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Health Care Vendor Relations A new UCOP Presidential Policy

This policy outlines the key elements of UCSD's vendor relations, including access, gifts, promotional activity, and compliance with the anti-kickback law. It aims to manage industry influence on health care decisions.

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Health Care Vendor Relations A new UCOP Presidential Policy

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  1. Health Care Vendor RelationsA new UCOP Presidential Policy Lee Giddings, M.D. Chief Compliance Officer UCSD Health Sciences May 2008 Revised: 05/05/2008

  2. Vendor Relations – Outline • Introduction • Background • Key Elements • Training • Monitoring • High Risk Areas • Key Elements: • Access • Gifts • Promotional Activity • Preceptorships • Publicity of Support • Anti-Kickback Law

  3. Vendor Relations – Introduction “Policy on Health Care Vendor Relations”(PP031208) • Approved: Officially signed by President Dynes – Mar. 12, 2008 • Implementation: July 1, 2008 • Endorsed by: • UC Academic Senate • UC Chancellors • UC Health Science Vice Chancellors • Work Group: • Representation from all Health Science campuses • Chaired by Rory Jaffe, M.D., Executive Director, Medical Services

  4. Vendor Relations – Introduction • Definition: • Health Care Vendor. A company or its representative or the agent of a company that either produces or markets drugs, devices, nutritional products, or other medical products or services. • Scope: • All UCSD Health Science workforce members, both on and off campus (unless specifically noted)

  5. Vendor Relations – Background • California Political Reform Act (CPRA) of 2001 • Attempts to remove bias from product decisions • Financial COI focus; does not eliminate all conflicts • Purpose of UCOP Policy • To manage the perceived potential for industry unduly influencing health care decisions • Not a Conflict of Interest (COI) Policy • Supplements existing UC policies* • Initiative Supported by: • AMC National Trends • Evidence based literature (Brennan, JAMA 2006; 295 (4):429-433) • Increased regulatory scrutiny * Business & Finance Bulletin, G-39; COI Policy; Clinic Sample Policy, MCP 321.7; Regulations for Sales Representatives, MCP 550.1

  6. Vendor Relations – Key Elements • Vendor Access • Vendors must register & wear ID badge (VendorClear); (addresses patient confidentiality provisions) • Vendors must have scheduled appointments • Appointments in non-clinical areas only • Can not access patient information without written consent • Anticipated FAQs Vendor may enter patient care areas if: • Pre-registered and requested by a UC representative • Providing a specific health care support service • Servicing equipment • Or as a patient or member of the general public

  7. Vendor Relations – Key Elements • Vendor Gifts • Prohibits gifts provided directly to individuals • Definition of Gift: Anything of value (including compensation) without providing a service of equivalent or greater value in exchange. • Examples of gifts: • Free food, pens, notepads, supplies, books • Free samples • Free equipment • Travel and lodging • Paid attendance or registration fees for conferences

  8. Vendor Relations – Key Elements • Vendor Gifts - Anticipated FAQs: • The following are not considered a gift: • Honoraria at Fair Market Value for legitimate service • Food, travel, admission fee while providing a service • Prizes or competitive awards • Items provided at a discount or free as part of a University contract or a research project • Refreshments, non-cash nominal benefits and materials provided by the organizers of a professional meeting and available to all attendees. • Example: CME Conference tote bags

  9. Vendor Relations – Key Elements • Vendor Gifts • Prohibits samples in all UCSDHS sites • Prohibits samples for personal use • Alternatives: • Vendor may donate “samples” for UC’s free clinics • Product must be on the UCSDMC formulary • Product storage / distribution must adhere to regulatory requirements • Vendor may donate “product” for evaluation or education purposes. The amount is restricted to the minimum necessary for the intended use. [Refer to MCP 405.1]

  10. Vendor Relations – Key Elements • Vendor Gifts • Alternatives: • Patient Assistance Programs available through the UCSDMC Pharmacy. • Vendor may donate “funds” to support the mission of the University (education, research, patient care) • Examples of Permitted Uses of Vendor Funds: • Educational meetings (non-CME) • Departmental Activities • Purchase of food • Purchase of travel • Fundraising activities • Grants * • Fellowships • Vendor can NOT: • Select speakers • Control content • Select recipients • Attend meetings * Research grants from industry require 700-U form submission & IRB approval.

  11. Vendor Relations – Key Elements • Vendor Gifts • “Donations” must comply with standards and procedures of: • ACCME (or equivalent) http://www.accme.org/ • UCSD Office of Continuing Medical Education (OCME) (whether or not educational credit is offered)http://cme.ucsd.edu/ • UCSD Office of Gift Administration (OGA) • UCSD Office of Contracts & Grants Administration (OCGA) • UCSD Conflict of Interest Office (COI) • California Political Reform Act

  12. Vendor Relations – Key Elements • Vendor Promotional Material & Activity • Prohibits branded items with company logos in all UCSDHS sites • Prohibits meals, snacks, beverages directlyprovided by a vendor in all UCSDHS sites • Anticipated FAQs: • Patient education materials which are branded and needed for unique patient education purposes may be used at the discretion of individual providers, but should be free of all product promotion and bias.

  13. Vendor Relations – Key Elements • Vendor Preceptorships • An educational program for vendor representative(s) • Requires a written service agreement (Dean’s Office) & oversight by UCSD OCME • Requires compliance with HIPAA Privacy Rules & patient consent in clinical areas • Preceptorship must not provide a vendor with sales and marketing opportunities • Anticipated FAQs: • A vendor has the same access to official educational offerings of the University as other members of the general public.

  14. Vendor Relations – Key Elements • Publicity of Industry Support • California Public Records Act • Provides that information about industry support of the University is a public record • APM-025 • Requires faculty to report annually time spent in outside professional activity (OPA), which becomes a public record • Anti-Kickback Law • The Federal Anti-Kickback Statute prohibits the solicitation or receipt of anything of value in return for patient referrals or to induce such referrals which could potentially be reimbursed by a government payer.

  15. Vendor Relations – Training • Vendors • Registration process with Medical Center Purchasing Department (VendorClear) • Workforce Members • Train-the-trainer • Faculty / Staff meetings • Web postings • Educational bulletins, memos, FAQs • Learning management system (LMS) modules

  16. Vendor Relations – Monitoring • Vendors • Enforce ID badge requirement • Exclude from UCSDHS sites for repeated violations • Send written report of violations / actions to company • Physicians • Collaborate to build awareness / change culture • Department Chair / physician leaders as champions & role models • Managers • Discard branded items and literature • Notify Pharmacy to retrieve samples for disposal • Prohibit vendor provided food; notify Purchasing of violations • Committees • Guidance and oversight by established UCSDHS Committees • Enforcement • Corrective actions in accordance with UCSD & HR policies 15

  17. Vendor Relations – High Risk Areas • Activities to avoid… • Sham honoraria or sham consulting agreements • Compensation should be an equivalent value for legitimate services • Luxurious off-site meetings & meals • Entertainment unrelated to educational goals • Free trips and tickets • Speakers bureau & ghostwriting • Vendor control or influence of the content of a presentation is prohibited • Off-Label promotion (marketing)

  18. Vendor Relations – Safeguards Managing HC Industry Vendor Relationships • Disclose – financial relationships to Purchasing, CME sponsor, audiences (learners) & patients • Recuse – from product purchase decisions for 12 months • Seek – advice from the UCSD Conflict of Interest Office and your personal attorney • Ask – assess your comfort level with potential public exposure or scrutiny

  19. Questions? • Lee Giddings, M.D. • Larry Friedman, M.D. • Charles Daniels, Ph.D., R.Ph. • Kathleen Naughton • UCOP policy site: • “Policy on Health Care Vendor Relations” • http://www.ucop.edu/ucophome/coordrev/policy/PP031208Policy.pdf • Policy Issuance Letter – President Dynes (03/12/2008) • http://www.ucop.edu/ucophome/coordrev/policy/PP031208.pdf

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