachusetts localities. The GSA rates will be used and updated annually.

  1. Restrictions on industry‑sponsored presentations (amendment to section 2, clause (6) third paragraph)

    • Presentations described as “informational” must be consistent with the new definition and:
      • Prohibit pharmaceutical/medical device company payment for alcoholic beverages.
      • Require meals/refreshments to be provided during the informational presentation (not before or after).
      • Prohibit presentations in recreational locations (examples listed: resorts, sporting clubs, casinos, vacation destinations).

  2. Expanded reporting requirements (amendment to section 2A)

    • Adds required reporting elements for each presentation/event:
      • Total amount spent on meals
      • Total amount spent on the venue
      • Description of presentation content
      • Total number of prescriber attendees
      • Names of attendees
      • Names and credentials of presenters
      • Total amount spent on other items of economic value

  3. Recordkeeping (amendment to section 6)

    • DPH must collect receipts for all expenditures required to be reported under the statute and section 2A.

Who and what would be affected
- Pharmaceutical and medical device manufacturers and their agents (new limits, reporting and receipts).
- Health care practitioners/prescribers (data about attendance and names will be reported).
- Presenters and venues (restrictions on location and timing of meals).
- Department of Public Health (responsible for collecting receipts and administering expanded reporting).
- Possible indirect effects on hospitals, clinics, medical societies, and continuing education vendors.

Procedural/timeline notes
- Bill filed January 16, 2025; hearing scheduled June 11, 2025; reported favorably to Senate Ways & Means September 4, 2025.
- Current recorded status: Opinion referred to Judiciary (multiple entries show referral for attorney‑general/judiciary opinion).
- The GSA meal allowance referenced is updated annually and will set the dollar cap for “modest” meals.

Potential impacts
- Increased transparency into industry spending and event content; greater administrative/recordkeeping burdens on companies and DPH.
- Limits on alcohol, venue selection, and timing of meals may reduce environments conducive to promotional influence.
- Requiring attendee names raises privacy and data‑management considerations for DPH and reporting entities.

Related bills: SD 1436 (replaces), prior-session bills S.1226, S.2011, S.3777, S.1437; companion A.2284.

Compiled from official sources — confirm details with the bill’s official record.

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