FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: May 5, 2009

CONTACT: Jennifer Palcher-Silliman (404) 252-3663

ATLANTA — To keep its members up-to-date on the rapidly changing legislative and regulatory landscape in healthcare convention marketing, the Healthcare Convention & Exhibitors Association (HCEA) is introducing the interactive Healthcare Exhibitors’ Matrix of State Laws and Regulations as part of the new HCEA Compliance Resource Center located at HCEA’s members-only website, www.hcea.org/members.

The Healthcare Exhibitors’ Matrix of State Laws and Regulations, available only to HCEA members, is a dynamic, consolidated summary of state laws targeting healthcare marketing and disclosure of gifts to physicians, as well as links to each law. The resource will be updated regularly whenever new relevant state laws are passed.

The HCEA Compliance Resource Center also contains a link to the proposed federal Physician Payments Sunshine Act and links to other industry codes and regulations, such as the revised versions of the PhRMA Code and the AdvaMed Code.

In addition to the new HCEA Compliance Resource Center, HCEA is dedicating an entire learning track to regulatory and compliance issues at its 2009 HCEA Annual Meeting, June 13-16 in Tampa. Featured workshops will include discussion of the revised PhRMA and AdvaMed Codes, updates on laws impacting healthcare marketing in Massachusetts and Washington, D.C., and regulatory issues related to continuing medical education (CME).

“The healthcare convention industry is undergoing unprecedented legislative and regulatory scrutiny as a result of the broader scrutiny being devoted to healthcare marketing,” said Eric Allen, HCEA Executive Vice President. “HCEA is providing this resource to give our members the specific, up-to-date information they need to be able to succeed in this environment.”

HCEA is the only association solely dedicated to improving the effectiveness of all conventions, meetings and exhibitions for the healthcare industry. HCEA represents organizations involved in healthcare exhibitions and conventions.