So, to provide some context to this website and the data (work in compliance for a healthcare organization):

Sunshine Act was to create a transparency for consumers and physicians. Keep in mind that the government is trying to keep up with the motives of large pharma companies (and others).

CMS ensures and audits that all USA healthcare organziations have a compliance program to ensure that certain measures are being met to enforce compliance against conflicts of interest.

For example, a physician is allowed payments received, these payments are calculated in two categories: services provided and/or travel expenses (which you see as food, hotels, etc.). Services provided could be: speaking as a guest to peers, speaking on DME (durable medical equipment), completing a questionnaire re: physician-related habits. All these expenses incurred are submitted by the company and the organization to which the physician is employed should also be requiring the physician disclose this earned income through a Conflicts of Interest (annual) questionnaire.

If a physician were to be part of an investigative study or research study, there is an internal review board (IRB) that will check to ensure the physician is not receiving kickbacks from the company that they are "researching" for.

Of course, there are physicians that scam the system, but the government is attempting to keep up with type of influence. Most organizations (I believe) no longer allow physicians to attend "pharma"-hosted events. If the physician believes that it would be beneficial to attend, they are to pay for their own attendance (travel, lodging, food, etc).