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Changes to Massachusetts Physician Gift
Ban Law
Federal Sunshine Act Finalized
   Questions?
Please send any questions to your Legal Department Representative
 
 
Changes to Massachusetts Physician Gift Ban Law
The Massachusetts Department of Health (DPH) recently amended the regulations to the Massachusetts Physician Gift Ban Law, relaxing certain restrictions on interactions between industry and MA-licensed health care practitioners.

Industry may now provide “modest meals and refreshments” to MA health care practitioners outside the office or hospital setting if (1) the food or drink is provided in connection with educating or informing the health care practitioners about a drug or medical device product, disease states or other scientific information; and (2) any such communications occur in a venue and manner conducive to informational communication.

In order to provide food and drink, manufacturers must provide quarterly reports (as opposed to the current annual reports for all other compensation) to the MA DPH detailing the following information:
 
1. Name and Employer of Health care practitioner(s) attending event (including license #)
2. Location of the meal and Merchant Name
3. Products discussed
4. Total event spend
5. Per-participant expenditures
In light of these changes, Hologic associates may now provide meals to MA health care practitioners in accordance with the above requirements; however, to the extent you provide meals to MA physicians, the above information MUST be recorded in order to help ensure compliance.

For expenditures tracked through iExpense, be sure to include all of the information listed above in the appropriate comments section of your expense report as outlined in the these screenshots (2 pages). Also, it is critical that all expenses are submitted in a timely manner as defined in the Hologic Travel Policy in order to ensure the quarterly DPH reports are complete.

Hologic’s State Healthcare Practitioner Interactions Policy has been updated to reflect these changes. A copy may be found on the Legal Department Page of MyHologic. Note that state law restrictions related to gifts, grants and other physician arrangements continue to apply.

Federal Sunshine Act Finalized
You may have also heard that the Federal Sunshine Act has also been finalized and the required data collection will begin in August, 2013. There is a Hologic task force working on these issues and you will receive a future communication with guidance soon.

Copyright 2013 Hologic, Inc.