As physicians, it is important that we be proactive and ensure that payments and transfers of value are reported correctly. Information about the PPSA is available for review on the CMS website, www.cms.gov. In addition, the American Medical Association (www.ama-assn.org/ama/pub/advocacy/topics/sunshine-act-and-physician-financial-transparency-reports.page) is a great resource for up-to-date information about the PPSA.
The ACR is continually monitoring the PPSA as well as other external factors that affect physicians. As these rules go into effect and reporting begins, track your reportable payments and transfers of value to ensure your data on the CMS website accurately reflect your relationship with industry.
In addition to making sure that our own data are reported with accuracy, we will need to carefully follow society’s—and our patients’—interpretation of the data that will become publicly available. We may need to help shine some light on this new level of transparency associated with the PPSA.
Dr. Uknis is professor of medicine and senior associate dean for admissions and strategy at Temple University in Philadelphia. Contact her at [email protected].