Nine-Year Analysis of Industry Payments to Geriatricians in the United States Between 2014 and 2022.

Abstract

Financial interactions between physicians and the health care industry might create potential conflicts of interest among physicians. However, little is known about the financial relationships between geriatricians and the health care industry. This study aimed to explore the whole picture of geriatricians-industry financial relationships in the United States. Cross-sectional analysis using the Open Payments Database from 2014 to2022. All geriatricians and geriatric psychiatrists in the United States, identified from the National Plan and Provider Enumeration System database. This study assessed the extent of geriatrician-industry financial relationships in the United States, using the 2014-2022 Open Payments Database. Descriptive analysis was performed on the payment data. Payment trends were examined by interrupted time series analysis with generalized estimating equation models. Of 6688 physicians specializing in geriatric medicine or geriatric psychiatry, 4089 (61.1%) received 1 or more payments from the health care industry, totaling $249.6 million between 2014 and 2022. Even though 61.5% to 80.2% of geriatricians did not receive general payments each year, 4078 geriatricians (61.0%) received 1 or more general payments during the 9-year period. Median annual per-geriatrician general payment ranged from $116 to $199 in inflation-adjusted value. The top 1% and 5% of geriatricians received 62.4% ($18.2 million) and 82.2% ($24.0 million) of overall general payments, respectively; 88.3% of all industry payments were distributed for research purposes, but only 1.4% and 2.6% of all geriatricians received direct and associated research payments, respectively. The number of geriatricians receiving payments significantly decreased by 4.2% (95% CI,-4.8 to-3.6; P < .001) in general payments and 4.8% (95% CI,-9.8 to-0.6; P= .03) in associated research between 2014 and2019. More than 60% of geriatricians received at least 1 payment between 2014 and 2022. Although most payments were made for research purposes, both general and research payments have been concentrated on the small number of geriatricians.