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/106627
  • 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/106627
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.

ARNOLD VARDIMAN

Listed Specialty: Neurological Surgery
4410 MEDICAL DR, SUITE 610, SAN ANTONIO, TX, 78229-6306

2018 Payments: At a Glance

141

payments

$165,769

payment total

6

companies paid this doctor

Types of Payments

Category Payments Payment Value
Promotional Speaking/Other
 19 $73,063
Consulting
 32 $47,154
Royalty or License
 4 $27,617
Travel and Lodging
 22 $15,796
Food and Beverage
 64 $2,140

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†
EXCELSIUS - GPS

device

 $68,324
ACTIVA

device

 $30,219
HAVEN

device

 $27,617
INFINITY DBS PULSE GENERATORS

device

 $23,250
I7

device

 $12,900
CALIBER

device

 $1,377
Payments with no listed product

N/A

 $909
STEALTHSTATION

device

 $673
FORTIFY

device

 $120
O-ARM-ST

device

 $78
RECLAIM

device

 $72
DEEP BRAIN STIMULATION

device

 $34
PROCLAIM FAMILY OF SCS IPGS

device

 $33
CURVE

device

 $32
SPINE

device

 $32
SCS IPGS

device

 $30
ROBOTICS

device

 $20
SPECTRA WAVEWRITER

device

 $17
MAZORX - RENAISSANCE

device

 $13
SENZA SPINAL CORD STIMULATION SYSTEM

device

 $11
† 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.

For ease of printing, only the 20 drugs and devices with the highest payments are displayed. For a complete list, please visit: https://projects.propublica.org/docdollars/doctors/pid/106627

Payment Details

When How Much Related To What For From Third Party Payee
Mar 13, 2018 $12,900 I7 Promotional Speaking/Other MEDTRONIC USA, INC.
Mar 31, 2018 $7,352 HAVEN Royalty or License GLOBUS MEDICAL, INC.
Jun 30, 2018 $6,903 HAVEN Royalty or License GLOBUS MEDICAL, INC.
Sep 30, 2018 $6,727 HAVEN Royalty or License GLOBUS MEDICAL, INC.
Dec 31, 2018 $6,635 HAVEN Royalty or License GLOBUS MEDICAL, INC.
Oct 27, 2018 $6,300 EXCELSIUS - GPS Promotional Speaking/Other GLOBUS MEDICAL, INC.
Nov 6, 2018 $6,300 EXCELSIUS - GPS Consulting GLOBUS MEDICAL, INC.
Sep 22, 2018 $5,850 EXCELSIUS - GPS Promotional Speaking/Other GLOBUS MEDICAL, INC.
Feb 10, 2018 $5,600 EXCELSIUS - GPS Promotional Speaking/Other GLOBUS MEDICAL, INC.
May 23, 2018 $5,600 EXCELSIUS - GPS Consulting GLOBUS MEDICAL, INC.
Sep 6, 2018 $4,800 ACTIVA Promotional Speaking/Other MEDTRONIC USA, INC.
Oct 27, 2018 $4,163 EXCELSIUS - GPS Promotional Speaking/Other GLOBUS MEDICAL, INC.
Sep 22, 2018 $3,924 EXCELSIUS - GPS Travel and Lodging GLOBUS MEDICAL, INC.
Mar 21, 2018 $3,700 ACTIVA Promotional Speaking/Other MEDTRONIC USA, INC.
Oct 16, 2018 $3,700 ACTIVA Promotional Speaking/Other MEDTRONIC USA, INC.
Apr 11, 2018 $3,700 ACTIVA Promotional Speaking/Other MEDTRONIC USA, INC.
Apr 24, 2018 $3,700 ACTIVA Promotional Speaking/Other MEDTRONIC USA, INC.
May 23, 2018 $3,700 ACTIVA Promotional Speaking/Other MEDTRONIC USA, INC.
Oct 26, 2018 $3,180 EXCELSIUS - GPS Travel and Lodging GLOBUS MEDICAL, INC.
Feb 21, 2018 $3,050 ACTIVA Promotional Speaking/Other MEDTRONIC USA, INC.

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/106627

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.