The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services’ (CMS) Open Payments review and dispute period for physicians and teaching hospitals begins April 1 and ends May 15. Physicians and teaching hospitals have the opportunity to review and dispute payments reported about them before the data are made publicly available on the Open Payments website on or by June 30. Review of the data before it becomes public is voluntary but strongly encouraged by CMS.
The CMS Open Payments program was initiated under the Sunshine provisions of the Affordable Care Act (ACA, P.L. 111-148 and P.L. 111-152)and requires applicable manufacturers of drugs, devices, biologicals, or medical supplies to report to CMS on an annual basis, certain payments or transfers of value made to physicians or teaching hospitals. The data are then published annually on the Open Payments website.
The AAMC, in consultation with CMS and the AAMC’s Forum on Conflict of Interest Steering Committee, March 26 released two resources designed for authorized representatives of teaching hospitals and to help institutions educate physicians about the Open Payment program and the upcoming review and dispute period. Additional resources and updates can be found on the AAMC Open Payments webpage.