New Legislation Impacting Sales and Marketing for Pharmaceutical and Medical Device Companies

Three bills recently introduced in the Texas Senate, SB 151, SB 296 and SB 553 would create new reporting requirements pertaining to sales of pharmaceutical and medical device companies. While each bill differs on specifics, these requirements include quarterly or annual reporting of any gift or payment over $25- 75 to physicians, hospitals, nursing homes, or health plan administrators. Certain items would be exempt from reporting, including free pharmaceutical samples, reasonable compensation for clinical trials, and support for medical students or residents for conference participation. Each of these bills would also authorize civil penalties for failure to report.

The Dallas Regional Chamber's Technology Business Council does not have a position on this issue, however we are monitoring the legislation and examining the topic. The Texas Bioscience and Healthcare Institute (THBI) opposes these bills and has developed detailed bill comparisons and analysis on the potential effect of the legislation.

To view a side-by-side bill comparison by THBI, please click here.

Interested in joining the TBC's Legislative Task Force? Contact Jane Edson at jedson@dallaschamber.org or (214) 712-1937.