The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) released today information regarding registration in the Open Payments system for physicians and teaching hospitals interested in reviewing and verifying data reported by pharmaceutical, biotechnology and medical device manufacturers and group purchasing organizations (GPOs) in connection with the Physician Payments Sunshine Law prior to public disclosure of this information by CMS.  Registration in the Open Payments system is voluntary. Specifically:

• Phase 1, which begins June 1, will allow physicians and teaching hospitals to register in CMS’ Enterprise Portal.
• Phase 2, which will begin in July, will allow physicians and teaching hospitals to register in the Open Payments system and review and dispute data submitted by manufacturers and GPOs.  

CMS will be releasing additional guidance regarding the CMS registration process and Phase 2 timeline in the coming weeks.

Additionally, for manufacturers and GPOs, CMS stated that Phase 2 of the Open Payments reporting program will begin in the end of May or June and last for at least 30 days.  This Phase 2 for manufacturers and GPOs includes the submission of detailed information regarding payments and transfers of value provided to physicians and teaching hospitals and attestation to the completeness and accuracy of the information reported to CMS.  Phase I of the program ended March 31, 2014.  CMS also plans to release soon tutorial videos related to the Phase 2 process.