Title: Case Studies in the Implementation of a Physician Payment Disclosure Initiative Geralyn S. Ritter Vice President, Global Public Policy and Corporate Responsibility, Merck
1Case Studies in the Implementation of a
Physician Payment Disclosure InitiativeGeralyn
S. RitterVice President, Global Public Policy
and Corporate Responsibility, Merck Co., Inc.
NATIONAL DISCLOSURE SUMMIT Friday, March 6, 2009
2Trust Deficit
As companies and as an industry, we will not
succeed if we don't start closing our trust
deficit. And we won't accomplish this simply with
more effective education efforts or better
communications. As an industry, we must rebuild
the foundation of trust that we once had and the
foundation of trust that we continue to
deserve. - Richard Clark Chairmans
Address PhRMA Annual MeetingMarch 28, 2008
3Disclosure as an Element of Corporate
Responsibility
- Sunlight is said to be the best of
disinfectants -- Justice Louis Brandeis
(Harpers Weekly, December 20, 1913) - Mercks Corporate Responsibility Report
- 65 key performance indicators
- Environmental, social and governance issues
- Third-party grants transparency initiated in
2008, expanded in 2009
4History of Mercks Physician Payment Disclosure
Efforts
- Merck policies and practices to ensure integrity
- PhRMA Code of Interactions with Health Care
Professionals - Enhanced public attention to industry-prescriber
interaction - Consultation between Merck and physician
organizations - Merck 2008 endorsement of Physician Payment
Sunshine Act
5Approaching Physician Payment Disclosure
- Reviewed existing and proposed disclosure
requirements and mechanisms - Examined internal systems
- Deliberate and structured process of consulting
with stakeholders - Inclusive internal process
6Major Considerations in Physician Payment
Disclosure
- Scope
- Content
- Systems issues
- Physician Review
- Timing
- Sequencing
7Goals and Metrics
- Accuracy
- Timeliness
- Efficiency
- Responsiveness
- Education
- Maintaining Stakeholder Relationships
- Preserving Business Confidentiality
- Building Trust
8A Look Ahead
- Expanding disclosures
- Implementing new laws
- Keeping the dialogue going