CMS recently released data collected through the Open Payments Program in accordance with the Affordable Care Act from applicable manufacturers and group purchasing organizations (GPOs) about payments and other transfers that they made to physicians and teaching hospitals in 2014.  In summary, CMS reported that 1,444 companies made $6.49 billion in payments to physicians and teaching hospitals. 

The financial data collected by CMS is categorized into three areas: (1) general payments ($2.56 billion), such as payments for travel and lodging or food and beverage; (2) research payments ($3.23 billion); and (3) ownership or investment interest ($703 million).  The public may search much of the data published by CMS on the CMS website.  For example, information such as the name, address, and specialty of physicians who were reported as the recipient of a payment or as the principal investigator named on a research project may be found through the search tool.  More information on the Open Payments Program, including which GPOs or manufacturers are required to submit data, may be found here. 

Reporter, Christina A. Gonzalez, Houston, +1 713 276 7340, cagonzalez@kslaw.com.