(0908) Characterization of Industry Payments to Otologists/Neurotologists: An Analysis of the Open Payments Database in 2022

Introduction: The US Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) Open Payments database (OPD) details payments from industry to physicians. This database was created by the Physician Payments Sunshine Act to increase transparency in industry funding. To our knowledge, no study has characterized payment transactions specifically in otology/neurotology. Our study aims to assess the value and nature of payments received by otologists/neurotologists in the United States in 2022.

Methods: The CMS OPD was queried to identify all otologists/neurotologists who received a payment in 2022. Information was collected on the nature, amount, associated sponsor, and month of each payment.

Results: A total of 2,034 payments, totaling $786,441, to 234 otologists/neurotologists were documented in 2022. The median payment was $31.73 (IQR, $18.37-$108). Most payments were for food and beverage (82.2%), travel and lodging (11.85%), and consulting fees (3.1%). The three fees that had the highest payment amounts were consulting fees (23.33%), royalties or licenses (19.63%), and travel and lodging (13.38%). The top 5 companies associated with the greatest payments were Advanced Bionics, MED-EL Corporation, Medtronic Inc., Cochlear Ltd, and Stryker Corporation. Most transactions occurred in May and October, around the time of major national otolaryngology conferences. Of all payments received, the top otolaryngology-related products associated with the highest payment values were cochlear implants ($509,854.61), eustachian tube dilation ($32,827.87), and ossicular prostheses ($27,489.20). Many payments received were non-otology-related payments, particularly those related to sinus and allergy.

Conclusions: The majority of otologists/neurotologists received industry payments in 2022. Cochlear implants made up the majority of payments, underlying its heavy influence within otology.