Types of payment, explained

A meal or drink provided to the clinician, almost always during a presentation about a product at their clinic or hospital. This is the most common reported payment by a wide margin and the smallest by value.

Flights, hotels and mileage, typically to attend an advisory board, investigator meeting or conference where the clinician is speaking or consulting.

Fees for presenting, whether at a company-organised programme or an accredited education event. Speaker-bureau work is the largest single category of fee income in this data.

Payment for advisory work — sitting on an advisory board, reviewing a trial protocol, giving clinical input on a device. Reported separately from speaking.

The value of textbooks, reprints, anatomical models and similar materials given to a clinician.

An item of value with no strings attached. Rare and small since the reporting rules tightened.

Payment to a clinician who invented or co-invented a product, for licensing that invention. A handful of people receive very large sums here, and it is why the biggest totals on this site are almost always device inventors rather than promoters.

Debt forgiveness, long-term device loans, acquisitions and anything else that does not fit the categories above.

Money supporting a defined piece of work, often education or a quality initiative. Distinct from the research programme, which CMS publishes as a separate file.

Space rental or facility fees, reportable only for teaching hospitals rather than individuals.

Tickets, hospitality and similar. Very rare in current data.

A donation made to a charity at the clinician's request or in their name. The clinician receives nothing personally.

An ownership or investment interest held by the clinician or an immediate family member. CMS publishes these in a separate file from general payments.