Open Payments data verification deadline approaching

Physicians have until May 15 to check data related to payments they’ve received from pharmaceutical and medical device companies and report any errors before the information becomes public June 30 through the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services’ (CMS) Open Payments Program.

The process is voluntary, but CMS strongly encourages physicians to help ensure the accuracy of the data attributed to them.

To promote a more transparent and accountable health care system, federal law requires medical product manufacturers — known as “reporting entities” — to report to CMS any payments or items of value to physicians and teaching hospitals — or “covered recipients.” Examples include research funding, meals, travel, gifts, or speaking fees. The law also requires certain manufacturers and group purchasing organizations to disclose any physician ownership or investment interests in those companies.

To review, affirm, or dispute the data attributed to you, you must be registered in the Open Payments system. To register, create a user account at portal.cms.gov, then create a profile and register in the Open Payments System. A Registration Quick Guide and video are available to assist in this process.

Once registered, log into the Open Payments System at portal.cms.gov and click the “Review and Dispute” button on the menu bar. Select your name and view your records. Each individual record can be affirmed or disputed. If the record is accurate, click “Affirm Record.”

If a record is not accurate, click the “Dispute” button. To resolve the dispute, you’ll work directly with the reporting entity. CMS does not mediate or facilitate the dispute process. Remember to provide your most up to date contact information when initiating a dispute, so the reporting entity can contact you directly to reach a dispute resolution.

For more information, see the “Review and Dispute” page on the CMS website. You may also direct questions to the CMS Help Desk at 1-855-326-8366 or openpayments@cms.hhs.gov

— Kent Moore, AAFP Senior Strategist for Physician Payment

Posted on April 17, 2023