Michigan, Pennsylvania may ban drugmakers from giving gifts to physicians

State representatives in Michigan and Pennsylvania have introduced bills that would prohibit drugmakers from giving gifts to physicians.

Pennsylvania state Rep. Michael Zabel, D-Drexel Hill, introduced a bill June 29 that would ban drugmakers from giving gifts to physicians that exceed a $50 value. Mr. Zabel's bill was devised to combat drugmakers' efforts to persuade physicians to prescribe addictive opioids, as opioid-related overdoses continue to significantly affect Pennsylvania communities.