A New Culture of Transparency: Industry Payments to Orthopedic Surgeons

• DOI: 10.3928/01477447-20160719-04
• Publication Date: 2016-07-26T15:11:33Z
• Authors: Joseph Lopez; Rizwan Ahmed; Sunjae Bae; Caitlin W. Hicks; Mostafa El Dafrawy; Greg M. Osgood; Dorry L. Segev
• Keywords: Subspecialty

Under the Physician Payments Sunshine Act, "payments or transfers of value" by biomedical companies to physicians must be disclosed through Open Program. Designed provide transparency financial transactions between medication and device manufacturers health care providers, Program shows relationships industry providers. Awareness this program is crucial because its interpretation misinterpretation patients, physicians, general public can affect patient care, clinical practice, research. This study evaluated nonresearch payments orthopedic surgeons. A retrospective cross-sectional review first wave Act data (August December 2013) was performed characterize surgeons subspecialty, amount, type, origin, geographic distribution. During 5-month period, (n=14,828) received $107,666,826, which included 3% those listed in 23% total amount paid. Of who payment, 45% less than $100 1% $100,000 more. Median payment (interquartile range) $119 ($34-$636), mean $7261±95,887. The largest an individual surgeon $7,849,711. 2 categories were royalty license fees (68%) consulting (13%). had substantial ties industry. payments, proportion (45%) only large (≥$100,000). offers insight into [Orthopedics. 2016; 39(6):e1058-e1062.].