BIO’s testimony opposing Massachusetts House Bill 109, Senate Bill 17, and Senate Bill 19

House Bill 109-An Act Prohibiting the Use of Health Data for Marketing Purposes

Senate Bill 17-An Act Relative to Data Mining

Senate Bill 19-An Act Protecting the Confidentiality of Patient Prescription Records

BIO opposes House Bill 109 and Senate Bills 17 and 19 relating to restrictions on disclosure of prescriber-identifiable prescription data. If passed, this bill would have the unintended consequences of negatively impacting patient safety, access to new innovative therapies, and efforts to research and develop biologic medicines.

BIO is a national trade organization, based in Washington, D.C., representing more than 1,100 biotechnology companies, academic institutions, state biotechnology centers and related organizations across the United States and 31 other nations. BIO members are involved in the research and development of healthcare, agricultural, industrial and environmental biotechnology products. In Massachusetts we work closely with the Massachusetts Biotechnology Council (MBC), an organization that represents more than 550 biotechnology companies, unviersities, academic institutions and others dedicated to advancing cutting edge research.

Patient care and safety will be at risk. The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has promulgated regulations that either require or encourage pharmaceutical manufacturers to make direct contact with prescribing physicians under specific circumstances. If manufacturers are no longer able to access prescriber-identifiable prescribing information, patient care and safety will be at risk.