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/1083802
  • 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/1083802
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.

CHRISTOPHER NICKELE

Listed Specialty: Neurological Surgery
6325 HUMPHREYS BLVD, SEMMES-MURPHEY CLINIC, MEMPHIS, TN, 38120-2300

2018 Payments: At a Glance

31

payments

$1,589

payment total

12

companies paid this doctor

Types of Payments

Category Payments Payment Value
Food and Beverage
 31 $1,589

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†
SOLITAIRE

device

 $219
HYDROSOFT 3D COIL

device

 $167
LVIS

device

 $167
LVIS JR.

device

 $167
ALL SPINE STIMULATION

drug

 $144
ES2

device

 $132
NAV - NAV3 NAVIGATION PLATFORM

device

 $132
TRITANIUM

device

 $132
SURGICAL MICROSCOPES

device

 $130
CODMAN CERTAS

device

 $124
CODMAN HAKIM PRECISION VALVE

device

 $124
CUSA CLARITY

device

 $124
DURAGEN

device

 $124
DURASEAL EXACT

device

 $124
WALTER

device

 $121
CHECKPOINT STIMULATORS

device

 $119
ROSA

device

 $100
TLIF

device

 $91
TLX

device

 $91
X-CORE

device

 $91
† 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/1083802

Payment Details

When How Much Related To What For From Third Party Payee
Jun 26, 2018 $167 LVIS LVIS JR. HYDROSOFT 3D COIL Food and Beverage MICROVENTION, INC.
Apr 19, 2018 $132 NAV - NAV3 NAVIGATION PLATFORM ES2 TRITANIUM Food and Beverage STRYKER CORPORATION
Apr 29, 2018 $130 SURGICAL MICROSCOPES Food and Beverage LEICA MICROSYSTEMS INC.
Feb 16, 2018 $124 CODMAN CERTAS CUSA CLARITY DURAGEN DURASEAL EXACT CODMAN HAKIM PRECISION VALVE Food and Beverage INTEGRA LIFESCIENCES CORPORATION
Mar 2, 2018 $121 WALTER Food and Beverage ZIMMER BIOMET HOLDINGS, INC.
Aug 16, 2018 $119 CHECKPOINT STIMULATORS Food and Beverage CHECKPOINT SURGICAL, INC
Jan 18, 2018 $113 ALL SPINE STIMULATION Food and Beverage ORTHOFIX MEDICAL, INC.
Jul 20, 2018 $100 ROSA Food and Beverage ZIMMER BIOMET HOLDINGS, INC.
Apr 17, 2018 $91 X-CORE XLIF TLIF TLX Food and Beverage NUVASIVE, INC.
Nov 27, 2018 $67 ENTERPRISE 2 ENTERPRISE Food and Beverage MEDICAL DEVICE BUSINESS SERVICES, INC.
Oct 2, 2018 $47 No Listed Product Food and Beverage MEDTRONIC USA, INC.
May 2, 2018 $43 TREVO Food and Beverage STRYKER CORPORATION
Sep 19, 2018 $31 SOLITAIRE Food and Beverage MEDTRONIC USA, INC.
Jul 10, 2018 $28 SOLITAIRE Food and Beverage MEDTRONIC USA, INC.
Mar 15, 2018 $23 SOLITAIRE Food and Beverage MEDTRONIC USA, INC.
Apr 24, 2018 $23 SOLITAIRE Food and Beverage MEDTRONIC USA, INC.
Nov 26, 2018 $23 SOLITAIRE Food and Beverage MEDTRONIC USA, INC.
Jun 25, 2018 $21 ARTIS Q Food and Beverage SIEMENS MEDICAL SOLUTIONS USA, INC.
Oct 4, 2018 $21 SOLITAIRE Food and Beverage MEDTRONIC USA, INC.
Feb 1, 2018 $20 BRIGHTMATTER GUIDE/MODUS V Food and Beverage SYNAPTIVE MEDICAL 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/1083802

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.