APA Urges Changes to Physician Payments Sunshine Act

Reflecting its strong support of transparency regarding transactions between psychiatrists and the pharmaceutical industry, APA has expressed support of most of the proposed rule implementing the Physician Payments Sunshine Act. In comments to the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS), however, APA cites several problems with the rule that it urges CMS to correct.

For example, APA wants a delay in manufacturer reporting until January 1, 2013, because CMS may not have the final rule in place until early summer, and the proposed rule requires manufacturer reporting to begin 90 days after the final rule is published. APA also maintains that CMS has underestimated the time it will take some physicians—especially those in solo private practice who do not have support staff—to check records and verify the accuracy of reports about their interactions with drug manufacturers. In addition, APA believes that clearer guidelines are needed than the ones CMS has issued on correcting reports of interactions with drug manufacturers that physicians believe are erroneous.

To read more about the Physician Payments Sunshine Act and APA's response to it, see the latest issue of Psychiatric News.

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