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/1308344
  • 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/1308344
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.


AMY GARCIA

Listed Specialty: Gynecology
4901 LANG AVE NE, SUITE 203, ALBUQUERQUE, NM, 87109-4495

2018 Payments: At a Glance

28

payments

$35,703

payment total

6

companies paid this doctor

Types of Payments

Category Payments Payment Value
Promotional Speaking/Other
6 $24,175
Consulting
2 $8,140
Travel and Lodging
6 $2,051
Food and Beverage
14 $1,337

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
SYMPHION

device

$10,412
DESARA

device

$6,640
VERTESSA

device

$6,640
TELESCOPE, HOPKINS,30'AUTOCLAV

device

$5,215
TELESCOPE, HOPKINS,30'AUTOCLAVABLE

device

$5,000
GENERAL UTERINE TISSUE REMOVAL

device

$4,050
ENDOMETRIAL ABLATION SYSTEM (DEVICE)

device

$2,322
THERAPIES

device

$895
SCISSORS,HORIZ CUT,RIGHT,SNGL

device

$567
5MM HYSTEROSCOPE SHEATH, 1 PC DESIGN

device

$189
HYSTERO-FIBERSCOPE 3.5 MM X 24 CM

device

$137
1.2MM SELF SEALING SEAL FOR GYNECOLOGY

device

$132
NOVASURE

device

$112
Payments with no listed product

N/A

$22
THIN PREP

device

$9
† 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
Mar 27, 2018 $6,975 SYMPHION Promotional Speaking/Other BOSTON SCIENTIFIC CORPORATION GARCIA SLOAN CENTERS LLC
Jun 21, 2018 $6,640 DESARA VERTESSA Consulting CALDERA MEDICAL, INC
Jan 18, 2018 $5,000 TELESCOPE, HOPKINS,30'AUTOCLAVABLE Promotional Speaking/Other KARL STORZ ENDOSCOPY-AMERICA
Sep 11, 2018 $5,000 TELESCOPE, HOPKINS,30'AUTOCLAV Promotional Speaking/Other KARL STORZ ENDOSCOPY-AMERICA
May 9, 2018 $3,150 SYMPHION Promotional Speaking/Other BOSTON SCIENTIFIC CORPORATION GARCIA SLOAN CENTERS LLC
May 30, 2018 $2,250 GENERAL UTERINE TISSUE REMOVAL Promotional Speaking/Other BOSTON SCIENTIFIC CORPORATION GARCIA SLOAN CENTERS LLC
Jan 24, 2018 $1,800 GENERAL UTERINE TISSUE REMOVAL Promotional Speaking/Other BOSTON SCIENTIFIC CORPORATION GARCIA SLOAN CENTERS LLC
Nov 5, 2018 $1,500 ENDOMETRIAL ABLATION SYSTEM (DEVICE) Consulting MINERVA SURGICAL, INC
May 3, 2018 $632 THERAPIES Travel and Lodging BOSTON SCIENTIFIC CORPORATION
Mar 31, 2018 $567 SCISSORS,HORIZ CUT,RIGHT,SNGL Travel and Lodging KARL STORZ ENDOSCOPY-AMERICA
Nov 5, 2018 $426 ENDOMETRIAL ABLATION SYSTEM (DEVICE) Food and Beverage MINERVA SURGICAL, INC
Nov 5, 2018 $396 ENDOMETRIAL ABLATION SYSTEM (DEVICE) Travel and Lodging MINERVA SURGICAL, INC
Jan 22, 2018 $263 THERAPIES Travel and Lodging BOSTON SCIENTIFIC CORPORATION
Apr 6, 2018 $172 TELESCOPE, HOPKINS,30'AUTOCLAV Travel and Lodging KARL STORZ ENDOSCOPY-AMERICA
Mar 9, 2018 $160 5MM HYSTEROSCOPE SHEATH, 1 PC DESIGN Food and Beverage KARL STORZ ENDOSCOPY-AMERICA
Apr 29, 2018 $132 1.2MM SELF SEALING SEAL FOR GYNECOLOGY Food and Beverage KARL STORZ ENDOSCOPY-AMERICA
Mar 27, 2018 $126 SYMPHION Food and Beverage BOSTON SCIENTIFIC CORPORATION GARCIA SLOAN CENTERS LLC
Jul 28, 2018 $113 HYSTERO-FIBERSCOPE 3.5 MM X 24 CM Food and Beverage KARL STORZ ENDOSCOPY-AMERICA
Jan 30, 2018 $112 NOVASURE Food and Beverage HOLOGIC, LLC
Apr 28, 2018 $92 SYMPHION Food and Beverage BOSTON SCIENTIFIC CORPORATION

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/1308344

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.