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/133605
  • 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/133605
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.

ALEXANDER CHING

Listed Specialty: Orthopaedic Surgery
19255 SW 65TH AVE, SUITE 200, TUALATIN, OR, 97062-7451

2018 Payments: At a Glance

39

payments

$23,172

payment total

8

companies paid this doctor

Types of Payments

Category Payments Payment Value
Promotional Speaking/Other
 3 $10,425
Nonaccredited Training
 1 $5,600
Travel and Lodging
 15 $5,561
Food and Beverage
 19 $1,087
Consulting
 1 $500

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†
CREO

device

 $10,451
XLIF

device

 $7,668
EXCELSIUS - GPS

device

 $2,099
VIPER

device

 $1,385
CONCORDE

device

 $1,327
Payments with no listed product

N/A

 $799
HIJAK

device

 $500
PROCLAIM FAMILY OF SCS IPGS

device

 $147
ALIF

device

 $66
OSTEOCEL

device

 $54
EXPEDIUM

device

 $46
NEUROMODULATION DSPSBLS AND ACCS

device

 $38
BRAINLAB

device

 $20
IGA

device

 $11
† 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
Oct 2, 2018 $5,600 XLIF Nonaccredited Training NUVASIVE, INC. Alexander C. Ching, MD, PC
May 19, 2018 $4,725 CREO Promotional Speaking/Other GLOBUS MEDICAL, INC.
May 19, 2018 $4,500 CREO Promotional Speaking/Other GLOBUS MEDICAL, INC.
Jun 7, 2018 $1,579 EXCELSIUS - GPS Travel and Lodging GLOBUS MEDICAL, INC.
Jun 14, 2018 $1,200 XLIF Promotional Speaking/Other NUVASIVE, INC. Alexander C. Ching, MD, PC
May 19, 2018 $962 CREO Travel and Lodging GLOBUS MEDICAL, INC.
Nov 10, 2018 $624 CONCORDE VIPER Travel and Lodging MEDICAL DEVICE BUSINESS SERVICES, INC.
Nov 10, 2018 $548 CONCORDE VIPER Travel and Lodging MEDICAL DEVICE BUSINESS SERVICES, INC.
Sep 17, 2018 $500 HIJAK Consulting ATLAS SPINE, INC.
Jun 8, 2018 $403 EXCELSIUS - GPS Travel and Lodging GLOBUS MEDICAL, INC.
Jan 18, 2018 $367 No Listed Product Travel and Lodging DEPUY SYNTHES PRODUCTS LLC
Sep 13, 2018 $254 XLIF Travel and Lodging NUVASIVE, INC.
Aug 20, 2018 $234 XLIF Travel and Lodging NUVASIVE, INC.
Sep 14, 2018 $159 XLIF Food and Beverage NUVASIVE, INC.
Nov 10, 2018 $155 CONCORDE VIPER Travel and Lodging MEDICAL DEVICE BUSINESS SERVICES, INC.
Sep 6, 2018 $147 PROCLAIM FAMILY OF SCS IPGS Food and Beverage ABBOTT LABORATORIES
Mar 12, 2018 $143 No Listed Product Travel and Lodging DEPUY SYNTHES PRODUCTS LLC
Mar 9, 2018 $143 No Listed Product Travel and Lodging DEPUY SYNTHES PRODUCTS LLC
Jun 6, 2018 $116 EXCELSIUS - GPS Food and Beverage GLOBUS MEDICAL, INC.
Jun 14, 2018 $87 No Listed Product Food and Beverage 7D SURGICAL 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/133605

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.