After Stupak Leaves, Who Will Watch Pharma?
18 CommentsBy Ed Silverman // April 12th, 2010 // 7:21 am
The answer is unclear, although no doubt many pharma execs and FDA officials won’t miss Bart Stupak, a Michigan Democrat who is retiring from Congress after a nasty brawl over health care reform and, in particular, abortion coverage (background here).
As chairman of the House Energy and Commerce Committee’s Oversight and Investigations Subcommittee, Stupak regularly took on safety issues. Along with John Dingell, who formerly headed the House committee, Stupak investigted Merck and Schering-Plough for allegedly delaying the release of unfavorable clinical trial data for their Vytorin cholesterol med (see here and here). He also subpoenaed FDA investigators for approving the Ketek antibiotic, despite knowing a key safety study was fraught with problems; Sanofi-Aventis execs were also grilled at a hearing (look here).
Other claims to fame include probing the FDA’s handling of Baxter’s Heparin, the blood thinner linked to hundreds of patient reactions and four deaths; TV ads for Pfizer’s Lipitor; and Roche’s Accutane, which was a very personal issue for Stupak. In 2000, his 17-year-old son, who was using the acne med, committed suicide. Stupak personally investigated whether the drug could be tied to psychiatric side effects, and went to FDA headquarters to sift through documents. During one hearing, he held up the packaging from his son’s prescription.
So who might succeed Stupak? The Pink Sheet speculates the possibilities include Elliot Engel of New York, Gene Green of Texas and Diana DeGette of Colorado, who have seniority on the full committee.
Lisa Van Syckel
This Mom, shed quite a few tears when the Congressamn announced he was retiring.
So I extend my deepest gratitude, to the Congressman and his staff. May they find peace and happiness always.
Greg Pawelski
Rep. Bart Stupak regularly took on safety issues??? He talks about being in the Congress for 18 years and fulfilling what he set out to do, and now it is time for him to go. Where has he been? What has he done?
Stupak has served on the Energy and Commerce Committee since 1995 and as chairman of the Subcommittee on Oversight and Investigations since 2007. Unitl 2008, this subcommittee had not held an oversight hearing about nursing home care since 1977.
The last significant change in nursing home regulations was the Nursing Home Reform Act of 1987. Was he serious enough in examining whether standards continue to provide an appropriate level of care and protection for residents of nursing homes? No!
A report commissioned by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid (CMS) suggested that the regulatory enforcement system for nursing homes has a lot of problems, primarily staffing below standards recommended by a CMS study as putting residents at risk.
Despite the extreme inside-the-Beltway focus on healthcare reform, there’s been no mention of tackling reform of our long-term care system. This is curious when you stop to consider that these services are used by the same seniors who use the most healthcare resources and that they account for hundreds of billions of dollars of personal and federal spending.
Our existing system strains already-stretched government resources and family networks and will become only more expensive as our nation ages. Good riddance Bart Stupak, let someone else carrying the reins of responsibility!
Lisa Van Syckel
Greg, Ever make an attempt to contact the Committee in regards to this issue?
Have you ever made an attempt to Contact Congressman Frank Pallone, Chairman, of the subcommittee on Health, where your complaint should be lodged?
It is so easy to complain publicly on a Blog, maybe you should make better quality of your time, and petition your own legislator in regards to your concerns.
Condor
Here’s a video I long-ago made, featuring Rep. Bart Stupak’s willingness to “speak truth to power” — to call ‘em on the carpet — back in May of 2008. It is only one minute, 28 seconds long — but shows who the man was, in Congress — and what the man did, against powerfully-vested interests. [His own child's case, a fatally-failed drug regulatory opportunity, may have contributed to his resolve.]
His voice for the reform of pharma marketing will be missed, even if I did not agree with his stance on womens’ choice issues.
नमस्ते
collegegirl
In regards to pharma it sounds like Stupak surprisingly knew his stuff, which I wasn’t fully aware of. Let’s hope we have another representative who keeps an even closer eye on the FDA. These legislators have easier access to FDA documents and they should be using their advantage to help educate consumers and keep us safe.
jillmd
Not going to grade how stupak was on Pharma.
Generally speaking there is little to no hardcore oversight being done by our Congress. I see a lot of press releases from Senators and Congressmen but then there is usually nothing.
Not sure who will step up in the House or Senate.
What does everyone else think and who do you think can do oversight well?
pharmavet
I didn’t agree with all of Congressman Stupak’s positions. However, one thing that you can say for him, is that unlike Billy Tauzin or Jim Greenwood, Stupak did not parlay his experience into becoming a lobbyist for the pharmaceutical industry, and I doubt that will be a future direction for him.
Justice in MI
As folks know in Michigan, Stupak’s views and alliances are complex. He’s always been clear that this own son’s suicide on Accutane was what propelled him into the drug safety/FDA debate.
Personally, I was incensed when Rachel Maddow skewered him as some sort of right wing loony tunes. It was about the same level of “journalism” that one finds on those stations she most opposes.
Anyway, one does get the sense there are “issues” that Stupak would rather not come up in the next cycle. But he would probably have been reelected, and we will miss his voice in drug safety.
anon
I agree, Maddow went over the top with her coverage on this guy. she could show little more balance now and then.
he has done more for health care than most in washington, despite his personal beliefs. it is ironic.
Former Pharma Marketing Director
It will be interesting to watch, wait and see.
Greg Pawelski
Lisa. You have absolutely no idea! You don’t even come close. Over the last ten years, with the buying-out of nursing homes by private-equity groups, the crisis with our nursing homes has escalated exponentially.
The incestuous relationship with the $144 billion nursing-home industry, along with the department of health surveyors and even CMS itself, all inept and corrupt. The “foxes have been guarding the chicken coop.”
I had hoped Congress would have been serious about tightening up the regulation process. It was wishful thinking on my part and the 16,000 nursing home residents. I believe Rachel Maddow did a beautiful job uncovering the fraud that Stupik is.
Lisa Van Syckel
I dont watch the Maddow show, she is a loose cannon, just like Fox’s Beck.
I also noticed that, the majority of Stupak bashers, come from outside his district.
harpy
we still have Grassley and Kohl and Waxman, I’m sure others will come along.
but, Lisa, comparing Maddow to Beck? I don’t think I’ve ever disagreed with you more. she may be outspoken and confrontational but she’s grounded in the real world.
Anon
Grassley’s status on the Finance Committee is changing and he won’t be able to use that position any longer to look into things.
Waxman is only interested in generic drugs he’s been AWOL on everything else.
pharmavet
My acid test for all of the talking heads on both right and left is how long can I listen before I either change the channel or start pulling my hair out. Right now it’s a close race between Olbermann, Hannity and Beck. O’Reilly and Maddow are too soporific for my tastes.
Justice in MI
Re: Stupak, there is obviously a loss of seniority, which will impact the profile of these issues more generally (certainly in the House). And even John Dingell will have to hang it up at some point.
So who will step in to fill the gap in our lovely peninsulas (don’t forget there are two)?
I wish I had a taste for chicken….
Lisa Van Syckel
Harpy, I’m a Morning Joe fan, Maddow is over the top, and its ok to disagree.
Anne PME
If reelected, Senator Grassley may become the ranking or majority senator (depending on the election) of the Senate Judiciary Com. While he may loose seniority on one committee, he will gain seniority on another committee…
WRT to congressman Stupak, we wish him well in his future endeavors. It will be interesting to see if “HEAT” stays in Michigan and whether or not it expands and eventually involves a former detective turned congressman….
Will he be nominated and serve the current administration in a health oversight position?