House blocks bill to keep Rx info from marketers

HELENA - A bill that would prevent pharmaceutical companies from using Montanans's personal medical information for marketing died on a party-line vote in the House, 50-50.

House Bill 394, sponsored by Rep. Dave McAlpin, D-Missoula (pictured), would penalize companies that use clients' medical information for marketing. Many companies already have access to these files for research purposes.

"The bill absolutely only affects the marketing of this data," McAlpin said.

The bill's supporters said Montanans should retain the rights to their information and get to choose how it is used."This bill is about protecting our privacy and anonymity from big business," Rep. Brady Wiseman, D-Bozeman, said.

But the opponents said the bill could cost consumers. "This will increase the cost of marketing," said Rep. Ron Stoker, R-Darby, adding that the companies will pay for it by raising drug prices.

-by CNS correspondent Molly Priddy