The state senate in Massachusetts is considering a measure that would disclose more information about the hundreds of millions of dollars in tax subsidies that go to medical device firms (as well as film companies, dairy farmers, and other businesses). Some of the information is already public, but the Senate will meet this week to determine whether to disclose all the recipients of these refundable tax credits. (Traditional tax credits reduce a company's state income tax, while refundable tax credits can be sold or traded back to the state for cash.) The film industry is the biggest recipient of this tax incentive, although device companies will obviously be affected. MassMEDIC raised no objections to the measure, which is likely to become law with the Senate's approval (the House approved a similar bill last month).

“It seems to me that information should be made available to the public,’’ said MassMEDIC president Thomas Sommer.