Industry payments to pathologists in the USA between 2013 and 2021

Although proper physician-industry financial relationships are essential for improving patient care, they can also cause potential conflicts of interest. However, little is known about the pathologist-industry financial relationships. Using the 2013-2021 Open Payments Database, this cross-sectional study investigated both research and non-research payments to all pathologists in the USA. Payment data were analyzed descriptively. Of 21,664 pathologists, 49.5% of all pathologists have received payments totaling $356.7 million from the healthcare industry, of which 68.2% were research payments. Median per-physician general and associated research payments (IQR) were $145($49-$575) and $70,926 ($17,450-$299,285) over the nine years. The top 1% of pathologists receiving general payments received 68.0% of all general payments. Male pathologists specializing in blood banking and transfusion medicine and hematopathology are significantly more likely than those not to receive research and non-research payments. This first study provides valuable insights into the financial relationships between pathologists and the healthcare industry.

Automated summary

This study examined the financial relationships between pathologists and the healthcare industry in the USA from 2013 to 2021. The findings showed that 49.5% of pathologists received payments totaling $356.7 million, with 68.2% of these payments being for research. Male pathologists specializing in blood banking and transfusion medicine and hematopathology were more likely to receive both research and non-research payments.