Data mining suit

So-called data-mining companies that collect information about the drugs doctors prescribe asked an appeals court Tuesday to stop Vermont from enacting a law next week restricting their work. IMS Health Inc., Verispan LLC and Source Healthcare Analytics Inc., told the judges that information gathered by the companies is noncommercial speech protected by the First Amendment. The companies gather electronic information on drugs ordered by doctors for their patients and sell that information to pharmaceutical companies. In court papers, they said they also publish unique reports -- "a form of specialized news reporting" -- showing which doctors prescribe which medications most frequently.