A history of transparency

For years, Medtronic has led the industry in guidelines and policies around appropriate collaboration for product development, education, training, speaking engagements, and advisory services. We were also among the first companies to voluntarily report payments to U.S. physicians on our website.

1990: We developed Business Conduct Standards to ensure that ethical standards are understood and followed by all Medtronic employees.

2002 – 2009: We helped lead development of the U.S. trade industry’s AdvaMed Code of Ethics.

2008: We actively supported the introduction of early versions of the Physician Payments Sunshine Act. Congress passed a version of the Sunshine legislation in 2010 in the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (PPACA).

2009: We committed to voluntary disclosure of consulting services and intellectual property licensing compensation for U.S. physicians, and developed guiding principles and standards around physician collaborations and payments. See Guiding Principles.

2010: Medtronic was one of the first companies to voluntarily disclose certain consulting and intellectual property licensing payments to U.S. physicians on our public website, well ahead of Sunshine Act disclosure requirements. We took on this voluntary reporting obligation because knew it was the right business practice and to minimize potential conflicts of interest.

2014: Payments to physicians and teaching hospitals by Medtronic and other manufacturers are disclosed in CMS' Open Payments website.