A new California law will require physicians practicing in the state to provide patients with a written or electronic notice concerning the availability of the federal Open Payments database. The law will go into effect Jan. 1, according to a Dec. 13 news release from the California Medical Association.
Data is posted to the Open Payments database annually by June 30, detailing financial interactions drug and medical device manufacturers have made with physicians. These interactions can include research grants, consulting fees and travel reimbursements.
Physicians are able to review and dispute the data before it is made public during a 45-day pre-publication period from April 1 to May 15 each year. They can make a dispute with the reporting entity, who can then correct the information before it is published.
The law also requires physicians to post a notice on their website and in their offices informing visitors about the database.