A neuromuscular‐based analysis of the open payments program

Abstract

Introduction: In August 2013, the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) Open Payments Program (OPP) made eligible payment information publicly available. Data about industry payments to neuromuscular neurologists are lacking. Method: Financial relationships were investigated between industry and US neuromuscular neurologists from January 2014 through December 2018 using the CMS OPP database. Results: The total annual payments increased more than 6-fold during the study period. The top 10% of physician-beneficiaries collected 80% to 90% of total industry payments except in 2014. In 2018, the most common drugs associated with payments to neuromuscular neurologists were nusinersen, vortioxetine, eteplirsen, alglucosidase alpha, edaravone, and intravenous immunoglobulin. Discussion: A substantial increase in the annual payments to neuromuscular physicians during the study period is likely due to the development of new treatments, including gene therapy. K E Y W O R D S clinical, health economics, neuromuscular, neuromuscular disorder, open payment 1 | INTRODUCTION Collaborations between physicians and the healthcare industry are ubiquitous. Approximately 94% of US physicians report some type of relationship with the industry, ranging from receiving food to receiving payments for various services. 1 Although such collaborations support the clinical and laboratory research needed to develop more effective therapies, they also carry potential conflicts of interest that may influence research outcomes and clinical decision making. For example, compared with nonindustry-sponsored studies, industry-sponsored research tends to show more favorable results and less evidence of harm. 2 Receipt of industry-sponsored meals is associated with increased brand-name drug prescription. 3 Not managing these conflicts of interest may undermine the integrity of medical research, place patient welfare at risk, and erode patient trust, thus undermining the physician responsibilities outlined in the Charter on Medical Professionalism. 4 Given the concern for industry-physician financial relationships, the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) Open

A Five-Year Analysis of Industry Payments to Sleep Neurologists From 2014 Through 2018

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Trends of Industry Payments in Neurology Subspecialties

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