The nation's largest drug and medical device manufacturers have for years entertained doctors with consulting fees, free trips and by sponsoring educational conferences that physicians attend. Those financial ties don't have to be disclosed in most cases and often lead to arrangements that some say improperly influence medical care.

Under the threat of regulation from Congress, drug and medical industries pledge to be more forthcoming about their spending. A dozen of the nation's leading drug and device makers have told Sen. Charles Grassley, R-Iowa, that they have plans or are working on plans to publicly disclose grants to outside groups. The details will be provided on each company's Web sites.