The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) recently launched the National Physician Payment Transparency Program (Open Payments) website which provides additional resources including compliance tools, fact sheets and frequently asked questions for manufacturers, applicable group purchasing organizations (GPOs), teaching hospitals and physicians who will be affected by the Physician Payments Sunshine Act (PPSA) Open Payments provision.
The Physician Payments Sunshine Act requires manufacturers to report all payments to physicians, including consulting fees, honoraria, and travel and entertainment expenses. The law also requires the Department of Health and Human Services to publicly disclose on the Internet the identity of the manufacturer, physician, and the drug or device associated with the payment. Additionally, the law requires manufacturers and applicable GPOs to report all ownership or investment interests held by physicians or members of their family, and to make that information public.
HSCA and its group purchasing organization (GPO) members have consistently supported the efforts of Senator Grassley (R-IA), former Senator Herb Kohl (D-WI) and others to increase transparency through the Physician Payments Sunshine Act in the belief that increased disclosure will help eliminate conflicts of interest, and ultimately provide patients with the tools they need to make informed health choices.
To find out more about the National Physician Payment Transparency Program, click here.
