Skip to main navigationSkip to News Headlines
Global Navigation
Office of The Attorney General
The State of New Jersey Office of The Attorney General (Dept. of Law & Public Safety) The State of New Jersey NJ Home Services A to Z Departments/Agencies OAG Frequently Asked Questions
Services A to Z Departments/Agencies OAG Frequently Asked Questions
OAG Home
OAG Contact
Back to News Releases
more news
OAG Home Attorney General's Biography
Attorney General's Biography
spacer spacer spacer
 
spacer spacer spacer
spacer spacer spacer
For Immediate Release:  
For Further Information:
spacer spacer spacer
September 18, 2007  

Lee Moore
609-292-4791

Office of The Attorney General
- Anne Milgram, Attorney General

spacerspacer spacer spacer
spacer spacer spacer
spacer

AG Milgram Announces Task Force to Study the Influence of Gift-Giving to Physicians by Pharmaceutical Manufacturers, Medical Device Makers

spacer
spacer spacer spacer
spacerspacer spacer spacer

TRENTON – Attorney General Anne Milgram announced today that she has convened a task force to explore the issue of pharmaceutical companies and medical device makers giving gifts and other compensation to physicians, and to determine what impact, if any, such practices have on patient care in New Jersey.

Known as the Attorney General’s Advisory Task Force on Physician Compensation, the panel is scheduled to meet for the first time on Wednesday. The task force includes New Jersey Department of Health and Senior Services Commissioner Fred Jacobs, members of the State Board of Medical Examiners, practicing physicians, industry representatives and consumer advocates.

According to Milgram, the task force will study the impact of gift-giving and compensation practices on the physician-patient relationship and the extent to which such arrangements legitimately advance the medical profession’s knowledge of new therapies and devices.

The task force will also examine potential steps to prevent and identify abuses in the area of physician gifts and “incentives” including public disclosure of data, direct physician disclosure to patients, and/or a limitation on payments accepted by these professionals.

“As regulators of health care professionals in New Jersey, we want to ensure that patient care is guided by the unbiased exercise of the physician’s best judgment,” Attorney General Milgram said.

“It is critical that patients have confidence they are getting the best, most objective medical advice they can get, and that they be able to make fully-informed decisions about their own care,” said Commissioner Jacobs.

As part of its work, the Attorney General’s Advisory Task Force on Physician Compensation will examine the manner in which other states have addressed the gift-giving issue.

To date, reporting laws related to payments made to physicians by pharmaceutical and medical device providers have been enacted in four states – Vermont, Maine, Minnesota and West Virginia – and the District of Columbia.

In approaching its mission, the Attorney General’s task force will have an opportunity to review data concerning those who have acknowledged receiving substantial gifts and compensation.

Over the summer, for the first time, the State Board of Medical Examiners began asking New Jersey physicians whether they have accepted gifts or other benefits from medical device or pharmaceutical manufacturers.

Attorney General Milgram said input from the task force members will be important in developing follow-up questions for those medical professional who have acknowledged receiving compensation or benefits. Data collected by the task force will also assist the panel and the Board of Medical Examiners in determining whether policy reforms and/or regulations should be developed to assure that physician judgment is being exercised in the best interest of patients.

“The facts gathered by the task force and the Board of Medical Examiners will be critical in deciding whether additional reforms are needed to eliminate conflicts and provide greater transparency,” said Milgram.

# # #

spacer spacer spacer
spacer spacer spacer
spacer spacer spacer
 
Contact OAG About OAG
OAG News OAG Frequently Asked Questions
OAG Library Employment
OAG Grants Proposed Rules
OAG History OAG Services A-Z
OAG Agencies / Programs / Units
Other News Pages Division of NJ State Police NJ State Police News Governor's Office News Division of Highway Traffic Safety News Office of the Insurance Fraud Prosecutor Juvenile Justice Commission News Division on Civil Rights News Division of Consumer Affairs News Division of Criminal Justice News Election Law Enforcement Commission Division of Elections News Division of Gaming Enforcement News
NJ State Police News Governor's Office News Division of Highway Traffic Safety News Office of the Insurance Fraud Prosecutor Juvenile Justice Commission News Division on Civil Rights News Division of Consumer Affairs News Division of Criminal Justice News Election Law Enforcement Commission Division of Elections News Division of Gaming Enforcement News Office of Government Integrity News

free PDF plugin

NJ State Police News Governor's Office News Division of Highway Traffic Safety News Office of the Insurance Fraud Prosecutor Juvenile Justice Commission News Division on Civil Rights News Division of Consumer Affairs News Division of Criminal Justice News Election Law Enforcement Commission Division of Elections News Division of Gaming Enforcement News Office of Government Integrity News
 
   
Contact Us | Privacy Notice | Legal Statement | Accessibility Statement
NJ Home Logo
Departmental: OAG Home | Contact OAG | About OAG | OAG News | OAG FAQs
Statewide: NJ Home | Services A to Z | Departments/Agencies | FAQs
Copyright © State of New Jersey
This page is maintained by OAG Communications. Comments/Questions: email or call 609-292-4925
OAG Home OAG Home NJ State Police News Governor's Office News Division of Highway Traffic Safety News Office of the Insurance Fraud Prosecutor Juvenile Justice Commission News Division on Civil Rights News Division of Consumer Affairs News Division of Criminal Justice News Election Law Enforcement Commission Division of Elections News Division of Gaming Enforcement News Office of Government Integrity News