Grassley, Wyden Track Company Payments to Pain Groups

Sens. Chuck Grassley (R-IA) and Ron Wyden (D-OR) have released a report identifying $65 million in payments made by manufacturers of opioids and opioid-related products to groups focused on pain issues. In a statement (contains a link to the full report), the senators say the opioid manufacturers viewed the tax-exempt advocacy groups as “helpful extensions of their sales and marketing efforts.”

They recommend efforts to improve drug industry transparency by: 

•          expanding the Center for Medicare and Medicaid Services’ Open Payments database to require drug and medical device manufacturers to report payments made to tax-exempt organizations; and
•          require the HHS secretary to develop guidelines and procedures to increase transparency among members of federal task forces, as well as research groups and panels convened or contracted by HHS.