Bill Would Expand Disclosure Law to Include Medical Device Makers

Medical device makers would be required to publicly report gifts and payments to doctors if state Sen. John Marty (D-MN) has his way.

The Minnesota Legislature adopted a law 15 years ago requiring drug companies to publicly report gifts and payments to doctors. Marty wants the legislation to go one step farther.

In addition to expanding the disclosure requirement to cover device manufacturers, Marty’s bill would mandate that financial relationships be disclosed to patients, and gifts to doctors from device companies would be banned.

Marty introduced the legislation late in last year’s legislative session, but it didn’t advance beyond committee. He has competition with legislation pending before Congress, sponsored by Sens. Charles Grassley (R-IA) and Herb Kohl (D-WI), which would pre-empt state laws. West Virginia, Vermont, California, Maine and the District of Columbia have similar disclosure laws, but only for drug companies.