Coalition for Healthcare Communication: October 2009 Archives

AAFP Defends Pharma Participation in CME

By mtadmin on October 30, 2009 12:07 PM | No Comments

In a recent editorial, the American Academy of Family Physicians (AAFP) cited the Macy Report, the AMA's CEJA report, JAMA, and the massive IOM report, saying "These reports and opinions start from a basic premise that any engagement with the pharmaceutical industry is a conflict and must be eliminated. But the AAFP does not accept this "good money/bad money" hypothesis, and neither do most professional associations. Pharmaceutical and other companies have a significant role to play in informing health care professionals about the availability and proper use of medications and other therapies." See full article below.
Download PDF: AFFP_CME_Oct09.pdf

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Washington Ad Coalition Urges Renewed Contacts to Senators to Stop Ad Tax

By mtadmin on October 21, 2009 1:40 PM | 1 Comment

As expected, the ad tax is back on the table as part of the pending health care reform legislation. Jim Davidson, head of the Advertising Coalition, is recommending calls to Senators urging REJECTION of the medical advertising tax proposal of Senator Franken-MN and two cosponsors, Senators Whitehouse-RI and Brown-OH.

Immediate calls are requested because the Ad Coalition has learned that the sponsors hope to have their bill incorporated in the health care reform measure expected to be offered by Senate leaders as early as next week. Senior staff are currently working to consolidate the Senate HELP and Finance committee bills into a compromise measure. If sponsors are unable to have it incorporated in the leadership bill, they are expected to offer it as a floor amendment when the Health Care Reform Bill is debated by the full Senate. See below for talking points, contacts, more information...

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Ad Coalition to Senators: Ad Tax Bill Is Unconstitutional

By mtadmin on October 19, 2009 1:12 PM | No Comments

Today The Advertising Coalition sent letters to Senators Franken, Whitehouse and Brown specifying multiple reasons not to allow passage of s1763, the Ad Tax Bill. You can read the letters by clicking the links below. Comments are welcome.

s1763 - Ad Tax Bill s1763_AdTaxBill.pdf
TAC Letter to Senator Franken AdCoalition_Franken_10.19.09.pdf
TAC Letter to Senator Brown AdCoalition_Brown_10.19.09.pdf
TAC Letter to Senator Whitehouse AdCoalition_Whitehouse_10.19.09.pdf

CEI Report says FDA-DDMAC policy could restrict information for patients.

By mtadmin on October 9, 2009 12:24 PM | No Comments

A new Competitive Enterprise Institute (CEI) analysis cautions that FDA's current policy restricting use of Internet sponsored links could have the unintended effect of making regulated information less available to consumers and making less reliable and unsubstantiated information more available. Read the CEI Report.