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/1194416
  • 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/1194416
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.

VISHAD SUKUL

Listed Specialty: Neurological Surgery
3601 THE VANDERBILT CLINIC, NASHVILLE, TN, 37232-5100

2018 Payments: At a Glance

87

payments

$14,719

payment total

7

companies paid this doctor

Types of Payments

Category Payments Payment Value
Promotional Speaking/Other
 2 $5,835
Consulting
 3 $3,098
Travel and Lodging
 10 $3,082
Food and Beverage
 72 $2,705

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†
ADAPTIVESTIM

device

 $3,214
Payments with no listed product

N/A

 $3,186
VECTRIS

device

 $2,944
ALGOVITA

device

 $1,853
SENZA SPINAL CORD STIMULATION SYSTEM

device

 $1,427
AXIUM INS DRG IPG

device

 $637
SPECTRA WAVEWRITER

device

 $401
PROCLAIM FAMILY OF SCS IPGS

device

 $255
AUTOFILL

device

 $238
PIVOX OBLIQUE LATERAL SPINAL SYSTEM

device

 $149
IFUSE IMPLANT

device

 $96
AXIUM SHEATH BRAIDED DRG

device

 $84
LIORESAL

device

 $82
INTELLIS

device

 $43
VERCISE

device

 $39
MULTI-LEAD TRIALING CABLE

device

 $39
ROSA BRAIN

device

 $14
SYNCHROMED

device

 $12
GENERAL DBS

device

 $5
VISUALASE

device

 $2
† 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
Sep 10, 2018 $2,944 VECTRIS Promotional Speaking/Other MEDTRONIC USA, INC.
Apr 26, 2018 $2,891 ADAPTIVESTIM Promotional Speaking/Other MEDTRONIC USA, INC.
Feb 27, 2018 $2,478 No Listed Product Consulting MEDTRONIC USA, INC.
Dec 1, 2018 $1,246 ALGOVITA Travel and Lodging NUVECTRA CORPORATION
Jul 10, 2018 $413 No Listed Product Consulting MEDTRONIC USA, INC.
Oct 30, 2018 $358 AXIUM INS DRG IPG Travel and Lodging ABBOTT LABORATORIES
Dec 1, 2018 $349 ALGOVITA Food and Beverage NUVECTRA CORPORATION
Dec 13, 2018 $272 SENZA SPINAL CORD STIMULATION SYSTEM Travel and Lodging NEVRO CORP.
Dec 14, 2018 $272 SENZA SPINAL CORD STIMULATION SYSTEM Travel and Lodging NEVRO CORP.
Dec 13, 2018 $252 SENZA SPINAL CORD STIMULATION SYSTEM Travel and Lodging NEVRO CORP.
Mar 10, 2018 $237 ADAPTIVESTIM Travel and Lodging MEDTRONIC USA, INC.
Jan 4, 2018 $207 No Listed Product Consulting MEDTRONIC USA, INC.
Dec 14, 2018 $190 SENZA SPINAL CORD STIMULATION SYSTEM Travel and Lodging NEVRO CORP.
Dec 14, 2018 $153 SENZA SPINAL CORD STIMULATION SYSTEM Travel and Lodging NEVRO CORP.
Aug 18, 2018 $149 PIVOX OBLIQUE LATERAL SPINAL SYSTEM Food and Beverage MEDTRONIC USA, INC.
Jan 11, 2018 $148 SPECTRA WAVEWRITER Food and Beverage BOSTON SCIENTIFIC CORPORATION
Jun 14, 2018 $130 PROCLAIM FAMILY OF SCS IPGS Food and Beverage ABBOTT LABORATORIES
Oct 27, 2018 $125 AXIUM INS DRG IPG Food and Beverage ABBOTT LABORATORIES
Aug 24, 2018 $124 SPECTRA WAVEWRITER Food and Beverage BOSTON SCIENTIFIC CORPORATION
May 30, 2018 $105 PROCLAIM FAMILY OF SCS IPGS Food and Beverage 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/1194416

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.