2010
Sunshine Provision Included in the New Health Care Law (05/05/2010) — Financial relationships with industry have been under increased scrutiny in recent years. In response to growing concerns of potential conflicts of interest between physicians and the pharmaceutical and medical device industries, Congress included the physician payment sunshine provision (section 6002) in the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act, which mandates public reporting of financial ties with industry beginning in 2013. Learn more »

2009
Physician Payment Reporting Legislation Reintroduced (01/28/2009) — Senators Charles Grassley (R-IA) and Herb Kohl (D-WI) introduced the “Physician Payments Sunshine Act of 2009” on January 22, 2009. The legislation will mandate pharmaceutical and medical device companies to publicly report all money or gifts given to physicians exceeding a cumulative value of $100 per year. Learn more »

2008
MedPAC finalizes public reporting recommendations for physicians' financial relationships (11/12/2008) — On November 6, 2008, the Medicare Payment Advisory Commission (MedPAC) voted on a series of recommendations for Congress to consider for public reporting of industry financial relationships with physicians and hospitals. The recommendations, if enacted, will mandate new federal reporting requirements for financial relationships between physicians, drug and device manufactures, hospitals and ambulatory surgical centers.  Learn more »

MedPac Discussed the Public Reporting of Physician’s Financial Relationships (10/08/2008) — on October 2nd 2008, the MedPAC meet to discuss 4 draft recommendations regarding public reporting of physician’s financial relationships. These recommendations should be included in a new version of the Sunshine Act which will be re-introduced next year. Learn more »

MedPAC Discusses Policy Options for Reporting Physicians’ Financial Relationships (09/17/2008) — The Medicare Payment Advisory Commission (MedPAC) met on September 4, 2008 to continue its review on public reporting of physicians’ financial relationships. The purpose was to seek guidance to shape draft recommendations on a proposed framework for collecting data on physicians’ financial relationships with drug and device companies, hospitals and ambulatory surgical centers (ASCs). Learn more »

Legislation Would Require Drug and Device Manufacturers to Disclose Payments to Physicians (03/2008) — Senators Charles Grassley (R-IA) and Herb Kohl (D-WI) and Representative Peter DeFazio (D-OR) introduced the Physician Payments Sunshine Act, which would mandate public disclosure by drug, device and medical equipment manufacturers of payments over $25 made to physicians. Learn more »