Majority of Physicians Accepted Pharma Payments in 2014

ProPublica recently conducted an analysis on the relationship between physician prescribing practices and money received from pharmaceutical companies in 2014. Here are some key findings from the report:

·         Nearly 90% of cardiologists received payments from a drug or device company in 2014.

·         7 in 10 internists and family practitioners received payments from a drug or device company in 2014.

·         Nationally, about 3 in 4 doctors across five common specialties received at least one payment in 2014.

·         Nevada has the highest proportion (90.3%) of doctors who received payments in 2014.

·         Internists who received no payments had an average brand-name prescribing rate of about 20%.

·         Internists who received more than $5,000/year prescribed brand-name drugs 30% of the time.

Source: NPR, March 17, 2016