A recent study in JAMA finds that 57% of physicians received a payment from pharmaceutical or medical device companies over the past ten years. What are the implications of these industry payments?

Millions in payments

The authors of the JAMA study examined industry payments to physicians through CMS’ Open Payments portal (you can use this tool to look up your doctor!), looking at payments made between 2013 and 2022, not including research grants. In total, drug and device companies paid about $12 billion to more than 800,000 physicians during this time period.

Industry payments were widespread, but also varied considerably. The median payment for doctors was $48, but some doctors were paid in the millions. For example, the average amount paid to the top 0.1% of orthopedic surgeons was over $4.8 million.

The largest payments were associated with Xarelto and Eliquis, two popular blood thinners (which may be subject to Medicare price negotiation in upcoming years) and robotic surgical systems on the medical device side. 

 

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