Physicians discuss use of prescribing data.

In consideration of the diverse opinions surrounding physician prescribing data, the American Medical Association (AMA) commissioned a Gallup study to determine the best solution. As a result of the survey, the AMA created the Physician Data Restriction Program (PDRP). This unique AMA program offers physicians control over their prescribing data and whether it can be shared with pharmaceutical representatives. Although the AMA does not collect physician prescribing data, the PDRP allows the AMA to communicate and enforce physician preferences to health care information organizations (HIOs) that do collect this data. Without AMA involvement, HIOs would still collect the data, but physicians would have no control over how it is used.