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/119164
  • 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/119164
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.

RALPH PFEIFFER

Listed Specialty: Vascular Surgery
4300 W MAIN ST, STE 24, DOTHAN, AL, 36305-1054

2018 Payments: At a Glance

39

payments

$2,127

payment total

12

companies paid this doctor

Types of Payments

Category Payments Payment Value
Food and Beverage
 39 $2,127

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†
OVATION

device

 $1,444
AFX

device

 $286
APLIGRAF

drug

 $220
Payments with no listed product

N/A

 $155
C3 DELIVERY SYSTEM

device

 $72
PERIPHERAL ORBITAL ATHERECTOMY SYSTEM

device

 $35
CLEVIPREX

drug

 $31
CONFORMABLE TAG THORACIC ENDOPROSTHESIS

device

 $22
DRYSEAL SHEATH

device

 $21
DRYSEAL SHEATH WITH LUBRICIOUS C

device

 $20
WELLBUTRIN XL

drug

 $20
PHASIX

device

 $19
LIFESTENT

device

 $16
LUTONIX

device

 $16
HET

device

 $15
STELLAREX

device

 $14
CLOSUREFAST

device

 $11
RESTOREFLO

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.

Payment Details

When How Much Related To What For From Third Party Payee
Oct 4, 2018 $439 OVATION Food and Beverage ENDOLOGIX, INC.
Mar 20, 2018 $390 OVATION Food and Beverage ENDOLOGIX, INC.
Aug 6, 2018 $329 OVATION Food and Beverage ENDOLOGIX, INC.
Apr 16, 2018 $286 AFX OVATION Food and Beverage ENDOLOGIX, INC.
Jun 28, 2018 $94 No Listed Product Food and Beverage ENDOLOGIX, INC.
Jun 29, 2018 $61 No Listed Product Food and Beverage ENDOLOGIX, INC.
Jun 12, 2018 $28 C3 DELIVERY SYSTEM Food and Beverage W. L. GORE & ASSOCIATES, INC.
Sep 13, 2018 $23 C3 DELIVERY SYSTEM Food and Beverage W. L. GORE & ASSOCIATES, INC.
Dec 3, 2018 $22 CONFORMABLE TAG THORACIC ENDOPROSTHESIS Food and Beverage W. L. GORE & ASSOCIATES, INC.
Feb 13, 2018 $21 C3 DELIVERY SYSTEM Food and Beverage W. L. GORE & ASSOCIATES, INC.
Apr 18, 2018 $21 DRYSEAL SHEATH Food and Beverage W. L. GORE & ASSOCIATES, INC.
Jul 24, 2018 $20 DRYSEAL SHEATH WITH LUBRICIOUS C Food and Beverage W. L. GORE & ASSOCIATES, INC.
Jul 14, 2018 $20 WELLBUTRIN XL Food and Beverage VALEANT PHARMACEUTICALS NORTH AMERICA LLC
Oct 8, 2018 $19 PHASIX Food and Beverage DAVOL INC.
Oct 18, 2018 $17 APLIGRAF Food and Beverage ORGANOGENESIS INC.
Mar 2, 2018 $17 APLIGRAF Food and Beverage ORGANOGENESIS INC.
Aug 30, 2018 $17 CLEVIPREX Food and Beverage CHIESI USA, INC.
Sep 17, 2018 $16 APLIGRAF Food and Beverage ORGANOGENESIS INC.
Aug 16, 2018 $16 APLIGRAF Food and Beverage ORGANOGENESIS INC.
Jul 23, 2018 $16 APLIGRAF Food and Beverage ORGANOGENESIS 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/119164

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.