Reform bill would reveal fees firms pay to doctors

A proposal requiring drug and medical-device companies to disclose their often-controversial consulting agreements with doctors is now part of healthcare legislation unveiled before the Senate Finance Committee. The provision is tucked within an $856 billion healthcare overhaul that was introduced by Sen. Max Baucus, the committee's chairman. The legislation calls for drug and medical device companies to file annual reports showing payments to doctors for services such as marketing, education and research beginning March 31, 2012. The information would be available to the public on the Internet.