PCF

A Preview of the 22nd Annual Pharmaceutical and Medical Device Ethics and Compliance Congress

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Visit the PharmaCertify booth at the Pharmaceutical and Medical Device Compliance Congress to see demos of our newest modules, reinforcement programs, and games!

Here we are, over a year after Covid completely upended our lives, personally and professionally, and we are still attending compliance conferences virtually. The Pharmaceutical Compliance Forum (PCF) opted for a virtual forum for the Pharmaceutical and Medical Device Ethics and Compliance Congress again this year and a quick review of the agenda highlights the notion that no matter the format, this conference consistently presents the information any compliance professional needs to help reduce risk. Here are my pre-conference thoughts on the sessions of interest, particularly those that affect compliance training curricula.

Day 1: Tuesday, November 2, 2021

In an interesting twist on the standard agenda format, PCF opens the congress this year with a series of concurrent mini summits covering a range of topics. My standard advice applies; divide and conquer. If you’re attending with colleagues, plan to attend different presentations, then share notes. Even if you attend on your own, find a friend in one of the early networking sessions and don’t be shy about asking if they are interested in taking the same note sharing tact. It’s a veritable plethora of content to wade through…and that is definitely a good thing.

Mini Summit 1: Enforcement Action Updates

I tend to include most of the enforcement panels in these preview blog posts simply because they’re rare opportunities to hear the experiences and advice of those on the forefront of actions and settlements, including topics that trainers should be concerned about. This conference is no exception. Panelists include Assistant US Attorneys from the Eastern District of Pennsylvania and the District of Massachusetts, as well as the Assistant Director of Civil Division/Fraud Section of the Department of Justice.

Mini Summit 3: Evolutions of Investigations

The title for this one caught my eye and moved to the top of my priority list. Investigations have formed the foundation for the industry’s focus throughout the growth of the compliance industry and they certainly influence the training that has evolved from the early days of PowerPoint presentations to the multi-layered foundational and reinforcement training that is now considered the vanguard of effective eLearning.

Transition Breaks and Lunch

I include the breaks in this “must attend” list of sessions because they offer the best opportunity to interact directly with peers, vendors, and consultants. These are the people who not only provide crucial funding for the conference but also offer the products and services you need to help reduce risk and build a stronger culture of ethics and compliance. We’re here and we’re anxious to meet you. So, I invite you to check in with these critical vendors in the exhibit hall.

Mini Summit 5: DOJ/SEC FCPA Panel

Please see my thoughts on Mini Summit 1. The same apply to this session focused on the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act.

Mini Summit 7: Annual Medical Device Update

Hooray for Medical Device! It’s in the conference name and it is rightfully in the agenda. While many of the topics listed throughout the agenda apply to medical device companies, concerns and challenges unique to the industry abound. The panel includes chief compliance officers from Medtronic, ZOLL Medical, and Olympus, as well as a representative from AdvaMed and I’m looking forward to hearing how they address the issues associated with the rising number of recent medical device settlements.

Open Forum with PhRMA and AdvaMed

The Senior Assistant General Counsel for PhRMA and Vice President, Global Compliance and Governance for AdvaMed will be available in an open forum, hopefully ready and willing to take your questions. Enough said.

The Pivotal Role of CCO’s in Fostering a Strong Culture of Inclusion, Trust, and Psychological Safety

After a break, the conference switches from concurrent summits to this important and timely general session. I’m especially intrigued by the phrase “psychological safety” in the title, and I look forward to hearing whether inclusion and diversity are included in the discussion.

“Evolving our Operating Model” Discussion Breakouts

For the final session of the day, attendees choose one of three titles: 1. Managing Remote Teams, 2. Scope and Structure of the Compliance Function, and 3. Ethics and Compliance – The Road Ahead. To borrow a cliché, Covid has clearly changed the world and our industry for the long term. While the same core principles apply no matter how business is conducted and even how training is launched, compliance challenges shift and grow with the advent of virtual interactions. That’s why numbers 1 and 3 are of particular interest to me.

Day 2: Wednesday, November 3, 2021

Day 2 kicks off with more mini summits and interactive workshops followed by the opening plenary session at 1:00 pm.

INTERACTIVE WORKSHOP III: Hot Topics in Medical Device

Medical device is back with its own workshop and that is definitely a good thing! I look forward to hearing what topics Sujata Dayal from Medline Industries and Dana McMahon of Stryker include in their presentation and comparing the list to what we cover in our off-the-shelf and custom training solutions we provide for our medical device clients.

MINI SUMMIT 15: Optimize Your Compliance Training: A Practical Approach to the DOJ’s Guidance

I confess, since my colleague, Dan O’Connor, is the moderator on this one, I may be a bit biased. But I’ve seen the initial outline for the presentation and trust me, you don’t want to miss it. Dan, and his panel of compliance professionals will delve into the landmark guidance from the DOJ and present a practical framework for building and managing a continuous curriculum of training that will help your organization align with its principles.

MINI SUMMIT 16: Patient Assistance Programs

Speaking of hot topics! Regulators are paying attention to your patient programs, and you should be doing the same. So, you don’t want to miss this opportunity to hear Noor Haq from Amgen and Kevin Ryan from ACADIA share their experiences and tips for managing and minimizing the compliance concerns associated with PAPs. By the way, here at PharmaCertify, we’ve developed a new customizable eLearning module covering patient programs. Visit our website to see a description.

INTERACTIVE WORKSHOP 4: How to Establish Risk Tolerance in an Emerging Organization

If your company faces the challenges unique to those that fall into the emerging category, this holds the potential to be one of the most valuable sessions on the docket. Terra Buckley, who is now the Vice President of Compliance Advisory Services, is a seasoned industry professional, and frankly, one of the most dynamic presenters I have seen on all topics related to life sciences. Terra will be joined by David Ryan, Chief Compliance Officer at Epizyme.

Opening Plenary Session

Several presentations are listed as part of the plenary session that runs from 1:00 pm to the close of the day’s agenda at 5:30 pm.  

Keynote: OIG Update

Following the fireside chat with Giovanni Caforio, MD, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer at Bristol Myers Squibb, Mary Riordan, Senior Counsel, Office of Counsel to the Inspector General at OIG will deliver her annual update on the agency’s enforcement actions and workplan. It’s always a highly anticipated presentation and for good reason. Her slides and notes form a solid foundation for where companies should be focusing their efforts and their resources in the coming year. 

Response to OIG Special Fraud Alert and PhRMA and AdvaMed Code Update

The conference organizers have combined these three weighty topics into one presentation, and I am anxious to hear the panel of industry professionals and representatives from PhRMA and AdvaMed delve into the important details of each one. The Fraud Alert and the updates to the two codes led to significant changes in the content for our off-the-shelf and custom training courses at PharmaCertify, and we’re developing reinforcement components like a brief explanatory video describing the PhRMA Code to roll out in conjunction with the updated foundational module.

Annual Chief Compliance Officer Fireside Chat

Day 2 ends with an impressive lineup of chief compliance officers from pharma and med device, representing companies of different sizes and therapeutic focus. Ann Beasley, from Zai Lab, Shefari Kothari from Novartis, Angela Main of Zimmer Biomet, Kristin Rand from Moderna, and Latarsha Stewart from Servier Pharmaceuticals are sure to add a compelling exclamation point to a day chock full of critical compliance experiences and advice.

Day 3: Thursday, November 4, 2021

Following the form of the first two days, Day 3 begins with a series of MINI SUMMIT 21: Interactions with Health Care Professionals

Interactions with healthcare professionals are the foundation upon which solid compliance practices, principles, and training must be established. Whether those interactions are in person or virtual, they are fraught with risk, yet when they are conducted in a compliant manner, they continue to form the core of what makes the life sciences industry what it strives to be; a noble group whose primary focus is helping its customers improve the lives of patients. That’s why I’m looking forward to hearing the best practices for those interactions espoused by a panel that includes representatives from both the pharmaceutical and medical device industries.

INTERACTIVE WORKSHOP V: Evolution of Ethics & Compliance

We have been hearing about the industry shifting away from “a culture of compliance” to an “ethics-based” approach to compliance for a few years now. While the notion is a laudable one, the practicality of that migration is more challenging in such a risk-based environment. I am eager to hear the presenters’ tips for executing that evolution, including how they carry it through to their compliance training.

MINI SUMMIT 25: Trends in FDA Advertising/Promotion Enforcement: Know the Risk Areas

Any session with “Know the Risk Areas” as part of its title gets my attention and when the focus is on advertising and promotion it’s no exception.

Closing Plenary Session

The afternoon on Day 3 includes a plenary session with a series of interviews and sessions. After a keynote interview with Tim Wright, the Chief Executive Officer from MiMedx and a fireside chat with Rady Johnson from Pfizer, Catherine Gray from the FDA presents the annual FDA Keynote. Like the OIG Update from Mary Riordan, the review of the FDA’s workplan is worthwhile and important. And the AUSA Roundtable offers another valuable view of current trends and hot topics from those on the regulatory side of the table.

Day 4: Friday, November 5, 2021

Industry Only Best Practices Think Tank  

I’d like to wax poetic about this, the final session of the conference, but I remain relegated to the figurative “kids’ table” of vendors and exhibitors who can only wonder what juicy nuggets of compelling and important information those insiders are discussing behind their locked virtual walls. In the meantime, I continue to stare at my email inbox, awaiting my golden ticket. Here’s a suggestion for the PCF team: perhaps an outline of the ideas and suggestions discussed during the session could be shared with all attendees after the conference concludes.

Summary and Complimentary Conference Registration

That’s quite a bit of content for any conference, so kudos to PCF and the organizers for creating such a hefty agenda and gathering so many impressive presenters. And I’ve only scratched the surface of the list of mini summits and plenary sessions. If you’re attending the conference, I invite you to stop by the PharmaCertify booth to see demos of our newest compliance training programs, workshops, and games. You don’t want to miss our new Compliance JEOPARDY!® game, the only officially licensed one on the market!

If you haven’t yet registered, we can help! As a conference sponsor, we are offering a limited number of complimentary registrations. Just contact my colleague, Dan O’Connor, at doconnor@nxlevelsolutions.com to take advantage of the opportunity to learn from your peers and fellow compliance professionals. You don’t want to miss it.

Thanks for reading and I will see you online for the conference!

Sean Murphy
PharmaCertify by NXLevel Solutions

A Look Ahead: The 2018 Pharmaceutical and Medical Device Compliance Congress!

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Look for the “elephant in the Exhibit Hall” at the Pharmaceutical and Medical Device Compliance Congress to see demos of our compliance training solutions!

If you haven’t yet registered for the 19th Annual Pharmaceutical and Medical Device Compliance Congress, there is still time to save $600 on the registration fee with our sponsor discount offer. Contact me at smurphy@nxlevelsolutions.com to ask about the details.

The conference kicks off Wednesday, November 7th at the Mandarin Oriental Hotel in Washington DC, and NXLevel’s PharmaCertify team will be there to catch up with friends and clients and showcase our newest compliance training products. If you’re attending, stop by Booth 108 in the Exhibit Hall (you can’t miss us, we’re right next to the food table and by the bar) to say hello and register for a chance to win an Echo Smart Speaker with Alexa!

You will also see us listening attentively throughout the panel sessions and presentations for the latest compliance best practices and suggestions from what is always an impressive list of industry professionals and government representatives. In addition to the keynotes and plenary sessions, PCF has packed the agenda with 27 different mini summits attendees can choose to attend. With that in my mind, we’ve once again scoured the agenda and highlighted a few of the presentations we’re looking forward to in particular.

Day 1: Wednesday, November 7, 2018

Preconference 1: Patient Support Programs: Risk and Risk Management Best Practices

Right out of the gate, PCF is offering attendees the choice of four compelling preconference sessions from 8:00 AM to 12:00 Noon. This Patient Support Programs session is offered as a “deep dive workshop” with timely talking points that include the most common manifestations or structures of Patient Support Programs (PAPs) and the best practices and approvals of the activities. A quick scan of recent corporate integrity agreements highlights the enforcement focus on PAPs, and kudos to PCF for wasting no time addressing it, with a panel that includes Nereyda Garcia from Alnylam Pharmaceuticals, and Nicole Serena from Bayer.

Keynote: OIG Update

Mary Riordan, Senior Counsel, Office of Counsel to the Inspector General for Office of Inspector General, returns for this highly-anticipated review of recent settlement actions and the OIG’s workplan for the upcoming year. From year to year, the presentation is considered one of the cornerstones of the conference as Ms. Riordan discusses the areas currently on the enforcement radar for her office.

Chief Compliance Officer Roundtable

The conference agenda doesn’t provide any details in terms of what topics the CCOs will cover but based on the level of panelist expertise and the fact that it’s scheduled for one hour and fifteen minutes, the roundtable is sure to provide a bevy of useable, first-hand lessons and advice. Panelists include Jill Fallows-Macaluso from Novo Nordisk, Indrani Lall Franchini from Alexion, Jonathan Kellerman of Allergan, Puja Leekha of Lundbeck, and Lori Queisser of Teva.

Networking Reception

The networking reception is a rare, can’t miss opportunity to meet with your peers face-to-face and exchange tips and ideas for strengthening and growing your compliance program. And don’t forget to visit the vendors while you’re in there. They bring a range of innovation and expertise to the industry… and you don’t want to miss those cool giveaways!

Day 2: Thursday, November 8, 2018

During the first half of Day 2, we hear from the government regulators, investigators, and prosecutors with three different sessions: the Assistant US Attorney Roundtable, FCPA Enforcement Update, and the Qui Tam Roundtable.

FCPA Enforcement Update

In light of the recent FCPA case settlement by Stryker, this session should provide interesting insight into the enforcement trend surrounding the Act. Will more cases surface? Is there a renewed focus on the life sciences industry? With panelists from the FBO, the DOJ, and formerly with the SEC, the conversation should prove to be enlightening and educational.

Mini Summit 1: Fostering a Culture of Ethics and Compliance Beyond Just the Laws and Regulations

The first of seven 11:00 AM mini summits, this session captured my attention for its interesting title. The debate over a rules-based approach to compliance versus a values-based approach is not new to the life sciences industry. I will be curious to hear, particularly from a training perspective, how this panel fosters a culture that emphasizes empowerment to always “make the right decision” while still communicating the need to follow the rules and the laws.

Mini Summit IV: Annual Medical Device Compliance Roundtable

This dedicated medical device session features Jonathan Glazier from Philips North America, Marc Levine of Insightec, Laura O’Donnell from GE Healthcare, and David Ryan of Epizyme discussing the topics unique to the industry. The medical device industry faces some of the same compliance issues as their pharmaceutical brethren, but the nature of the products and business process (e.g., reimbursement) present unique challenges. I am anxious to hear how these presenters address risk and strengthen their compliance cultures while facing those challenges.

Mini Summit VII: Compliance 3.0: Managing Promotional Programs, Relationships with Patient Advocacy Groups and New Entrants into the Marketplace.

That title to this session is a mouthful, but it invokes a promise of a forward-thinking approach to the content. Expect this impressive panel, which includes Terra Buckley of Celgene, Michael Clark of Indivior, and Sujata Dayal of Johnson & Johnson to offer bold suggestions beyond the current thinking for the pressing topics listed in the title.

Mini Summit X: Is Your Board of Directors Bored of Your Compliance Dashboards?

Okay, I admit it, the sessions with the creative names tend to catch and pique my interest. Thinking beyond the clever title though, this afternoon mini summit tackles the tricky subject of the board’s involvement and support of the company’s compliance program. It’s a topic that’s been of focus for regulators

Mini Summit XII: The Fine Line of Promotion with Medical Professionals: Avoiding White Coat Marketing   

Since employees who interact with healthcare professionals face a high level of compliance risk, I will be interested to hear how the panelists, including Pamela Lonzer from Alexion, Margaret Sparks from Sanofi, and Ravi Taylor of Ferring, balance the business need for representatives and others to engage with those HCPs, while instituting safeguards to ensure compliance with company policies and regulations.

Mini Summit XXVII: The Compliance Training Revolution

PharmaCertify had the opportunity to sponsor the 3rd Annual Life Science Compliance Training Conference back in June (you can read our key takeaways here), and I came away from that conference pleased that the industry is clearly developing more innovative training with the intent to optimize the learning and create lasting results. It’s been our focus since we started developing compliance training 12 years ago, and I look forward to hearing more about the techniques the panelists utilize to accomplish that same goal.

Summary

Again, these are just a few of the many sessions PCF is offering at the 19th Annual Pharmaceutical and Medical Device Compliance Congress. We look forward to seeing you there and as always, I welcome your feedback on this preview and our blog in general. If you’re attending the conference, don’t forget to stop by the PharmaCertify booth (#108 in the Exhibit Hall) to say hello.

Thanks for reading and we’ll see you in Washington!

The Los Angeles City Attorney opens an investigation against one pharmaceutical company, while the founder of another is indicted on federal racketeering charges.

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This year’s World Series brought record-setting excitement and late nights (more like wee hours of the morning for those of us in the East) for fans of America’s game. Congratulations to the Houston Astros, who outlasted the Los Angeles Dodgers, in a seven-game extravaganza, just as Sports Illustrated predicted…three years in advance!

If you’re searching for a new pastime to fill the void left by passing of another season, we have just the ticket. Step into the batter’s box as we present all the life sciences compliance news fit to blog, with this edition of the Compliance News in Review.

Leading off this week, a Wisconsin state legislator introduced a bill that will require drug manufacturers to notify the state in advance if they plans to increase the price of a drug by more than 25%. The lawmaker cited the costs to Medicaid budgets and a lack of transparency with consumers as the justification for the bill.

There’s no “Dodging” the Los Angeles City Attorney for Avanir Pharmaceuticals. On the heels of a CNN report, the City Attorney announced that he intends to open an investigation into the company’s prescribing practices for elderly patients in nursing homes. The report pointed to a rise in prescriptions for the drug in question, even though the studies supporting use with elderly patients are lacking. Top prescribers allegedly received speaking and consulting payments from the company.

Canada is pulling facilitation payments from the mound. The Canadian government announced it will repeal the exception for facilitation payments from its Corruption of Foreign Public Officials Act. The repeal was effective October 31. The law had previously permitted payment to expedite routine services, such as obtaining permits and scheduling inspections.

In news from overseas, the Prescription Medicines Code of Practice Authority (PMCPA), the group responsible for overseeing adherence to the Association of the British Pharmaceutical Industry’s Code of Practice (APBI), saw a rise of more than 40% in the number of complaints it received in 2016 about marketing and promotional practices. The complaints led to 100 new cases, with more than half of those resulting in the determination that the Code was breached.

Insys is on the losing end of a doubleheader, with the founder being indicted on federal charges and a New Jersey doctor potentially losing his license for allegedly accepting kickbacks from the company. The founder was indicted on charges of racketeering, conspiracy to violate the Anti-Kickback Statute, and conspiracy to commit mail and wire fraud. The company has been accused of promoting its opioid product for off-label uses and paying kickbacks to healthcare professionals.

The attorney for the New Jersey doctor says his client has never been the subject of a disciplinary hearing, or had a patient complaint in 25 years of practice, and he welcomes the chance to present his case to the medical board.

Speaking of New Jersey, a public hearing was held to receive feedback on the state’s pending regulation, “Limitations on Obligations Associated with Acceptance of Compensation from Pharmaceutical Manufacturers by Prescribers.” The regulation, which was announced by Governor Christie in late summer, includes restrictions related to transfers of value to prescribers of prescription drugs.  Many of the groups in attendance have expressed concern that the regulation’s $10,000 per year cap on bona fide services payments would have unintended consequences on clinical research. The New Jersey Attorney General stated that while some revision is possible, the State is committed to moving forward with the regulation. Public comments will be accepted through December 1.

With that, we end this “boys of summer (and well into fall)” edition of the Compliance News in Review. One final note: if you’re attending the 18th Annual Pharmaceutical and Medical Device Compliance Congress in Washington DC, November 6-8, stop by Booth 112 (back by all the good food!) to see demos of our newest compliance training solutions and the Compliance 365 Continuous Learning System.

See you in Washington!

Compliance News in Review, October 14, 2016

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Ghouls, goblins and ghosts galore…the haunting season is here! Enjoy it while you can, before you know it, reindeer, snowmen, and gingerbread men will be scattered across the landscapes. (Poor Thanksgiving…it gets no respect!) No tricks from us though, just treats. And by treats we mean delicious bites of news! So before you head out to wait for the Great Pumpkin, join us for this not-so-scary edition of the Compliance News in Review.

The FDA has carved out time for a public hearing on November 9th and 10th to discuss the subject of communicating off-label uses of drugs and devices. The agency hopes to hear from a variety of stakeholders, including industry representatives, healthcare professionals, patients, and research institutions. Approximately 30 topics will be discussed, ranging from the effect that increased communications will have on patient enrollment in clinical trials to how patients should be made aware that they are receiving information about an off-label use.

GSK is feeling a bit of a chill in the air. The company reached an agreement with the SEC to pay $20 million to resolve FCPA-related charges its Chinese subsidiary paid bribes to increase sales. As part of the settlement, GSK is also required to provide the SEC with reports regarding its implementation of anticorruption measures for the next two years.

Dermatologists are receiving lots of treats from the industry. A study of 2014 Open Payments data reveals that nearly three-quarters of the country’s dermatologists received payments in 2014. Most were under $50.00, but a few of the doctors received payments totaling more than $90,000.00. The study appears in JAMA Dermatology.

These are frightful times at Mylan as the company agrees to pay $465 million to settle claims it overcharged Medicaid for EpiPen. The company has come under intense fire for its pricing practices related to the product. In agreeing to the settlement, Mylan did not admit to wrongdoing.

The news of the FDA’s public hearing on communication related to the unapproved uses of drugs and devices is encouraging. Hopefully, after the forum, the agency will move quickly on the release of new guidance. As court decisions are discussed in the media and more public hearings are announced, now is a great time to reinforce appropriate promotional communication through the release of updated training.

With that, we close our autumnal edition of the Compliance News in Review. One final note – if you’re attending the Pharmaceutical and Medical Device Compliance Congress next week, stop by Booth 404 in the exhibit hall and say “boo!”

Thanks for reading and stay compliant!

The Pharmaceutical and Medical Device Compliance Congress: A Preview

PharmaCertify Team , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

The Seventeenth Annual Pharmaceutical and Medical Device Compliance Congress gets underway in just a few short weeks. The annual gathering provides an opportunity for industry professionals and experts to learn from one another and hear from representatives of enforcement agencies. Whether your focus is international compliance, U.S. compliance, transparency, or risk assessment, the conference has something for everyone. We’ve reviewed the agenda and compiled a list of what we see as some the most compelling presentations.

Several sessions focus on compliance issues in managed markets. The preconference Managed Markets 101 review covers private payer systems, market access programs, and government payer systems. The session should provide helpful content and practical examples for those needing to train managed market personnel and salespeople.

If you’re not able to attend the preconference, there are also two managed markets mini summits on Day 2. The morning session covers compliance issues affecting managed markets in general and the afternoon one is focused on audit and monitoring issues. We expect both to spark worthwhile discussions among panel and audience members.

The Pharmaceutical Compliance Forum planners always do a great job of scheduling a variety of sessions dealing with compliance issues in markets outside of the U.S. This year is no exception, with preconference, plenary, and breakout sessions addressing global issues. Since the first transparency reports were filed by EFPIA members over the summer, unpacking what has been learned from the data, and discussing the challenges faced by companies thus far, will be of interest to anyone involved in global transparency.

We are also interested in the keynote address on Day 1 by Sophie Peresson, LLM, MA, Director of Pharmaceuticals & Healthcare Programme for Transparency International. (FYI – the printed brochure has this listed as the keynote for Day 2, but the website has it scheduled as the second keynote on Day 1.) The organization, well-known for its work addressing corruption, recently focused its attention on the pharmaceutical industry, so Ms. Peresson’s presentation should be valuable for companies mapping their future transparency training plans.

Finally the day two mini-summit titled, “Reimbursement Support, Patient Assistance Programs, Coupons, and Charitable Foundations” is another one on our radar. Enforcement agencies have sharpened their focus on these programs, and the area could be the next target for investigators. The panel includes both industry and legal professionals.

Now, we’re interested in your opinion. If you’re attending the conference, stop by the PharmaCertify™ booth in the exhibit hall between sessions and let us know what you think of the sessions and speakers. While you’re there, don’t forget to enter our drawing for a Bose® Soundlink® Bluetooth® speaker.

See you in Washington and stay compliant!

Compliance News in Review – In Case You Missed It, April 2016

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Wow, we’re already a week into May 2016. Time flies when you’re staying compliant. If policy writing, auditing, monitoring, or compliance training development kept you too busy to keep up with all of the April compliance news, not to worry, we have a summary of all the compliance news that was fit to blog throughout the month…with the ICYMI, April 2016 edition of the Compliance News in Review.

A new study suggests drug ads aren’t particularly effective in prompting patients to discuss the advertised drug with their doctor. In fact, only 7% of people were moved to discuss a drug with their physician after seeing a televised ad. While they may not be motivated to speak to their physician, viewers do notice the ads. The survey found that 64% of the respondents said they believed they saw more drug ads over the past year.

Shionogi received a warning letter for omitting risk information on a co-pay coupon for a drug that treats lice. The FDA said the coupon touted the efficacy of the product without stating any of the risks.

The Department of Justice announced a pilot program for companies to self-report violations of the FCPA in exchange for reduced penalties. Under the program, companies that self-report and take steps to remediate identified problems will be eligible for the reduction in penalties.

Pfizer and the DOJ announced the settlement of the case involving Pfizer’s Wyeth unit. The company agreed to pay $784.4 million to resolve charges it had reported false and fraudulent price information to the government.

Ten of Canada’s top drug firms plan to voluntarily disclose aggregate physician and healthcare organization payment data. The movement was started by GSK Canada, and multinational firms like Abbvie, Purdue, BMS, and Lilly soon joined.

CMS held a webinar for Open Payments stakeholders. The agency’s remarks focused on program timelines, in particular, the review and dispute period. A question and answer session for participants was included.

The Massachusetts Medical Society is now requiring its members to disclose financial ties to industry when posting information or reviewing a medical procedure or service on the Internet.

With the review and dispute period for Open Payments in full swing, it is good time to make sure those in customer facing roles are up to date on the requirements of the Sunshine Act, and your company’s procedures for addressing questions from covered recipients. Sunshine Act and Open Payments, from the PharmaCertify Foundations™ curriculum of eLearning modules, provides an overview of data collection and reporting responsibilities, and is easily modified to include your company-specific policy on how to handle questions from covered recipients.

Stay compliant and here’s to a merry month of May!

Compliance News in Review, October 5, 2015

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CMS releases a new teaching hospital list and de minimis thresholds, ICD-10 is launched, New Hampshire investigates manufacturers of painkillers, and the UK Ministry of Justice reverses its position on expansion of the law.

It is fall y’all! Okay, so the stars and the calendar may have said fall arrived a couple of weeks back, but it just doesn’t seem real until we hit October. The air gets a little crisper, the leaves start changing, and we sadly reach that point when we hope against hope that we can make it through the night without turning the thermostat to “heat.”

Before you know it, all the pumpkins and scarecrows will give way to mistletoe and snowmen (insert collective groan here). Before we all run out for the annual jump into the pile of leaves, let’s grab a cup of cider and your favorite pumpkin spice treat, and review all the compliance news fit to blog, with this edition of the Compliance News in Review.

October first was quite a busy day! First, CMS released the teaching hospital list and de minimis thresholds for Open Payments. In 2016, payments to Covered Recipients of $10.22 or higher will have to be reported and the annual aggregate reporting threshold will be $102.99.

Second, Medicines Australia’s new transparency requirements went into effect. Even though the Code of Conduct was effective in May of this year, implementation of the new transparency requirements was delayed until October. One of the major changes in the transparency requirements was the requirement to report at an individual HCP level rather than in the aggregate.

Finally, October 1st was the “go live” date for ICD -10 (International Classification of Diseases, 10th edition). ICD-10 is the set of diagnostic and procedure codes used by healthcare providers to bill insurance providers and government healthcare programs. The transition to ICD-10 was mandated by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services and is intended to provide more detail over the previous coding system. CMS says ICD-10 will help better “accommodate future healthcare needs, facilitating timely electronic processing of claims by reducing requests for additional information to providers.” While specificity can be a good thing, could ICD-10 be taking it a bit far? Check out some of the more unique codes in the new system. A couple of our favorites are “W56.22xA- Struck by an Orca, initial encounter,” (which apparently spawned a whole book) and “W49.01XA Hair causing external constriction, initial encounter,” also known as the Flynn Rider Code.

New Hampshire is turning a cold shoulder to opioid makers. The state’s Attorney General’s Office has announced it will be investigating the marketing practices of several manufacturers of painkillers. The AG’s Office believes the companies may have engaged in fraudulent marketing practices, which may have misled doctors and patients about the addiction risks and effectiveness of drugs.

The UK is changing its colors regarding expansion of the Bribery Act. Prosecutors had been petitioning to expand the law to make it easier to prosecute businesses involved in bribery, but in response to questions from lawmakers about the proposed changes, the Ministry of Justice said it was no longer interested in pursuing the matter. The response said there was “little evidence of corporate economic wrongdoing going unpunished.”

Conflicts or confluence – decisions, decisions. A recent editorial in the Journal of the American Medical Association (JAMA) makes a case for falling away from using the phrase “conflicts of interest” when describing the secondary interests involved in clinical research. The authors suggest “confluence of interest” instead. They say “conflicts of interest” automatically sets up the notion that something wrong is taking place. The authors point out that in academia, notoriety and fame could be a stronger influence on bias than financial reward. Universities, research institutes, the NIH and medical journals can all impact bias.

October has certainly started with a bang, in the world of physician spend transparency, both here in the U.S. and abroad. The news offers a good reminder that transparency and disclosure measures are constantly evolving. Yet another change will be upon us in 2016 with the removal of the exclusion for speaker of faculty payments for accredited CME.

With all of the changes in motion, now is a perfect time to refresh your company’s training on the requirements of the Sunshine Act and Open Payments. Ensuring your team is aware of the changes is critical, and those in the field need to understand the impact the law has on the healthcare providers they interact with on a regular basis.

That’s a wrap on this edition of the Compliance News in Review. Enjoy the cool weather everyone and have a great week!

Compliance News in Review, June 16, 2015

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Dinosaurs roamed the earth again (at least in the land of movie theaters), over the weekend, with the release of the summer’s first big blockbuster, Jurassic World. You’d think after three films, the characters would have learned not to fool with Mother Nature. Apparently not, and considering the $200+ million the film racked up at the box office, we are not tired of watching them make those same mistakes.

It may not involve death, destruction and extinct creatures, but we have our own epic tale to tell. Break out the popcorn and 3D glasses, and silence your phones please. It’s time for this week’s feature presentation – the Compliance News in Review.

Transparency International is undertaking a project of Giganotosaurus proportions. At the International Pharmaceutical Compliance Congress and Best Practices Forum, Executive Director Robert Barrington spoke to attendees about corruption in the healthcare sector and an initiative underway to evaluate corruption in the pharmaceutical industry specifically. The project will focus on five key areas: procurement and distribution, manufacturing, marketing practices, product registration, and research and development. Barrington noted that the industry should prepare for more scrutiny, with patients demanding to know why increased spending has not led to an improvement in the quality of healthcare.

Public Citizen has accused the FDA of improperly expanding the original approved use of a sleep disorder drug, and has filed a petition with the agency to have the label changed. According to the organization, the drug was initially approved for use in treating the disorder, Non-24, in blind patients, however the drug’s label does not specify the patient population. Public Citizen says this opens the door to the drug being used for other sleep disorders with patients that are not blind. Following the initial approval, the FDA did send the manufacturer a second approval letter which stated a mistake was made and the drug was approved for treatment of Non-24 in general. The second letter notes that the condition is experienced almost exclusively by those who are blind.

Could this be another “blockbuster” decision by the FDA? The FDA sent a letter to Amarin Pharmaceuticals and the court in response to Amarin’s lawsuit against the agency for violating its free speech rights. The company would like to share study information showing its drug reduces the risk of heart attack when taken in conjunction with a statin, which is not an approved use. In its response to the lawsuit, the FDA says it does not have concerns with most of the information the company wanted to share, and it does not consider the sharing of that information to be false or misleading. The letter also reminded the company that new guidelines for sharing off-label information are forthcoming.

In our opinion, the letter from the FDA to Amarin is certainly not an invitation for pharmaceutical and medical device companies to start sharing information about unapproved uses of their products. Situations like this, as well decisions like the Caronia case, may lead some to think the rules have changed, when in fact they have not. Training and communication efforts need to emphasize that the laws and regulations remain the same. Promotional statements still need to be truthful, accurate, not misleading and balanced.

The message should be clear – only company approved studies and statements may be shared, and done so in the way described by the company. The way in which companies play the game may be evolving, but the rules of the game remain the same. Playing within those rules benefits all stakeholders, including the company, and most importantly, the patient.

Have a great week everyone!

Week in Review, March 6, 2015

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A potential new law in California calls for greater drug pricing transparency, consumer advocacy groups and industry trade groups in Europe argue over clinical trial data transparency, a Maine law allowing the purchase of pharmaceuticals from foreign pharmacies is overruled, and the issue of off-label speech and free speech is back in the news.

In like a lion and out like a lamb; it’s hard to believe March is here. The really good news…spring is almost here as well (although looking at the seven inches of fresh snow outside the Week in Review windows, we find that hard to believe). Whether you subscribe to the meteorological or astronomical start of spring, one way or another it is/will be here this month, and that alone is reason to celebrate! We are on the downward slope of winter, folks and we couldn’t be happier. Another thing that makes us happing is sharing the news of the week with all of you, so let’s spring in to action and get this week’s Week in Review underway!

Nothing says spring like some sunshine, and nothing says sunshine like transparency laws. A California assemblyman has proposed a law that would require the disclosure of information related to the pricing of drugs. The law would apply to drugs costing $10,000 or more for a course of treatment, and companies would have to report information such as production costs, sales and marketing costs, and financial assistance provided through prescription assistance programs. If the law is passed, companies would submit annual reports to the state, and the information would be made available to the public.

Speaking of transparency and disclosure, there seems to be a kerfuffle blooming in Europe over clinical trial data transparency. Proposed rules by the European Medicines Authority (EMA) have prompted comments from industry trade groups and others regarding the confidentiality of commercial information. Industry groups have said certain data related to clinical trials could reveal trade secrets and compromise patient privacy. Consumer advocacy groups insist the more transparency the better in the name of protecting patients. In a press release, a Germany-based advocacy group accused the EMA of writing such a broad definition of commercial confidential information that the determination of what is confidential is left up the study sponsor. Two bio industry trade groups released a statement saying there should be a “deferral” for the disclosing information from Phase I trials due to the “commercial sensitivity” of the information.

Medical device manufacturer, ev3, had to spring for some past promotional issues allegedly committed by one of its recent acquisitions. The company agreed to pay $1.25 million to settle allegations that it violated the False Claims Act. The government claimed Fox Hollow Technologies, which was acquired by ev3, caused hospitals to improperly bill Medicare and Medicaid for medically unnecessary inpatient stays for patients undergoing atherectomies using a Fox Hollow device. The government alleged the company suggested the inpatient procedures in order to drive sales of the device to hospitals, thereby causing hospitals to be reimbursed more than they were entitled.

There’s been a late freeze on the Maine law that allows individuals to purchase prescription drugs from select foreign pharmacies. A federal judge has ruled the Maine law is overruled by federal law, which prohibits importing drugs from foreign countries. The decision nullifies the Maine law. The state can appeal if it chooses.

The seeds are being planted for another free speech case involving off-label statements. A federal district court in California is considering a whistleblower False Claims Act case against Millennium Pharmaceuticals in which the whistleblower claims that Millennium and Schering-Plough (now Merck) promoted a heart drug for off-label uses. In a motion to dismiss, Merck argued that the False Claims Act cannot be interpreted to prohibit the truthful, non-misleading exchange of scientific information. In making the argument, Merck sited both the Sorrell v. IMS Health and U.S. v. Caronia cases. The DOJ filed a brief with the court saying that truthful speech could be used as a basis for the False Claims Act. PhRMA filed a friend of the court brief in support of Merck’s argument.

With that, we end this “almost spring, we hope” edition of the Week in Review. Have a great week everyone!

 

Week in Review, July 9, 2014

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CMS makes changes to reporting deadlines and requirements, Canada continues to collect date about the effects of off-label use of drugs, and Medicines Australia updates its Code of Conduct.

You scream, I scream, we all scream for ice cream! And we’ll be doing a lot of screaming because July is National Ice Cream Month. (July – 31 days. Baskin-Robbins – 31 flavors. Coincidence?) Whether on a cone, in a cup or topped with sauces, fruit or confections, July is a great month to enjoy this cold treat. And gone are the days when Tutti Frutti was the outrageous flavor. Now, along with the likes of Cookies & Cream and Rum Raisin, you can have your pick of Chocolate-Chili, Roasted Garlic, or Mushy Green Peas. As you ponder your favorite flavor (bizarre or otherwise) for beating the July heat, we offer our own scoop with this week’s News in Review.

The deadline for submitting Phase 2 data melted away, sort of, last week. CMS sent out an email essentially extending the deadline for submitting Open Payments Phase 2 documents to July 7. In the e-mail, CMS said it wanted to assure accuracy and completeness of the reports and attestations and that penalties would not be enforced for non-compliance until after July 7.

Also melting away could be the CME exclusion in final rule for the Sunshine Act. CMS is planning to propose a change to the exemption for reporting CME payments. The current rule allows an exemption for three reasons: the program is accredited by certain organizations, the physician isn’t paid directly by the manufacturer, or the manufacturer doesn’t influence the selection of speakers. CMS ultimately decided to remove the exclusion due to the redundancies involving indirect payments that occur when the manufacturer is unaware of the recipient. The agency also does not want to appear that it is indicating support of certain accrediting bodies by continuing to specifically name them in the exemption. The proposed changes will appear in the July 11 Federal Register.

And if the CME change isn’t enough, CMS has a few other toppings to add to the final rule sundae. The agency is also proposing that “stock, stock options, and other ownership interests” not be one category, but three. Other changes include the requirement that all manufacturers, including device manufacturers, use the product’s marketed name on reports and the removal of the “definition of a covered device” from the rule.

Canada’s Health Minister, Rona Ambrose, is serving up a scoop or two of new information about serious side effects resulting from off-label drug use. Health Canada has been collecting the information for several years, but technical issues prevented it from making the database of information publicly available. The group is planning a systems upgrade that will allow the regulator to share the database. No timeline for when the public can expect to access the information has been released.

Medicines Australia is looking for approval of its latest flavor. The organization has submitted the 18th edition of its Code of Conduct to the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission for authorization. The new Code includes requirements for the reporting of transfers of value from industry to healthcare professionals. If authorized, the Code will become effective January 2015, with the new transparency requirements going into effect October of 2015. However, not everyone is happy with the result. A provision requiring manufacturers to obtain permission from physicians to allow their name to be published with the payment data, has members of the Greens political party very concerned. A spokesman said the party was considering reintroducing legislation to make the reporting of transfers of value to physicians a legal requirement.

Sunshine and transparency will no doubt continue to be a popular flavor, both here and abroad, for the distant future. That’s why we are adding a global transparency focused module to our growing list of PharmaCertify™ off-the-shelf learning solutions. To learn more about the module or see a content outline, contact Sean Murphy at smurphy@nxlevelsolutions.com.

Have a great rest of the week!