After extensive probes into pharma's funding patterns, including what reached advocacy organizations, Senator Charles Grassley applauded NAMI (National Alliance on Mental Illness) for posting pharma contributions to its web-site. But he was more worried about the $23 million pharmaceutical companies contributed to underwrite state organizations, according to a letter he released today. Top recipients were the California, Ohio and New York state chapters. The top three pharmaceutical companies making contributions were AstraZeneca, Bristol-Myers Squibb, and Eli Lilly. According to the Wall Street Journal's Health Blog NAMI president, Michael Fitzpatrick, "certainly agrees with Sen. Grassley in terms of the need for transparency and accountability."
Correction: Sen. Grassley's letter enumerating pharma contributions referred to $3.8 million over nearly five years, from January 2005 to October 2009. Our original post incorrectly stated this letter specified $23 million. (May 1, 2010)
