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/128643
  • 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/128643
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.

BRUCE FRANKEL

Listed Specialty: Neurological Surgery
171 ASHLEY AVE, CHARLESTON, SC, 29425-0001

2018 Payments: At a Glance

35

payments

$252,085

payment total

10

companies paid this doctor

Types of Payments

Category Payments Payment Value
Royalty or License
 8 $237K
Consulting
 2 $9,125
Entertainment
 11 $2,672
Travel and Lodging
 1 $2,516
Food and Beverage
 13 $1,027

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†
Payments with no listed product

N/A

 $242K
EVEREST SPINAL SYSTEM

device

 $4,746
LIBRA

device

 $3,125
EVEREST

device

 $1,215
TRITANIUM

device

 $402
EXPAREL

drug

 $219
VIPER

device

 $139
ARTIS PHENO

device

 $131
CONCORDE

device

 $119
NEW PRODUCT DEVELOPMENT

device

 $108
MAKO

device

 $86
ALL THOROCOLUMBAR PRODUCTS

drug

 $58
ACTIFUSE

device

 $23
† 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
Aug 13, 2018 $61,084 No Listed Product Royalty or License ORTHOFIX MEDICAL, INC.
Nov 13, 2018 $57,973 No Listed Product Royalty or License ORTHOFIX MEDICAL, INC.
May 10, 2018 $56,229 No Listed Product Royalty or License ORTHOFIX MEDICAL, INC.
Feb 12, 2018 $55,562 No Listed Product Royalty or License ORTHOFIX MEDICAL, INC.
Mar 2, 2018 $6,000 No Listed Product Consulting JOIMAX, INC.
Apr 3, 2018 $3,125 LIBRA Consulting SPINAL BALANCE INC NeuroVent, LLC
Mar 2, 2018 $2,516 No Listed Product Travel and Lodging JOIMAX, INC.
Aug 14, 2018 $2,250 EVEREST SPINAL SYSTEM Royalty or License K2M, INC. NeuroVent LLC
May 15, 2018 $1,485 EVEREST SPINAL SYSTEM Royalty or License K2M, INC. NeuroVent LLC
Nov 14, 2018 $1,215 EVEREST Royalty or License STRYKER CORPORATION NeuroVent LLC
Feb 16, 2018 $945 EVEREST SPINAL SYSTEM Royalty or License K2M, INC. NeuroVent LLC
May 31, 2018 $812 No Listed Product Entertainment HITACHI HEALTHCARE AMERICAS CORP. American Airlines
Mar 10, 2018 $657 No Listed Product Entertainment HITACHI HEALTHCARE AMERICAS CORP. Delta Airlines
Jan 17, 2018 $544 No Listed Product Entertainment HITACHI HEALTHCARE AMERICAS CORP. American Airlines
Dec 7, 2018 $406 No Listed Product Entertainment HITACHI HEALTHCARE AMERICAS CORP. Delta Air Lines
Dec 20, 2018 $150 TRITANIUM Food and Beverage STRYKER CORPORATION
Jun 27, 2018 $131 ARTIS PHENO Food and Beverage SIEMENS MEDICAL SOLUTIONS USA, INC.
Oct 9, 2018 $119 VIPER EXPAREL CONCORDE Food and Beverage MEDICAL DEVICE BUSINESS SERVICES, INC.
Sep 25, 2018 $118 TRITANIUM Food and Beverage STRYKER CORPORATION
Feb 19, 2018 $117 No Listed Product Entertainment HITACHI HEALTHCARE AMERICAS CORP. Sea salt

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/128643

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.