Arnold Relman, former editor of the NEJM and long term opponent of for-profit health care, has an op-ed piece in the NY Times complaining about the  impact of pharma companies sponsoring CME. Relman suggests getting pharma companies out of CME.  This is an old chestnut from Relman and I wouldn’t usually link to this other than to note that while the pharmas throw alot of mud at the CME wall, they’re not too sure whether it’ll stick–and it’s done as much as part of a competitive arms race than based on  too much pure marketing science.

But Donald Johnson, who’s really getting into his stride after a few quiet weeks at The Business Word has a more interesting, free-market suggestion: Have the payers pay doctors to attend counter-detailing CME sessions!