Industry Relationships Of Plastic Surgeons In The Era Of Covid-19: A National Analysis Of Open Payments
Charalampos Siotos, MD, Jennifer Ferraro, MD,MBA, Kalliopi Siotou, DDS, Amir Dorafshar, MD.
Rush University Medical Center, Chicago, IL, USA.
PURPOSE: Clinical effects of COVID-19 are gradually being identified, however the consequences of the pandemic on health economics remain mostly unexplored. We analyzed the financial relationship between plastic surgeons and the industry pre-and post-COVID pandemic.
METHODS: The Open Payments Database was queried for general payments to physicians in 2019 and 2020. Data was aggregated for relative differences in yearly totals, number of payments, number of physicians receiving payment, type of payments and geographic distribution.
RESULTS: Total payment to all surgeons decreased from $996,175,808 and 1,391,083 payments in 2019 to $680,940,368.48(-32%) and 698,383(-50%) payments in 2020. Among plastic surgeons, total amount of payments had significantly decreased from $47,172,290 and 72,445 payments in 2019 to $32,549,567(-31%) and 30,299(-58%) payments in 2020. Variations among the different states were identified(Figure-1). The number of plastic surgeons who received payment also decreased(-24%). Hand surgeons had the greatest decrease(-59%), while craniofacial surgeons had the least(-9%). Types of payments to plastic surgeons by industry for gifts(-89%), travel/lodging(-83%), speaker fees(-68%), and entertainment(-65%) had the highest decline. In contrast, industry payments for charitable contributions(61%) and grants(273%) were considerably higher in 2020 despite the overall decrease in total payments.
CONCLUSION: COVID-19 resulted in an overall decrease of industry funding, significantly affecting plastic surgeons. As the pandemic evolves, hospital systems and physicians should be aware of the its impact on industry funding and better anticipate potential consequences. 
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