Sunshine Act & Open Payments Program
What is the Sunshine Act and the Open Payments Program?
The Sunshine Act was created to make doctors and their involvement with drug and device companies more transparent. CMS (Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services) created a website that lists payments made to physicians by these companies.
Can I see how much is paid to my doctors by the various reporting companies?
Yes, this information is made available to you on the CMS website. You can explore the data base and search for your doctor’s name by going to OpenPaymentsData.cms.gov.
What kind of payments will be reported?
Drug and device companies work hand-in-hand with your doctor to improve the quality of patient care. These relationships provide educational opportunities to help keep doctors up to date on the latest treatments.
Some examples of reported payments:
- Educational speaking engagements
- Travel expenses related to speaking at a conference or consulting
- Food and drink related to medical meetings
- Education, like continuing medical courses and textbooks
- Research activities
Where can I get more information?
Visit the link above. In addition, an Open Payment video provided by CMS https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=47IAP4SSVso