Understanding the CMS Open Payments
Open Payments, managed by the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS), is a national disclosure program created by the Affordable Care Act (ACA). Open Payments is a federally mandated program that collects and publishes information about payments that reporting entities make to covered recipients. The Open Payments database is publicly accessible. The program promotes transparency and accountability by helping consumers understand the financial relationships between pharmaceutical and medical device companies, physicians, physician assistants, nurse practitioners, clinical nurse specialists, certified registered nurse anesthetists, anesthesiologist assistants, and certified nurse midwives, otherwise referred to as Non-Physician Practitioners (NPP), and teaching hospitals. The healthcare providers included in Open