New Hampshire is one step closer to being the first state to keep physician prescribing data away from drug reps:

Lawmakers took a big step Thursday toward making New Hampshire the first state to prevent pharmaceutical companies from obtaining information on which drugs doctors are prescribing.

The state Senate voted 22-0 in favor of legislation sponsored by Rep. Cindy Rosenwald, D-Nashua, who was moved to act by complaints from her husband, a doctor, about pharmaceutical sales agents who try to influence which drugs he dispenses.

The legislation also outlaws companies from marketing the patient information on prescriptions. This is intended to be protected by federal privacy laws, but on occasion can fall legally into the hands of marketers, who sell names and addresses to drug companies, pharmacies and research institutions.