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Industry Payments to Plastic Surgeons, 2013 to 2018: Who's Getting Paid?
Meredith G. Moore, Kyle W. Singerman, Ryan M. Gobble
University of Cincinnati College of Medicine
2020-02-14
Presenter: Kyle W. Singerman
Affidavit:
This project was conceived of by the medical student Meredith Moore who also handled statistical analysis and project organization. Kyle Singerman (another medical student) gathered/analyzed data and worked with Meredith to draft abstracts.
Director Name: Ryan Gobble
Author Category: Medical Student
Presentation Category: Clinical
Abstract Category: General Reconstruction
BACKGROUND: The Physician Payments Sunshine Act of 2010 mandated that all industry payments to physicians be publicly disclosed. To date, industry support of plastic surgeons has not been quantitatively characterized. This industry funding may bias clinical practice through the hypothesized influence of drug and device companies.
We seek to evaluate payment trends from 2013-2018 and characteristics across plastic surgeon recipients of industry payments.
METHODS: We cross-referenced those in the 2019 American Society of Plastic Surgeons (ASPS) member database with Center for Medicare and Medicaid Open Payments Database Physician Profile ID indicating industry funds received within the study period. We categorized surgeons by years since ABPS certification, practice region, and academic affiliation.
RESULTS: A sum of $89,436,100 (247,614 payments) was received by 3,859 plastic surgeons. The top 1% of earners (39) by dollar amount received 52% of industry dollars to plastic surgeons; of these, 9 (23%) were academic. Overall, 465 (12%) surgeons were academic and received fewer industry payments per recipient than their non-academic counterparts (55 vs. 65, p<0.05). Geographic variation exists in amount of payments received (p<0.005) with those in the Southern region receiving the most. Those plastic surgeons with 30+ years of experience received fewer payments (p<0.001).
CONCLUSION: Over half of all industry dollars transferred went to just 1% of ASPS plastic surgeons receiving payments between 2013-2018. Industry support to plastic surgeons varies based on practice region, with those in the South receiving more payments. More seasoned plastic surgeons receive fewer industry payments, as do academic plastic surgeons.
