Reflections on the Physicians Payment Sunshine Act

The Sunshine Act--effects on physicians.

The new Physician Payments Sunshine Act requires public reporting of payments to physicians and teaching hospitals from pharmaceutical and medical device companies, as well as reporting of certain ownership interests (see box). Sponsored by Senators Charles Grassley (R-IA) and Herb Kohl (D-WI) and supported by consumer advocates, the law covers meals, honoraria, travel expenses, and grants from...

Shining light on the Sunshine Act.

INTRODUCTION Section 6002 of the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act, also known as the Sunshine Act, requires that manufacturers report payments or other transfers of value made to physicians and teaching hospitals [1,2]. The tracking of such payments goes into effect on August 1, 2013, and the new rules could affect radiologists. In this column, I pose and answer several questions rega...

Shedding Some Light on the Sunshine Act.

I read with interest Mr. Aicher’s editorial in the Aesthetic Surgery Journal, and wanted to echo and share some of my thoughts and concerns on this new government mandate. Approximately 2 years ago the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) was tasked by the federal government to oversee and report all payments made to health care providers, owing to concerns that payments from the phar...

Shining a light on the Sunshine Act.

Shedding light on what the Sunshine Act will mean for physicians.