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/1192417
  • 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/1192417
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.

GARRETT WOBST

Listed Specialty: Podiatrist, Foot & Ankle Surgery
701 8TH AVE NW, ABERDEEN, SD, 57401-1865

2018 Payments: At a Glance

19

payments

$2,631

payment total

7

companies paid this doctor

Types of Payments

Category Payments Payment Value
Travel and Lodging
 7 $1,428
Education
 1 $646
Food and Beverage
 11 $557

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†
COLAG

device

 $678
COLINK

device

 $678
Payments with no listed product

N/A

 $646
5MS

device

 $530
ALPS PLATES AND INSTRUMENTS

device

 $522
TRABECULAR METAL (TM) ANKLE

device

 $445
BIOVANCE

drug

 $127
INSTRUMENTS-GENERAL SURGERY

device

 $80
INSTRUMENTS-MICROSURGERY

device

 $80
INSTRUMENTS-ORTHOPEDIC

device

 $80
INSTRUMENTS-PLASTIC AND RECONSTRUCTIVE

device

 $80
TRIWAY TTC NAIL

device

 $55
REVERSE SHOULDER

device

 $52
TITAN-SHOULDER

device

 $52
BILAYER WOUND MATRIX BWM

device

 $40
FLOWABLE

device

 $40
IDRT

device

 $40
INTEGRA WOUND MATRIX IWM

device

 $40
PRIMATRIX

device

 $40
FLEXITOUCH

device

 $27
† 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/1192417

Payment Details

All payments are displayed, the largest appearing on top.

When How Much Related To What For From Third Party Payee
Sep 12, 2018 $646 No Listed Product Education RSW MEDICAL COMPANY, INC.
Aug 27, 2018 $530 COLINK COLAG 5MS Travel and Lodging IN2BONES USA, LLC
Apr 4, 2018 $488 ALPS PLATES AND INSTRUMENTS Travel and Lodging ZIMMER BIOMET HOLDINGS, INC.
May 10, 2018 $196 TRABECULAR METAL (TM) ANKLE Travel and Lodging ZIMMER BIOMET HOLDINGS, INC.
May 3, 2018 $127 BIOVANCE Food and Beverage ALLIQUA BIOMEDICAL, INC.
Dec 31, 2018 $93 COLINK COLAG Travel and Lodging IN2BONES USA, LLC
May 25, 2018 $90 TRABECULAR METAL (TM) ANKLE Food and Beverage ZIMMER BIOMET HOLDINGS, INC.
May 7, 2018 $80 INSTRUMENTS-ORTHOPEDIC INSTRUMENTS-PLASTIC AND RECONSTRUCTIVE INSTRUMENTS-MICROSURGERY INSTRUMENTS-GENERAL SURGERY Food and Beverage INTEGRA LIFESCIENCES CORPORATION
Nov 2, 2018 $55 TRIWAY TTC NAIL COLINK COLAG Food and Beverage IN2BONES USA, LLC
Jun 19, 2018 $52 TITAN-SHOULDER REVERSE SHOULDER Food and Beverage INTEGRA LIFESCIENCES CORPORATION
May 11, 2018 $44 TRABECULAR METAL (TM) ANKLE Travel and Lodging ZIMMER BIOMET HOLDINGS, INC.
May 11, 2018 $44 TRABECULAR METAL (TM) ANKLE Travel and Lodging ZIMMER BIOMET HOLDINGS, INC.
Aug 7, 2018 $40 BILAYER WOUND MATRIX BWM INTEGRA WOUND MATRIX IWM PRIMATRIX IDRT FLOWABLE Food and Beverage INTEGRA LIFESCIENCES CORPORATION
Apr 4, 2018 $34 ALPS PLATES AND INSTRUMENTS Travel and Lodging ZIMMER BIOMET HOLDINGS, INC.
May 9, 2018 $28 TRABECULAR METAL (TM) ANKLE Food and Beverage ZIMMER BIOMET HOLDINGS, INC.
Apr 10, 2018 $27 FLEXITOUCH ACTITOUCH ENTRE Food and Beverage TACTILE SYSTEMS TECHNOLOGY INC
May 10, 2018 $23 TRABECULAR METAL (TM) ANKLE Food and Beverage ZIMMER BIOMET HOLDINGS, INC.
May 2, 2018 $21 TRABECULAR METAL (TM) ANKLE Food and Beverage ZIMMER BIOMET HOLDINGS, INC.
Jan 24, 2018 $14 PURAPLY AM Food and Beverage ORGANOGENESIS INC.

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.