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/133475
  • 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/133475
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.

CHARLES HARR

Listed Specialty: Thoracic Surgery (Cardiothoracic Vascular Surgery)
301 HAWTHORNE LN STE 200, CHARLOTTE, NC, 28204-2467

2018 Payments: At a Glance

47

payments

$5,847

payment total

9

companies paid this doctor

Types of Payments

Category Payments Payment Value
Travel and Lodging
 17 $3,556
Food and Beverage
 30 $2,291

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

 $2,939
DA VINCI SURGICAL SYSTEM

device

 $1,436
HEARTMATE

device

 $423
HEARTMATE 3 LEFT VENTRICULAR DEV

device

 $253
MAZORX - RENAISSANCE

device

 $161
FLOTRAC SENSOR

device

 $155
EV1000 CLINICAL PLATFORM

device

 $153
TRUSYSTEM 7000 OR TABLE

device

 $111
AIRSEAL

device

 $100
CONFORMABLE TAG THORACIC ENDOPROSTHESIS

device

 $95
SUPERDIMENSION

device

 $19
† 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
Feb 21, 2018 $623 DA VINCI SURGICAL SYSTEM Travel and Lodging INTUITIVE SURGICAL, INC.
May 18, 2018 $454 No Listed Product Travel and Lodging CORINDUS INC.
Jan 18, 2018 $365 No Listed Product Travel and Lodging EDWARDS LIFESCIENCES CORPORATION
Sep 20, 2018 $306 No Listed Product Travel and Lodging MEDTRONIC USA, INC.
Sep 20, 2018 $281 No Listed Product Travel and Lodging MEDTRONIC USA, INC.
Feb 26, 2018 $270 DA VINCI SURGICAL SYSTEM Travel and Lodging INTUITIVE SURGICAL, INC.
Apr 4, 2018 $254 No Listed Product Travel and Lodging EDWARDS LIFESCIENCES CORPORATION
Dec 17, 2018 $245 HEARTMATE 3 LEFT VENTRICULAR DEV Travel and Lodging ABBOTT LABORATORIES
Mar 1, 2018 $235 DA VINCI SURGICAL SYSTEM Travel and Lodging INTUITIVE SURGICAL, INC.
Sep 20, 2018 $161 MAZORX - RENAISSANCE Food and Beverage MEDTRONIC USA, INC.
May 18, 2018 $159 No Listed Product Travel and Lodging CORINDUS INC.
May 18, 2018 $159 No Listed Product Travel and Lodging CORINDUS INC.
Nov 7, 2018 $155 FLOTRAC SENSOR Food and Beverage EDWARDS LIFESCIENCES CORPORATION
Oct 28, 2018 $153 EV1000 CLINICAL PLATFORM Food and Beverage EDWARDS LIFESCIENCES CORPORATION
Oct 20, 2018 $135 HEARTMATE Food and Beverage ABBOTT LABORATORIES
May 17, 2018 $117 No Listed Product Food and Beverage CORINDUS INC.
May 17, 2018 $111 TRUSYSTEM 7000 OR TABLE Food and Beverage TRUMPF MEDICAL SYSTEMS, INC.
Nov 15, 2018 $107 HEARTMATE Food and Beverage ABBOTT LABORATORIES
Oct 16, 2018 $107 DA VINCI SURGICAL SYSTEM Food and Beverage INTUITIVE SURGICAL, INC.
May 17, 2018 $100 AIRSEAL Food and Beverage CONMED 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/133475

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.