CMS revealed pharmaceutical and medical device companies paid physicians in Pennsylvania, New Jersey and Delaware $148 million in 2016, according to Philadelphia Business Journal.
CMS compiled the data as part of the Physician Payment Sunshine Act.
Here are five insights:
1. The payment broke down as follows:
• Compensation for activities other than consulting: $46.3 million
• Royalty/licensing: $44.6 million
2. The following companies topped the list for payments in the geographical area:
• Genentech: $11 million
• Zimmer Biomet: $7.7 million
• Stryker: $5 million
3. Orthopedic surgeons received the highest payments for royalties or licensing fees related to their inventions, and made up 13 of the top 20-paid physicians in the region.
4. Philadelphia-based Rothman Institute physicians represented four of the top-five paid.
5. Carl Deirmengian, MD, of Rothman Institute, ranked as the highest paid physician with $13.7 million in royalty and license payments in 2016. A large chunk of that money came from Zimmer Biomet. Dr. Deirmengian specializes in hip and knee replacements.