Mass. posts industry payments to health care providers

Massachusetts health officials published online today the most comprehensive state database in the country listing payments drug companies and medical device makers made to hospitals, doctors, nurses, pharmacists, and other health care providers in the state.

The report lists $35.7 million in payments from hundreds of companies for the six months between July 1 and Dec. 31, 2009, for speaking, consulting, food, educational programs, marketing studies, as well as charitable donations. Nearly half of that money -- $16.4 million -- went to physicians.