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/1205167
  • 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/1205167
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.

BENJAMIN LOWENTRITT

Listed Specialty: Urology
3333 N CALVERT ST, STE 600, BALTIMORE, MD, 21218-2867

2018 Payments: At a Glance

155

payments

$60,814

payment total

22

companies paid this doctor

Types of Payments

Category Payments Payment Value
Promotional Speaking/Other
 14 $36,520
Travel and Lodging
 26 $8,558
Honoraria
 2 $5,500
Food and Beverage
 110 $5,345
Consulting
 1 $4,880
Education
 2 $11

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†
ERLEADA

drug

 $30,079
Payments with no listed product

N/A

 $9,454
XOFIGO

drug

 $9,361
ENZALUTAMIDE

drug

 $5,699
KEYTRUDA

drug

 $3,282
PROVENGE

drug

 $1,391
XTANDI

drug

 $464
ZYTIGA

drug

 $306
FIRMAGON

drug

 $185
ELIGARD

drug

 $129
DIS NAVIFY SOFTWARE

device

 $129
YONSA

drug

 $123
XIAFLEX

drug

 $92
PROLIA

drug

 $85
BOTOX

drug

 $70
XGEVA

drug

 $67
MYRBETRIQ

drug

 $57
AXUMIN

drug

 $48
AVEED

drug

 $36
NOCTIVA

drug

 $32
† 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/1205167

Payment Details

When How Much Related To What For From Third Party Payee
Feb 9, 2018 $4,880 ENZALUTAMIDE Consulting ASTELLAS PHARMA GLOBAL DEVELOPMENT
Sep 14, 2018 $4,100 ERLEADA Promotional Speaking/Other JANSSEN SCIENTIFIC AFFAIRS, LLC
Aug 29, 2018 $4,100 ERLEADA Promotional Speaking/Other JANSSEN SCIENTIFIC AFFAIRS, LLC
Mar 28, 2018 $4,100 ERLEADA Promotional Speaking/Other JANSSEN SCIENTIFIC AFFAIRS, LLC
Mar 30, 2018 $4,100 ERLEADA Promotional Speaking/Other JANSSEN BIOTECH, INC.
Nov 20, 2018 $4,100 ERLEADA Promotional Speaking/Other JANSSEN SCIENTIFIC AFFAIRS, LLC
Aug 6, 2018 $3,400 XOFIGO Promotional Speaking/Other BAYER HEALTHCARE PHARMACEUTICALS INC.
Mar 19, 2018 $3,400 XOFIGO Promotional Speaking/Other BAYER HEALTHCARE PHARMACEUTICALS INC.
Jun 20, 2018 $3,300 ERLEADA Promotional Speaking/Other JANSSEN SCIENTIFIC AFFAIRS, LLC
Nov 7, 2018 $3,185 KEYTRUDA Promotional Speaking/Other MERCK SHARP & DOHME CORPORATION
Jun 16, 2018 $3,000 No Listed Product Honoraria UROGPO LLC
Apr 12, 2018 $2,500 No Listed Product Honoraria UROGPO LLC
Jun 16, 2018 $1,135 No Listed Product Travel and Lodging UROGPO LLC
Jun 13, 2018 $1,000 ERLEADA Promotional Speaking/Other JANSSEN SCIENTIFIC AFFAIRS, LLC
Sep 5, 2018 $833 ERLEADA Travel and Lodging JANSSEN SCIENTIFIC AFFAIRS, LLC
Mar 9, 2018 $793 XOFIGO Travel and Lodging BAYER HEALTHCARE PHARMACEUTICALS INC.
Apr 12, 2018 $778 No Listed Product Travel and Lodging UROGPO LLC
Feb 9, 2018 $729 ENZALUTAMIDE Travel and Lodging ASTELLAS PHARMA GLOBAL DEVELOPMENT
Aug 21, 2018 $636 ERLEADA Travel and Lodging JANSSEN SCIENTIFIC AFFAIRS, LLC
Jun 16, 2018 $577 No Listed Product Food and Beverage UROGPO LLC

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/1205167

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.