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    CMS Publishes Proposed Rule on Physician Payment Sunshine Law

    February 03, 2012, 01:45 PM

    On December 14, 2011, the Center for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) released a notice of proposed rulemaking implementing the Physician Payment Sunshine provisions of Section 6002 of the Affordable Care Act. The Sunshine provisions seek to make publicly available information about payments or other transfers of value to physicians made by manufacturers of drugs and medical devices and supplies covered by Medicare and Medicaid. Under the proposed rule, manufacturers must annually report all payments, gifts, consulting fees, research activities, speaking fees, meals, and travel reimbursements paid to physicians and teaching hospitals to the Secretary of Health and Human Services. The definition of manufacturer would extend to include entities under common ownership with a manufacturer that are involved in manufacturing, marketing, selling or distributing covered products. The proposed rule would also make available to the public information about physician ownership or investment interests in manufacturers or group purchasing organizations. CMS is accepting public comments on the proposed rule through February 17, 2012. A copy of the proposed rule is available here. –Meagan J. Thomasson