CMS Updates Open Payments Data

Today, January 18, 2019, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) updated the Open Payments dataset to reflect changes to the data that took place since the last publication in June 2018. The updated dataset is now available for viewing at https://openpaymentsdata.cms.gov/.

CMS updates the Open Payments data at least once annually to include updates from disputes and other data corrections made since the initial publication of the data. The refreshed Open Payments Data Set includes:

Record Updates: Changes to non-disputed records that were made on or before November 15, 2018, are published.
Disputed Records: Dispute resolutions completed on or before December 31, 2018 are displayed with the updated information. Records with active disputes that remained unresolved as of December 31, 2018 are displayed as disputed.
Record Deletions: Records deleted before December 31, 2018 were removed from the Open Payments database. Records deleted after December 31, 2018, remained in the database, but will be removed during the next data publication in June 2019.

The following is not included in the data refresh:

Any records submitted to the Open Payments system for the first time after the close of the Program Year 2017 submission window (March 31, 2018).
Any records that were disputed and for which dispute resolution resulted in a change to the covered recipient.

Note: Updates not included in the refresh are due to the requirement that covered recipients must be provided an opportunity to review data attributed them for accuracy. For more information about the Open Payments Program timeline, visit www.cms.gov/openpayments

This financial data was submitted by applicable manufacturers and group purchasing organizations (GPOs).

(Back to top)

Open Payments Website Updates

CMS is pleased to announce that the Open Payments search tool (https://openpaymentsdata.cms.gov/) has been updated with the following features:

Query Builder

The Query Builder is a new feature located on the Open Payments search tool homepage. The Query Builder allows users to conduct payment searches not tied to an entity (e.g. physician, teaching hospital, company). The results organize payments by program year with the option to download the results for additional analysis.

Entity Profile Updates

Payment Types – The Payment types (e.g. General, Research, Ownership in Companies) have been converted to tabs to make this data easier to access and navigate between the different payment types
Summary Table - the Summary table detailing the aggregate payment totals by company is now consolidated with the top summary section and made accessible by a “Table” toggle button.
Nature of Payment Chart – the Nature of Payment chart has been updated to include a “company filter” to enable users to view the natures of payment breakdown from payments from a specific company.

(Back to top)

Questions – Contact Live Help Desk

Submit questions to the Help Desk via email at openpayments@cms.hhs.gov or by calling 1-855-326-8366 (TTY Line: 1-844-649-2766), Monday through Friday, from 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. (ET), excluding Federal holidays.

The Help Desk refers media inquiries to CMS’ Press Office for response.

Visit the Resources page on the Open Payments website for many of the above resources.