Bill Targets Rx Drug Advertising

Rep. Pete Stark (D-Calif.) introduced the Fair Balance Prescription Drug Advertisement Act of 2003 (HR 3155) in late September.

The legislation would eliminate the corporate advertising tax deduction for direct-to-consumer prescription-drug advertisements that do not present the benefits and risks of the medications they promote “in a fairly balanced manner,” according to a September 23 press release.

The act would require that print advertisements display a drug’s pros and cons in same-sized typeface and space and on the same or facing pages. Risk and benefit descriptions would be allotted equal airtime for television and radio advertisements.

The California Public Employees’ Retirement System, which provides health benefits to more than 1.3 million members, endorsed the proposed legislation.

More information about the bill is posted on the Web at www.house.gov/stark under “Legislation.” ▪