The Open Payments program, established by CMS, tracks payments made by pharmaceutical manufacturers (including device companies) to healthcare professionals (such as doctors) and teaching hospitals in an effort to promote transparency. Open Payments CMS was created as a part of the Affordable Care Act and is designed to give individuals access to public information regarding their healthcare provider’s payment history. By having this access, patients can make informed decisions about their care based on their health care provider's payment history. In addition, every year, healthcare providers must confirm that their payment data is accurate and in compliance with federal law.