Glossary
Filters
a
-Acquisitions
Nature of paymentBuyout payments made to covered recipients who have ownership interest in a company that has been acquired.
The Acquisitions Nature of Payment category is available beginning with Program Year 2021 data. Previous program years do not include this Nature of Payment category
Applicable Group Purchasing Organization (GPO)
General definitionsApplicable group purchasing organizations (GPOs) are entities that operate in the United States and purchase, arrange for or negotiate the purchase of covered drugs, devices, biologicals, or medical supplies for a group of individuals or entities, but not solely for use by the entity itself.Applicable Manufacturers
General definitionsApplicable manufacturers are entities that operate in the United States and (1) are engaged in the production, preparation, propagation, compounding, or conversion of a covered drug, device, biological, or medical supply, but not if such covered drug, device, biological or medical supply is solely for use by or within the entity itself or by the entity's own patients (this definition does not include distributors or wholesalers (including, but not limited to, repackagers, relabelers, and kit assemblers) that do not hold title to any covered drug, device, biological or medical supply); or (2) are entities under common ownership with an entity described in part (1) of this definition, which provides assistance or support to such entities with respect to the production, preparation, propagation, compounding, conversion, marketing, promotion, sale, or distribution of a covered drug, device, biological or medical supply. (See 42 CFR 403.902)Associated Research
Type of PaymentFunding for a research project or study where the covered recipient is named as a principal investigator. This type of funding does not necessarily indicate that the covered recipient received direct funds from the reporting entity. The principal investigator may have varying degrees of involvement with the research project / study. For more information about a research payment’s covered recipient or principal investigator, view the payment details
c
-Certified nurse midwife
General definitionsA registered nurse who has successfully completed a program of study and clinical experience meeting guidelines prescribed by the Secretary, or has been certified by an organization recognized by the Secretary.Certified registered nurse anesthetist
General definitionsA certified registered nurse anesthetist licensed by the State who meets such education, training, and other requirements relating to anesthesia services and related care as the Secretary may prescribe. In prescribing such requirements the Secretary may use the same requirements as those established by a national organization for the certification of nurse anesthetists. Such term also includes, as prescribed by the Secretary, an anesthesiologist assistant.Charitable contribution
Nature of paymentA payment or transfer of value made to an organization with tax-exempt status under the Internal Revenue Code of 1986. Charitable contributions do not include payments or transfers of value that would be more specifically described by one of the other payment categories.
Clinical nurse specialist
General definitionsAn individual who:
- is a registered nurse and is licensed to practice nursing in the State in which the clinical nurse specialist services are performed; and
- Holds a master’s degree in a defined clinical area of nursing from an accredited educational institution.
Compensation for serving as faculty or as a speaker for a non-accredited and noncertified continuing education program
Nature of paymentCompensation for serving as faculty or as a speaker for a non-accredited and non-certified continuing education program. This Nature of Payment category is applicable to Program Years 2013 - 2020. Beginning with Program Year 2021, this is considered under the "Compensation for serving as faculty or as a speaker for a medical education program"Compensation for serving as faculty or as a speaker for medical education program
Nature of paymentBeginning with Program Year 2021 the accredited/certified and unaccredited/non-certified continuing education program categories are combined into one, “Compensation for serving as faculty or as a speaker for a medical education program.”
Program Years prior to 2021 include:
- Compensation for serving as faculty or as a speaker for an accredited or certified continuing education program
- Compensation for serving as faculty or as a speaker for a non-accredited and noncertified continuing education program
Consulting fee
Nature of paymentA payment that a company makes to a physician for advice and expertise about a medical product or treatment. Consulting fees are typically arranged with a written agreement between a company and physician based on the company’s particular business needs. These payments often vary depending on the consulting physician’s expertise.
Covered Recipient
General definitionsAny physician, physician assistant, nurse practitioner, clinical nurse specialist, certified registered nurse anesthetist, or certified nurse-midwife who is not a bona fide employee of the applicable manufacturer that is reporting the payment; or a teaching hospital, which is any institution that received a payment under 1886(d)(5)(B), 1886(h), or 1886(s) of the Act during the last calendar year for which such information is available.Current or prospective ownership or investment interest
Nature of paymentOwnership or investment interest currently held by physicians and teaching hospitals, as well as ownership or investment interest that could potentially be held by physicians and teaching hospitals.
d
-Debt forgiveness
Nature of paymentForgiving the debt of a covered recipient, a physician owner, or the immediate family of the physician.
The Debt Forgiveness Nature of Payment category is added beginning with Program Year 2021 data. Previous program years do not include this Nature of Payment category.
e
-Education
Nature of paymentPayments or transfers of value for classes, activities, programs, or events that involve learning or teaching a profession skill. This payment can include things like textbooks and medical journal articles.Entertainment
Nature of paymentAttendance at recreational, cultural, sporting or other events that would generally have a cost.
f
-Food and beverage
Nature of paymentFood and beverage.
g
-General Payment
Type of PaymentPayments that are not associated with a research study.Gift
Nature of paymentA general category which includes anything a reporting entity provides to a covered recipient that does not fit into another Nature of Payment category.Grant
Nature of paymentA payment to a covered recipient to support a specific cause or activity
h
-Honoraria
Nature of paymentSimilar to consulting fees, but generally reserved for a brief, one-time activity. Another distinction is that honoraria are generally provided for services without a set price.
l
-Long-term medical supply or device loan
Nature of paymentThe loan of supplies or a device for a total of 91 days or longer, regardless of whether the loan was 90 consecutive days
The Long-term medical supply or device loan Nature of Payment category is added beginning with Program Year 2021 data. Previous program years do not include this Nature of Payment category.
m
-Medical education faculty/speaker compensation
Nature of paymentCompensation for serving as faculty or as a speaker for medical education program.
n
-National Provider Identifier (NPI)
General definitionsAn NPI, or National Provider Identifier, is a unique, random number assigned to each covered health care provider. It is used to identify the provider in administrative and financial transactions according to Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) standards. NPIs are assigned through the National Plan and Provider Enumeration.Natures of Payment
Nature of PaymentNatures of payment categories are categories that must be used to describe why a payment or other transfer of value was made (See 42 CFR 403.904(e)(2)). The categories are:
- Acquisitions (applicable to Program Year 2021 and subsequent program years)
- Charitable contributions
- Compensation for services other than consulting, including serving as faculty or as a speaker at an event other than a continuing education program
- Compensation for serving as faculty or as a speaker for an accredited or certified continuing education program (Applicable to Program Years 2013 - 2020)
- Compensation for serving as faculty or as a speaker for an unaccredited and non-certified continuing education program (Applicable to Program Years 2013 - 2020)
- Compensation for serving as faculty or as a speaker for medical education program (Applicable beginning with Program Year 2021 and subsequent program years)
- Consulting fees
- Current or prospective ownership or investment interest
- Debt Forgiveness (Applicable beginning with Program Year 2021 and subsequent program years)
- Education
- Entertainment
- Food and beverage
- Gift
- Grant
- Honoraria
- Long-term medical supply or device loan (Applicable beginning with Program Year 2021 and subsequent program years)
- Royalty or license
- Space rental or facility fees (teaching hospitals only)
- Travel and lodging
Newly Added Covered Recipients
General definitionsOpen Payments expanded in January 2021 to include five new provider types: physician assistants, nurse practitioners, clinical nurse specialists, certified registered nurse anesthetists & anesthesiologist assistants, and certified nurse-midwives.Non-Physician Practitioner Covered Recipient
General definitionsHealth care providers who practice either in collaboration with or under the supervision of a physician, including physician assistants, nurse practitioners, and clinical nurse specialists, are referred to as non-physician practitioners (NPPs).Nurse practitioner
General definitionsA nurse practitioner who performs such services as such individual is legally authorized to perform (in the State in which the individual performs such services) in accordance with State law (or the State regulatory mechanism provided by State law), and who meets such training, education, and experience requirements (or any combination thereof) as the Secretary may prescribe in regulations.
o
-Ownership
Type of PaymentOwnership and investment interest in companies, which describes both the actual dollar amount invested and the value of the ownership or investment interest. Records may have one or both of these values associated with them.
Amount Invested
The total dollar value of the ownership interest gained by the physician (or the physician's immediate family members) in the Applicable Manufacturer or Applicable GPO during the reporting year only. Value reported is for the entire calendar year.
Value of Interest
The current cumulative value of ownership or investment interest held by the physician (or the physician's immediate family members) in the Applicable Manufacturer of Applicable GPO as of the most recent feasible valuation date preceding the reporting date. Please note that this amount represents the cumulative current value of all ownership or investment interests held by the physician (or the physician's immediate family members) in the Applicable Manufacturer or Applicable GPO.
Ownership or Investment Interest
General definitionsOwnership and investment interest includes, but is not limited to:
- Stock
- Stock option(s) (other than those received as compensation, until they are exercised)
- Partnership share(s)
- Limited liability company membership(s)
- Loans
- Bonds or
- Other financial instruments that are secured with an entity’s property or revenue or a portion of that property or revenue
This may be direct or indirect and through debt, equity or other means (See 42 CFR 403.902). Please note that there are exceptions to the definition.
p
-Physician
General definitionsFor the purposes of Open Payments, a “physician” is any of the following types of professionals that are legally authorized by the state to practice, regardless of whether they are Medicare, Medicaid, or Children's Health Insurance Program (CHIP) providers:
- Doctors of Medicine or Osteopathic Medicine
- Doctors of Dental Medicine or Dental Surgery
- Doctors of Podiatric Medicine
- Doctors of Optometry
- Chiropractors
Note: Medical residents are excluded from the definition of physicians for the purpose of this program.
Physician Assistant
General definitionsA physician assistant who performs such services as such individual is legally authorized to perform (in the State in which the individual performs such services) in accordance with State law (or the State regulatory mechanism provided by State law), and who meets such training, education, and experience requirements (or any combination thereof) as the Secretary may prescribe in regulations.
r
-Reporting Entities
General definitionsReporting entities are applicable manufacturers or applicable GPOs. See definitions for applicable manufacturer and applicable group purchasing organization (GPO) for more details.Research
General definitionsResearch is a systematic investigation to develop or contribute to generalized knowledge about public health, including behavioral and social-sciences research. This definition includes basic and applied research, and product development. (See 42 CFR 403.902)Research Payment
Type of PaymentPayments that are associated with a research study.Royalty or license
Nature of paymentPayments based on sales of products that use a physician’s intellectual property.
s
-Space rental or facility fees
Nature of paymentPayments or fees associated with renting a space or facility. This nature of payment category is applicable only to Teaching Hospital covered recipients.
t
-Teaching Hospital
General definitionsFor the purposes of Open Payments, “teaching hospitals” are hospitals that received payment for Medicare direct graduate medical education (GME), inpatient prospective payment system (IPPS) indirect medical education (IME), or psychiatric hospital IME programs during the last calendar year for which such information is available.Third Parties
General definitionsThird parties are other individuals or entities, whether or not they operate in the United States.Travel and lodging
Nature of paymentAny compensation for costs associated with travel, such as hotel fees, airfare, mileage, and cab fare.Transfers of Value
General definitionsPayments or other transfers of value are anything of value given by an applicable manufacturer or applicable GPO to a covered recipient or physician owner/investor that does not fall within one of the excluded categories in the rule. (See 42 CFR 403.902)