INSYS Therapeutics, Teva Pharmaceuticals USA, and Janssen Pharmaceuticals were the three highest-paying companies, contributing $4.5 million, $869,155, and $854,251, respectively.
Payments included speaking fees ($6.2 million), meals ($1.8 million), travel ($730,824), consulting fees ($290,395), and education ($79,660). Investigators estimated that, with each meal a physician received, there was an associated 0.7% increase in opioid claims.
Dr. Hadland and fellow investigators do acknowledge the possibility of reverse causality, with physicians who already prescribe more opioids being more likely to receive industry payments.
Dr. Hadland and his team report no relevant financial disclosures.
SOURCE: S Hadland et al. JAMA Intern Med. 2018 May 14. doi: 10.1001/jamainternmed.2018.1999.