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July 22, 2009
ACTION ALERT
Contact Key House Leaders and Urge them to Exempt All Distributors from Gift Disclosure Provisions in House Reform Bill
HIDA Members: As you may be aware, House Democrats introduced their version of healthcare reform legislation on July 14. The America's Affordable Health Choices Act of 2009 contains gift disclosure "sunshine" language that would require wholesale distributors of devices, biologics, or medical supplies to make public disclosures on a wide range of payments to physicians and other healthcare entities. If enacted, beginning in 2010, the government will require annual reporting of all physician payments over a cumulative value of $5.00 dollars - with the first report being due by March 31, 2011 - and made available to the public by September 30, 2011. Currently only wholesale drug distributors are exempted from the requirements.
It is important that we contact members of the House Energy and Commerce Committee and express our concern with the Physician Payments Sunshine Provision. HIDA members should reach out to the Representatives listed below and urge them to exclude distributors of covered devices, biologics, and medical supplies from the reporting requirements within Section 1451 of H.R. 3200. Tell Congress that wholesale medical products distributors serve end-user providers in a separate way from manufacturers. Remind them that this critical distinction is reflected in the exemption written for wholesale drug distributors, which are oftentimes the same companies who deliver medical products.
For your convenience, we have provided you with a template letter via HIDA's legislative action center. Time is of the essence!
We urge you to TAKE ACTION NOW!
House Energy and Commerce Committee
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Henry A. Waxman, CA, Chair
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Joe Barton, TX, Ranking Member
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John D. Dingell, MI, Chair Emeritus
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Ralph M. Hall, TX
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Edward J. Markey, MA
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Fred Upton, MI
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Rick Boucher, VA
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Cliff Stearns, FL
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Frank Pallone, Jr., NJ
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Nathan Deal, GA
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Bart Gordon, TN
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Ed Whitfield, KY
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Bobby L. Rush, IL
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John Shimkus, IL
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Anna G. Eshoo, CA
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John B. Shadegg, AZ
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Bart Stupak, MI
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Roy Blunt, MO
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Eliot L. Engel, NY
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Steve Buyer, IN
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Gene Green, TX
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George Radanovich, CA
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Diana DeGette, CO
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Joseph R. Pitts, PA
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Lois Capps, CA
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Mary Bono Mack, CA
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Mike Doyle, PA
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Greg Walden, OR
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Jane Harman, CA
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Lee Terry, NE
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Jan Schakowsky, IL
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Mike Rogers, MI
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Charles A. Gonzalez, TX
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Sue Wilkins Myrick, NC
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Jay Inslee, WA
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John Sullivan, OK
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Tammy Baldwin, WI
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Tim Murphy, PA
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Mike Ross, AR
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Michael C. Burgess, TX
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Anthony D. Weiner, NY
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Marsha Blackburn, TN
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Jim Matheson, UT
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Phil Gingrey, GA
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G.K. Butterfield, NC
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Steve Scalise, LA
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Charlie Melancon, LA
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John P. Sarbanes, MD
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John Barrow, GA
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Christopher S. Murphy, CT
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Baron P. Hill, IN
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Zachary T. Space, OH
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Doris O. Matsui, CA
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Jerry McNerney, CA
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Donna M. Christensen, VI
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Betty Sutton, OH
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Kathy Castor, FL
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Bruce L. Braley, IA
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Peter Welch, VT
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Best Regards,
HIDA Government Affairs
Health Industry Distributors Association
310 Montgomery Street
Alexandria, VA 22314
(703) 549-4432
(703) 549-6495 fax
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