JOHN KAMP
EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR

The Coalition for Healthcare Communication (CHC) had another busy year in 2004. To accommodate CHC’s rapidly growing portfolio of issues and activities, the Coalition is in the final stages of an intensive strategic planning initiative to guide its future direction. Coalition members also agreed that the need was greater than ever for a full-time Executive Director.

A lawyer and former American Association of Advertising Agencies (AAAA) senior VP John Kamp was appointed as Coalition Executive Director, effective September 2004. He succeeds Jack Angel, who led the Coalition with distinction as its part time exec since the organization’s founding some 13 years ago. Mr. Kamp, who retains ties with Washington-based law firm, Wiley Rein & Fielding, is one of the nation’s leading advocates for First Amendment free speech rights impacting the communications industry. Prior to joining the AAAA, Mr. Kamp served as a senior policy advisor with the Federal Trade Commission.

Mr. Angel, who is president of Greenwich Communications, a healthcare communications and consulting firm, has been appointed Executive Director of the Coalition for Healthcare Communication Foundation, a newly formed non-profit educational foundation created by the Coalition to conduct research on the quality and value of pharmaceutical marketing communications that will be available to journalists, policy makers and academic researchers.

Following are some of the highlights of CHC activities in 2004:

ACCME’s STANDARDS FOR COMMERCIAL SUPPORT

One of the most significant challenges faced by the Coalition last year was ACCME’s revisions to its Standards for Commercial Support to include a confusing conflict of interest clause, which was read by some to essentially bar anyone engaged by a pharmaceutical or other healthcare company from participating in CME sponsored by those companies. The Coalition quickly responded with a position statement objecting to any interpretation of the rule that would have excluded the “best and brightest” experts from participating in industry-sponsored CME. In response to widespread concerns of the Coalition and other stakeholder organizations, the ACCME has actively worked to clarify the intent of the changes, and to insure that the rules do not have the unintended effect of limiting speakers and drug company support for CME.

The Coalition has a standing committee to deal with concerns about restrictions on CME. This committee is committed to improving CME as a practical communications tool for better healthcare and is working with industry and CME groups to develop best practice standards that foster continued support for professional education programs.

DIRECT-TO-CONSUMER ADVERTISING

The continuing debate regarding direct to consumer advertising was also a high priority for the Coalition in 2004. The Coalition believes that FDA’s most recent guidances for DTC, issued in January 2003, were fair and contributed to clearer and unbiased communications for consumers. The Coalition is presently more concerned with the proposals of industry critics and Congress. These critics continue to unfairly connect DTC to the rising cost of drugs and suggest that much of DTC is biased and misleading. As a result, several members of Congress have proposed bills to curtail DTC promotion.

The Coalition believes that any legislation to bar or inhibit DTC advertising would not only compromise the health awareness benefits of such ads, but would violate the rights of medical professionals and consumers to receive appropriate health care information and is working with allied groups to organize support against such legislation.

PHRMA AD CAMPAIGN

Among one of the Coalition’s most ambitious initiatives has been a collaborative program involving PhRMA and one of the Coalition’s member organizations, the Association of Medical Publications (AMP), to increase the awareness among physicians and other health providers of the availability of pharmaceutical company Patient Assistance Programs. Research conducted at the conclusion of the program showed that provider awareness of these industry-sponsored Patient Assistance Programs doubled as a result of the campaign. The campaign also helped to ease concerns providers may have over the cost of drugs.

THE JUNK FAX BILL

The Coalition filed a complaint over the surprise ruling by the FCC ruling banning all unsolicited faxes to existing customers. CME companies use fax as an effective tool for extending invitations to physicians to CME events. Happily, the FCC deferred implementation and although Congress took up this issue as well last year, no legislation was passed. The Coalition continues to monitor the situation and is prepared to act if necessary.

For information or inquiries regarding the Coalition, contact John Kamp at 202-719-7216 or jkamp@wrf.com. For information or inquiries regarding the CHC Foundation, contact Jack Angel at 203-661-3314 or jeangel@cohealthcom.org.