title: Examination of Industry Payments to Radiation Oncologists in 2014 Using the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services Open Payments Database.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To use the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services Open Payments database to characterize payments made to radiation oncologists and compare their payment profile with that of medical and surgical oncologists.
  
  
  METHODS
  The June 2015 release of the Open Payments database was accessed, containing all payments made to physicians in 2014. The general payments dataset was used for analysis. Data on payments made to medical, surgical, and radiation oncologists was obtained and compared. Within radiation oncology, data regarding payment category, sponsorship, and geographic distribution were identified. Basic statistics including mean, median, range, and sum were calculated by provider and by transaction.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Among the 3 oncologic specialties, radiation oncology had the smallest proportion (58%) of compensated physicians and the lowest mean ($1620) and median ($112) payment per provider. Surgical oncology had the highest proportion (84%) of compensated physicians, whereas medical oncology had the highest mean ($6371) and median ($448) payment per physician. Within radiation oncology, nonconsulting services accounted for the most money to physicians ($1,042,556), whereas the majority of the sponsors were medical device companies (52%). Radiation oncologists in the West accepted the most money ($2,041,603) of any US Census region.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Radiation oncologists in 2014 received a large number of payments from industry, although less than their medical or surgical counterparts. As the Open Payments database continues to be improved, it remains to be seen whether this information will be used by patients to inform choice of providers or by lawmakers to enact policy regulating physician-industry relationships.
authors.affiliation: Yale School of Medicine, New Haven, Connecticut.
authors.forename: Vikram
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Jairam
authors.affiliation: Department of Therapeutic Radiology, Yale School of Medicine, New Haven, Connecticut. Electronic address: james.b.yu@yale.edu.
authors.forename: James B
authors.initials: JB
authors.lastname: Yu
mesh_terms: D001709:Biotechnology / Q000191:economics*; D014487:Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, U.S.; D016265:Conflict of Interest; D016208:Databases, Factual; D030881:Disclosure / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence; D004345:Drug Industry / Q000191:economics*; D004864:Equipment and Supplies / Q000191:economics*; D013502:General Surgery / Q000191:economics / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D006801:Humans; D007221:Industry / Q000191:economics* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D007373:Interinstitutional Relations; D008004:Licensure / Q000191:economics / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D008495:Medical Oncology / Q000191:economics / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D018787:Radiation Oncology / Q000191:economics* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D012017:Referral and Consultation / Q000191:economics / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D060926:Remuneration; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D014481:United States