California may bar drug makers from giving doctors gifts

SACRAMENTO, Calif. - The California Senate passed a bill Thursday that would ban drug companies from giving gifts to doctors.

Sen. Mike McGuire said his bill prohibiting perks such as airline tickets and lavish meals would lower drug costs in part because doctors who receive such gifts are more likely to prescribe expensive drugs.

The Senate voted 23-13 to send the bill to the Assembly.

Drug companies spend more than $1.4 billion a year on gifts to California doctors, said McGuire, a Democrat from Healdsburg.

"While we have witnessed the cost of drugs rise over the past decade, industry profits have also grown significantly," McGuire said. "We should be all standing for seniors and taxpayers to drive down the cost of prescription drugs."

Several Republicans spoke against the bill, saying drug companies need to market their products to be successful and ensure new treatments reach patients.

"Successful products provide the funding for the research, for cures," said Sen. Ted Gaines, a Republican who represents a district near Sacramento. "Why would we do anything to diminish the ability of pharma companies to be successful in providing these new products?"

Senate minority leader Patricia Bates said gifts from pharmaceutical companies to doctors are already regulated.

The Southern California Republican said the bill could deter doctors from participating in clinical trials and limit Californians' access to experimental drugs.

The bill allows doctors to be paid salaries for running clinical trials.