HHS issues rare 'fraud alert' encouraging pharma to nix paid doctor speaker programs

Pandemic travel restrictions have shut down many of pharma's paid healthcare provider speaker programs—and the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) thinks it should stay that way.

In a Special Fraud Alert issued (PDF) Monday by its inspector general’s office, HHS urged pharma companies and device makers to reconsider restarting in-person paid healthcare professional speaker programs when COVID-19 restrictions lift.