New Hampshire lawmakers are considering a plan that would make the state the first in the nation to prohibit the sale of the prescriptions doctors write.
The pharmaceutical industry warns the bill poses a threat to physicians and patients alike.
But supporters say the measure would slow rising healthcare costs and limit the industry's influence over doctors.
New Hampshire Public Radio's Dan Gorenstein has more.
A few years ago psychiatrist Mark Sadowsky- who is the president of the New Hampshire Medical Association- got a visit from a drug sales rep.
He asked Sadowsky why he was prescribing more of the competition's medicine.
3:30 I was a bit shocked that he had such up to date information about what I was prescribing. He was more informed than I was. I don't keep track in a systematic way of what I prescribe.
What medicine doctors prescribe is big business.
The nation's leading prescription data collection company, IMS Health, had revenue last year of 1.7 billion dollars.
Prescription information flows from the physician's office through companies like IMS, and ultimately winds up in the hands of pharmaceutical companies like Merck and Eli Lilly.
The companies then analyze the numbers and target sales.
Medical Society President Sadowsky sees the prescription information trade as yet another of the many causes contributing to rising healthcare costs.
1:!6 ...I think that the drug representatives that come in are attempting to influence us to prescribe their medicines which are trade name medicines, which are significantly more expensive than generic medicines. At times we are being influenced to prescribe medicines that may not be necessary either. it may be overkill.
House Bill 1346 would prohibit the sale of the prescription information.
But both the pharmaceutical industry and data collection companies strongly oppose the measure.
Marjorie Powell of the Pharmaceutical Research and Manufactures of America argues it would make it harder to keep doctor's informed about the drug they prescribe.
3:31 it will be much more difficult for pharmaceutical companies to communicate new information about product, by targeting first the physicians who write scripts for those products. What we know about any given drug changes over time as the drug is used and the manufacturer acquires more and more information about the rarer side affects, and want to get that out that information very quickly.
Powell and others say the legislation would also harm medical research.
Currently data collection companies like IMS make information available for studies on best medical practices, public safety and drug efficacy.
For example, IMS has gathered data that shows New Hampshire is prescribing some very strong drugs like oxycontin and codeine at twice the rate of the national average.
That may mean nothing, but it certainly raises questions, opponents says, like who is writing the prescriptions and why.
If HB 11346 becomes law, that information wouldn't exist.
Prime sponsor Cindy Rosenwald says has included a provision in the legislation that allows for continued research.
She says the opposition to the measure comes down to one thing.
23:01 I think it's important to keep in mind what agencies are supporting HB 1346 including HHS, NH Med. Society, AARP and the AG's office. And also keep in mind which industries are opposing this legislation...to me it is about profit.
The House is expected to vote on the plan tomorrow.
Governor John Lynch has not said whether or not he would veto the bill.
For NHPR News I'm DG.
