Industry-Sponsored Research Payments in Radiology: A National Open Payments Analysis

Area of Science:

• Medical research funding trends
• Radiology research
• Industry-sponsored research

Background:

• Industry funding is crucial for research amid declining federal support.
• Assessing trends in industry research payments to radiologists is important.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate the proportion and trends of industry research payments directed to radiologists from 2019 to 2024.
• To analyze the distribution of these payments by recipient type and payor.

Main Methods:

• Data on industry research payments were obtained from the CMS Open Payments Database (2019-2024).
• Payments were categorized into direct physician payments, teaching hospitals, and non-covered entities.
• Analysis included payment distribution by payor, recipient physician, and non-covered entity in 2024.

Main Results:

• Radiologists received 0.76% of all research payments in 2024, totaling $90.4 million (1.1% of total value).
• The proportion of industry research payments to radiology decreased from 1.34% in 2019 to 1.06% in 2024 (P=0.04).
• The majority of funding ($64.2 million) went to non-covered entities, with only $4.6 million in direct payments to radiologists.

Conclusions:

• Radiology's declining share of industry research funding suggests limited support.
• Funding predominantly flows through non-covered entities, with persistent gender disparities.
• Strategies are needed for professional societies and academic departments to enhance radiology's competitiveness for industry research funding.