The federal government's effort to reveal the financial entanglements between doctors and drug companies is proving to be a long, hard slog. It's been four years since the Physician Payments Sunshine Act was passed by Congress as part of the same legislation approving President Obama's health care reform package. The act requires pharmaceutical companies, medical device makers and medical purchasing companies to report any payments, including meals and honoraria, that they've provided to doctors and teaching hospitals. In addition, the companies must report any physicians who have an ownership interest in their business.
