[{"innerBlocks":[],"name":"core\/freeform","postId":1853,"blockType":{"name":"core\/freeform","keywords":[],"attributes":{"content":{"type":"string","source":"raw"},"lock":{"type":"object"}},"providesContext":[],"usesContext":[],"selectors":[],"supports":{"className":false,"customClassName":false,"reusable":false},"styles":[],"variations":[],"apiVersion":3,"title":"Classic","description":"Use the classic WordPress editor.","category":"text"},"originalContent":"The Open Payments database needs to improve the accuracy, precision and consistency of some of its data to ensure doctor financial transparency and help consumers better use the information.

That\u2019s the finding of an audit<\/a> by the Department of Health and Human Services\u2019 Office of Inspector General.

Developed by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, the Open Payments website is meant as an online resource to help consumers better understand the financial relationships between physicians and drug and medical device companies. Under the Sunshine Act, the industry is required to report financial interactions with individual physicians <\/b>to CMS, which the agency makes public through its program.

\u201cThe transparency of the Open Payments program reveals the nature and extent of these relationships and has the potential to discourage the development of inappropriate financial relationships,\u201d according to the OIG. \u201cHowever, the program can benefit the public only if the data reported are complete and accurate.\u201d

While nearly all of the 11.9 million records published on the Open Payments website met requirements, according to OIG\u2019s audit, fewer than 1 percent were found to be missing required data elements.

\u201cAlthough the Open Payments data elements reported to CMS were complete overall, we did identify records that contained inaccurate, imprecise, or inconsistent information,\u201d state the auditors. \u201cThese include records containing drug and device names that do not match the definitions of these data elements; national drug codes (NDCs) that were not found in multiple Food and Drug Administration databases or other drug information resources; and payment dates from a different reporting year.\u201d

To address the problem, OIG recommended in its report that CMS take a number of steps to improve the accuracy, precision, and consistency of the data, including:
Ensuring that records contain all required data.<\/li><\/ul>
Strengthening validation rules and revise data-element definitions so that actual drug and device names must be reported.<\/li><\/ul>
Revising the definition of the device-name data element so that the information reported is required to be more specific.<\/li><\/ul>
Ensuring that manufacturers and group purchasing organizations report valid NDCs for drugs.<\/li><\/ul>
CMS officials were not immediately available for comment regarding the OIG\u2019s findings. However, in the agency\u2019s response to the audit report, CMS concurred with all four of the recommendations to ensure that Open Payments records contain the required data.","saveContent":"The Open Payments database needs to improve the accuracy, precision and consistency of some of its data to ensure doctor financial transparency and help consumers better use the information.

That\u2019s the finding of an audit<\/a> by the Department of Health and Human Services\u2019 Office of Inspector General.

Developed by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, the Open Payments website is meant as an online resource to help consumers better understand the financial relationships between physicians and drug and medical device companies. Under the Sunshine Act, the industry is required to report financial interactions with individual physicians <\/b>to CMS, which the agency makes public through its program.

\u201cThe transparency of the Open Payments program reveals the nature and extent of these relationships and has the potential to discourage the development of inappropriate financial relationships,\u201d according to the OIG. \u201cHowever, the program can benefit the public only if the data reported are complete and accurate.\u201d

While nearly all of the 11.9 million records published on the Open Payments website met requirements, according to OIG\u2019s audit, fewer than 1 percent were found to be missing required data elements.

\u201cAlthough the Open Payments data elements reported to CMS were complete overall, we did identify records that contained inaccurate, imprecise, or inconsistent information,\u201d state the auditors. \u201cThese include records containing drug and device names that do not match the definitions of these data elements; national drug codes (NDCs) that were not found in multiple Food and Drug Administration databases or other drug information resources; and payment dates from a different reporting year.\u201d

To address the problem, OIG recommended in its report that CMS take a number of steps to improve the accuracy, precision, and consistency of the data, including:
Ensuring that records contain all required data.<\/li><\/ul>
Strengthening validation rules and revise data-element definitions so that actual drug and device names must be reported.<\/li><\/ul>
Revising the definition of the device-name data element so that the information reported is required to be more specific.<\/li><\/ul>
Ensuring that manufacturers and group purchasing organizations report valid NDCs for drugs.<\/li><\/ul>
CMS officials were not immediately available for comment regarding the OIG\u2019s findings. However, in the agency\u2019s response to the audit report, CMS concurred with all four of the recommendations to ensure that Open Payments records contain the required data.","order":0,"get_parent":{},"attributes":[],"attributesType":{"content":{"type":"string","source":"raw"},"lock":{"type":"object"}},"dynamicContent":""}]

OIG: Open Payments program needs to improve data

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