Press Releases

WASHINGTON – Congressmen Larry Bucshon, M.D. (R-Ind.-08) and David Scott (D-Ga.-13) introduced H.R. 5510, the Truth in Healthcare Marketing Act. This bipartisan bill would make it illegal to make misleading or deceptive claims about holding a State healthcare license, and would require advertisers to disclose the license that allows them to provide the service they are advertising.  

Misinformation in healthcare has been incredibly harmful throughout the COVID-19 pandemic. Misleading claims have threatened patient safety and clouded sound medical advice from accredited healthcare professionals. Ensuring that people know the product or service they are seeing being advertised is promoted by qualified providers will help reduce the spread of misinformation.

“As a practicing physician for more than 15 years, I know just how sacred the patient-physician relationship is. It is critical that medical services and advice featured on advertisements or other marketing efforts is provided by qualified experts, rather than a snake-oil salesman who could be advertising services or providing guidance that doesn’t help, or even actively harms patients,” said Dr. Bucshon. “My bipartisan Truth in Healthcare Marketing Act would help reduce misinformation and protect patients by ensuring the expertise of those making healthcare claims in advertisements or other marketing efforts.”

“Declining trust in health care among Americans has alarming nationwide ramifications, underscored by both the ongoing struggle to save American lives from COVID-19 and long-term health disparities that persist across the country. With more misinformation than ever at our fingertips in the digital age, it is critical that patients know the information they receive from health care advertisements is trustworthy and verifiably true. The Truth in Healthcare Marketing Act represents a significant step toward strengthening patients’ trust by protecting them from inaccurate and misleading information in bad-faith ads,” said Congressman Scott.