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/129108
  • 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/129108
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.


AARON KULWICKI

Listed Specialty: Surgery
6001 E BROAD ST, COLUMBUS, OH, 43213-1502

2018 Payments: At a Glance

41

payments

$6,031

payment total

12

companies paid this doctor

Types of Payments

Category Payments Payment Value
Food and Beverage
41 $6,031

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
INDIGO

device

$2,719
SUPERA PERIPHERAL STENT SYSTEM

device

$565
ABSOLUTE PRO VASCULAR STENT SYSTEM

device

$494
EXCLUDER AAA ENDOPROSTHESIS

device

$307
VASCULAR LITHOTRIPSY

device

$307
PENUMBRA SYSTEM

device

$244
C3 DELIVERY SYSTEM

device

$198
VIABAHN VBX BALLOON EXPANDABLE ENDOPROSTHESIS

device

$190
EXCLUDER ILIAC BRANCH ENDOPROSTHESIS

device

$174
TAG THORACIC ENDOPROSTHESIS

device

$158
VIABAHN ENDOPROSTHESIS WITH HEPARIN BIOACTIVE SURFACE

device

$126
PERCLOSE PROGLIDE SUTURE MEDIATED CLOSURE SYSTEM

device

$123
PENUMBRA RUBY COIL

device

$108
Payments with no listed product

N/A

$97
ELIQUIS

drug

$55
COOK MEDICAL ZENITH

device

$39
YOSPRALA

drug

$28
ZONTIVITY

drug

$28
REVEAL LINQ

device

$18
DRYSEAL FLEX SHEATH

device

$18
† 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/129108

Payment Details

When How Much Related To What For From Third Party Payee
Jun 25, 2018 $2,400 INDIGO Food and Beverage PENUMBRA, INC.
May 3, 2018 $190 VIABAHN VBX BALLOON EXPANDABLE ENDOPROSTHESIS Food and Beverage W. L. GORE & ASSOCIATES, INC.
Mar 19, 2018 $181 INDIGO Food and Beverage PENUMBRA, INC.
Apr 21, 2018 $174 EXCLUDER ILIAC BRANCH ENDOPROSTHESIS Food and Beverage W. L. GORE & ASSOCIATES, INC.
Sep 11, 2018 $173 VASCULAR LITHOTRIPSY Food and Beverage SHOCKWAVE MEDICAL, INC
Jun 30, 2018 $167 ABSOLUTE PRO VASCULAR STENT SYSTEM Food and Beverage ABBOTT LABORATORIES
Aug 14, 2018 $164 EXCLUDER AAA ENDOPROSTHESIS Food and Beverage W. L. GORE & ASSOCIATES, INC.
Dec 6, 2018 $163 ABSOLUTE PRO VASCULAR STENT SYSTEM Food and Beverage ABBOTT LABORATORIES
Dec 6, 2018 $163 ABSOLUTE PRO VASCULAR STENT SYSTEM Food and Beverage ABBOTT LABORATORIES
Nov 4, 2018 $161 C3 DELIVERY SYSTEM Food and Beverage W. L. GORE & ASSOCIATES, INC.
Oct 24, 2018 $159 PENUMBRA SYSTEM Food and Beverage PENUMBRA, INC.
Mar 16, 2018 $158 TAG THORACIC ENDOPROSTHESIS Food and Beverage W. L. GORE & ASSOCIATES, INC.
Mar 27, 2018 $157 SUPERA PERIPHERAL STENT SYSTEM Food and Beverage ABBOTT LABORATORIES
Jan 30, 2018 $157 SUPERA PERIPHERAL STENT SYSTEM Food and Beverage ABBOTT LABORATORIES
Apr 26, 2018 $151 SUPERA PERIPHERAL STENT SYSTEM Food and Beverage ABBOTT LABORATORIES
Mar 18, 2018 $138 INDIGO Food and Beverage PENUMBRA, INC.
Oct 10, 2018 $134 VASCULAR LITHOTRIPSY Food and Beverage SHOCKWAVE MEDICAL, INC
Jan 23, 2018 $126 VIABAHN ENDOPROSTHESIS WITH HEPARIN BIOACTIVE SURFACE Food and Beverage W. L. GORE & ASSOCIATES, INC.
Mar 27, 2018 $123 PERCLOSE PROGLIDE SUTURE MEDIATED CLOSURE SYSTEM Food and Beverage ABBOTT LABORATORIES
Apr 10, 2018 $108 PENUMBRA RUBY COIL Food and Beverage PENUMBRA, 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/129108

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.