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CMS Open Payments, It Might Surprise You

anthonymtrezza

Updated: May 22, 2024

I receive a text from a colleague inquiring about "CMS Open Payments." I wasn't sure exactly what she meant. She linked me to a website. The website indicated that I had been paid a total of $75.00 in 2022, by three different pharmaceutical companies. My colleague had a slightly higher amount. I was completely confused. What is happening?


The Physician Payments Sunshine Act was passed in 2010, under the Affordable Care Act. This act created transparent documenting for money given by medical product manufacturers. When a manufacturer, like a pharmaceutical company, provides you any goods they have to document the value of these goods. For physicians, the data has been collected since 2013. In 2021, the act was expanded to include Nurse Practitioners.


This act was created out of concern. The concern was that medical production companies were giving large sums of money to providers, businesses, and politicians. The act provides a public and transparent tool to check on the funding.


For me, I work at a community practice. Drug reps are there, ad nauseam, trying to push their new medication. Sometimes, I might be interested in the information. Especially if it is a new medications, Vraylar, Rexulti, and Sublocade. However, hearing all of the information from the person who made the product does not necessarily influence my decision to prescribe. I'm always skeptical of new medications until I hear and see otherwise. Regardless, when reps provide education they would sometimes buy us lunch. When I checked my Open Payments it specifies a date, them amount provided and for what. All of mine were described as "Food and Beverage." Each one is itemized from each pharmaceutical company that visited us to provide education. I wish that I had known this because I would have declined any food.


I think it's important for APRNs to know this. As prescribers, we understand the "culture" of pharmaceutical companies and that they often offer food or other supplies. However, consider that it will be posted on a website for potential clients to peruse. To the layperson, it looks like you have a QuidProQuo relationship. Is the value of $75.00 in a year egregious? I don't believe so. But, consider what it appears and what it represents.


I had another colleague who checked her Open Payments. She had itemized payments for "food and beverage" due to attending a pharmacy dinner. She thought the payment amount was inflated based on what she ate. Lastly, I have other colleagues who want to be knowledgeable and attend dinners regularly. They have total payments well over $1,000.


I have one colleague disputing some of the payments. But, they often make you sign for anything and everything. So, I imagine that the dispute will not go far.


I'm not saying that it's wrong or bad to attend a pharmaceutical/genetic testing dinner. t is important to know what is being publicly tied to your name.


You can review your own Open Payments (and any other colleague for that matter).







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