HHS PR spending
Executive Summary
HHS spending on media and public relations initiatives totaled roughly $304 mil. during fiscal years 2003 through 2005, including expenditures by FDA and CMS on educational campaigns about Medicare, online drug purchases, generic medicines and risks and benefits of using prescription medicines, according to a 1GAO report issued Feb. 13. CMS spent millions promoting Medicare, including a $10.4 mil. contract for a campaign covering the Medicare Modernization Act, its coverage and benefits. FDA awarded a $98,000 contract to an ad agency to create messages regarding the use of generic drugs and spent thousands more explaining the risks of buying medical products online and educating the public about the risks and benefits of prescription drugs...