IMS Health Launch Helps Physician Law Compliance

Pharma market research giant IMS Health has launched a set of solutions to help clients comply with US federal and state transparency and marketing disclosure laws covering what is known as 'aggregate spend'.

Since 2006, more than 20 US states have introduced legislation requiring pharma firms and device manufacturers to disclose financial transactions or exchanges of financial value to healthcare providers. Similar legislation has been introduced at the federal level.

Last year, the Supreme Court decided not to overturn a New Hampshire ban on the use of prescriber-identifiable data for marketing purposes; legislation designed to stop undue influence on prescribing behavior by drug companies. At the time, IMS Health and SDI / Verispan argued that the legislation would ultimately drive up healthcare costs and damage consumer interests.

Later in the year, a study highlighted that more than 30% of physicians may no longer participate in market research if legislation is implemented, requiring drug and device manufacturers to disclose incentive payments over $20 for market research.

In response to these threats, IMS Health's new 'Aggregate Spend Compliance Services' have been launched to help clients view their promotional spend associated with healthcare professionals.

It utilizes the compliance application platform of R-Squared Services & Solutions, which develops compliance solutions for the healthcare and life sciences industries.

'Tracking and monitoring the total promotional spend to healthcare providers is a difficult operational challenge,' explained Don Otterbein, General Manager of IMS Business Transformation Services. 'Our new service enables our clients to align and manage professional and organizational information across disparate systems and functions - effectively addressing the complexities in data capture, standardization and integration.'

Yesterday, IMS Health announced that its sale to private equity firm TPG Capital and the Canada Pension Plan Investment Board should close by the end of this month.

Web site: www.imshealth.com .