Dollars for Docs: Talk With Your Doctor

https://projects.propublica.org/docdollars/
You can print this page and show it to your doctor.

This database was last updated in October 2019 and should only be used as a historical snapshot. Newer data is available at the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services Open Payments site.

ProPublica's Dollars for Docs database lets you search for payments to U.S.-based doctors made by pharmaceutical and medical device companies between August 2013 and December 2018. The disclosure of these payments is required under the Physician Payments Sunshine Act, a provision of the 2010 Affordable Care Act.

About This Information

  • The information that appears here comes directly from the federal government. Companies must attest to its accuracy, and doctors have the ability to contest information they believe is in error.
  • This site includes payments for such activities as speaking, consulting, meals, travel and royalties. It does not include payments for clinical research.
  • It is legal for companies to make payments to doctors as long as the payments are not a kickback or inducement to use their products.
  • Some doctors say collaborative relationships, particularly those involving research, are necessary to develop new treatments and cures. But many ethicists have raised questions about the payments, and studies show that they may influence doctors' prescribing decisions.
  • Only you can decide if this matters to you and if so, whether you want to talk with your doctor about it. If you plan to talk with your doctor (or if you already have), please help us by filling out this short survey: propub.li/participate-d4d

Preparing for Your Conversation

If you decide you'd like to talk to your doctor about this, please keep in mind:

  • Many health care professionals in our database have similar names, so you should start by asking your doctor if the person mentioned in this payment record is really him/her.
  • Your doctor may not know he or she is listed as receiving payments, especially if the payments are small. You can direct your doctor to this site (the URL will be printed at the top of the payment record) or directly to the government's site here: https://openpaymentsdata.cms.gov/physician/101050
  • Some doctors are happy to discuss this information with you. Others might not be. The best approach is to ask questions and to not be accusatory.

Questions You Might Want to Ask

  • Is this you?
  • What type of work do you do with these companies?
  • Have you prescribed me any drugs that are manufactured by companies you've taken payments from?
  • Are there non-drug alternatives that I may want to consider first?
  • Are there less expensive generic alternatives to the drugs you have prescribed?
  • What devices have you used in my care that are manufactured by companies you've taken payments from?

Dollars for Docs: Talk With Your Doctor

https://projects.propublica.org/docdollars/doctors/pid/101050
If you spot an error, please let us know at [email protected].

This database was last updated in October 2019 and should only be used as a historical snapshot. Newer data is available at the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services Open Payments site.

MELVIN SCHEINMAN

Listed Specialty: Cardiovascular Disease
500 PARNASSUS AVE, SAN FRANCISCO, CA, 94143-2203

2018 Payments: At a Glance

90

payments

$57,463

payment total

9

companies paid this doctor

Types of Payments

Category Payments Payment Value
Consulting
 18 $32,470
Nonaccredited Training
 4 $12,500
Travel and Lodging
 26 $8,949
Food and Beverage
 42 $3,544

Drugs & Devices in 2018

Totals listed below account for all payments from that mention this product. Beginning in 2016, the government began classifying products as drugs, devices, biologics or medical supplies. Below, you will see drugs (drugs and biologics) and devices (devices and medical supplies). If a payment record mentions more than one product, the entire value will be included in each of those products. When no products are listed, they are not included in the list below.

Product Name Product Type Payments†
Payments with no listed product

N/A

 $19,522
CARTO 3 SYSTEM

device

 $13,997
ENSITE CARDIAC MAPPING SYSTEM

device

 $7,066
NO ASSOCIATED PRODUCT

device

 $6,244
CARDIAC MAPPING SYSTEM

device

 $4,460
MERLIN CONNECTIVITY AND REMOTE

device

 $4,460
PACEMAKERS

device

 $573
BIPOLAR PACING CATHETERS

device

 $164
GENERAL THERAPIES

device

 $155
EMBLEM

device

 $150
ASSURITY PACEMAKER

device

 $145
TACTICATH QUARTZ CFA CATHETER

device

 $142
CRT-DS

device

 $128
XARELTO

drug

 $90
LIFEVEST

device

 $87
AZURE

device

 $65
PRADAXA

drug

 $15
† May not add up to dollar total at top of page, since a payment record may not be associated with any product or can be associated with several products.

Payment Details

When How Much Related To What For From Third Party Payee
Mar 1, 2018 $4,900 CARTO 3 SYSTEM Consulting MEDICAL DEVICE BUSINESS SERVICES, INC.
May 22, 2018 $3,750 No Listed Product Nonaccredited Training BIOTRONIK INC.
Nov 14, 2018 $3,750 No Listed Product Nonaccredited Training BIOTRONIK INC.
Aug 2, 2018 $3,568 ENSITE CARDIAC MAPPING SYSTEM Consulting ABBOTT LABORATORIES
Sep 13, 2018 $3,568 MERLIN CONNECTIVITY AND REMOTE Consulting ABBOTT LABORATORIES
Nov 8, 2018 $3,500 CARTO 3 SYSTEM Consulting MEDICAL DEVICE BUSINESS SERVICES, INC.
Jan 3, 2018 $2,500 No Listed Product Nonaccredited Training BIOTRONIK INC.
Apr 3, 2018 $2,500 No Listed Product Nonaccredited Training BIOTRONIK INC.
Jan 19, 2018 $2,450 CARTO 3 SYSTEM Consulting MEDICAL DEVICE BUSINESS SERVICES, INC.
Oct 18, 2018 $2,230 NO ASSOCIATED PRODUCT Consulting ABBOTT LABORATORIES
Oct 18, 2018 $2,230 NO ASSOCIATED PRODUCT Consulting ABBOTT LABORATORIES
Aug 2, 2018 $1,784 ENSITE CARDIAC MAPPING SYSTEM Consulting ABBOTT LABORATORIES
Mar 22, 2018 $1,561 CARDIAC MAPPING SYSTEM Consulting ABBOTT LABORATORIES
Mar 22, 2018 $1,561 CARDIAC MAPPING SYSTEM Consulting ABBOTT LABORATORIES
Mar 22, 2018 $1,338 CARDIAC MAPPING SYSTEM Consulting ABBOTT LABORATORIES
Dec 13, 2018 $1,050 No Listed Product Travel and Lodging BIOTRONIK INC.
Jan 9, 2018 $970 CARTO 3 SYSTEM Travel and Lodging MEDICAL DEVICE BUSINESS SERVICES, INC.
Sep 13, 2018 $892 MERLIN CONNECTIVITY AND REMOTE Consulting ABBOTT LABORATORIES
Oct 18, 2018 $892 NO ASSOCIATED PRODUCT Consulting ABBOTT LABORATORIES
Oct 18, 2018 $892 NO ASSOCIATED PRODUCT Consulting ABBOTT LABORATORIES

For ease of printing, 20 payments are displayed, the largest appearing on top. For a full list of payments, please visit: https://projects.propublica.org/docdollars/doctors/pid/101050

Note: We have made some effort to normalize the data and eliminate duplicates, but the data is primarily as it has been reported by the companies to the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services. To purchase the normalized data, please visit the ProPublica Data Store. If you spot an error, please let us know at [email protected].

This site includes data published by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services on June 28, 2019.