Industry payments to pediatricians in the United States between 2013 and 2021

Abstract

Objectives To evaluate the extent of research and non-research industry payments to pediatricians over a nine-year period between 2013 and 2021. Study design Using the general and research payments from the Open Payments Database between 2013 and 2021, this cross-sectional analysis examined the industry payments made to physicians whose primary specialty was pediatrics in the National Plan and Provider Enumeration System. Descriptive analyses were performed for the payment data overall and other pediatrician demographics. Trends in industry payments were analyzed by generalized estimating equation models. Results Of 99,764 pediatricians, 59,984 (60.1%) received a total of $297 million (12.8%) in general and $2 billion in associated research payments over the nine years. Median nine-year per-physician payments were $288 (interquartile range [IQR]: $88-958) in general and $65,343 (IQR: $16,763-255,208) in associated research payments. Pediatric allergists and immunologists received the highest per-physician median payments ($1,565), followed by pediatric endocrinologists ($1,368) and pediatric transplant hepatologists ($1,006). Male pediatricians were 1.06 (95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.05-1.09, p<0.001), 1.92 (95% CI: 1.73-2.13, p<0.001), and 1.56 (95% CI: 1.49-1.65, p<0.001) times more likely to receive general, direct research, and associated research payments than females, respectively. The number of pediatricians receiving general payments annually decreased by 1.5% (95% CI: -1.7% to -1.4%, p<0.001). Conclusions Most pediatricians received relatively small amounts of general payments and the number of pediatricians receiving the payments decreased annually.