CMS stresses doctors' rights to challenge data collected under Sunshine Act

CHICAGO--Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services policymakers rolling out the Physician Payments Sunshine Act June 17 attempted to soothe physicians' fears over potentially false or misleading reports pointing to dubious financial relationships with medical device and pharmaceutical manufacturers. Anita Griner, CMS's deputy director for the Data Sharing & Partnership Group, said data accuracy is the agency's top priority as it implements the Sunshine Act, created under Section 6002 of the Affordable Care Act. In line with that goal, Griner said CMS is creating a range of educational tools to orient stakeholders toward their compliance responsibilities.