Implant Makers Forced to Disclose Gifts to Orthopaedic Surgeons (DrugWatch)
By September 2013, a list of payments made to physicians by medical device or drug companies – including research grants, stock options, consulting fees and various gifts – will be available to the public.
The new regulation was built into the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (ObamaCare) and is called the Physician Payments Sunshine Act. The law requires that device and drug companies report all payments over $10 made to doctors in 2012 by March 31, 2013, in order to be made public by September.
The new regulation not only redefines the relationship between the government and the drug and device industry, but also between physicians and the industry. Experts believe the new database will be especially helpful to hip and knee implant patients by allowing them to determine whether their doctors are being compensated by companies making the devices.
Senators who introduced the bill believe that physicians who receive benefits from drug and device companies are influenced to use the more pricey products, possibly compromising treatment of the patient.
Ashley Glacel, spokeswoman for the Senate Special ...
