American Medical Association, Other Medical Groups Under Grassley Spotlight
The American Medical Association, American Cancer Society and the Alzheimer’s Association were among the 33 non-profit medical groups receiving letters from Senator Charles Grassley (R-Iowa) regarding their financial relationships with drug and device makers.
According to The Wall Street Journal, Senator Grassley wrote the 33 medical groups in order to determine whether they receive financial incentives from corporations when they lobby Congress for pro-industry positions on health issues. The letters include demands for information on money that the organizations have received since January 2006 directly from drug and medical device makers, from foundations set up by those corporations, or from insurance companies, the Journal said.
“I am hoping you can assist me…by providing additional insights into these relationships as well as any changes in transparency that your organization may be planning for in the future. Operating with transparency sends a message that there is nothing to hide,” the Senator wrote.
Senator Grassley has given the groups until December 21 to respond. According to The New York Times, the American Medical Association, American Cancer Society and the Alzheimer’s Association all said in statements that they would respond to Grassley’s request for detailed payment information.
