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/135266
  • 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/135266
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.

WASSIM SAIKALI

Listed Specialty: Rheumatology
421 CARRIAGE DR, BECKLEY, WV, 25801-2805

2018 Payments: At a Glance

465

payments

$165,794

payment total

21

companies paid this doctor

Types of Payments

Category Payments Payment Value
Promotional Speaking/Other
 54 $87,469
Consulting
 25 $46,517
Travel and Lodging
 71 $23,499
Food and Beverage
 312 $8,219
Education
 3 $90

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†
OTEZLA

drug

 $24,646
Payments with no listed product

N/A

 $21,534
TALTZ

drug

 $18,638
DUZALLO

drug

 $15,622
XELJANZ

drug

 $15,434
TYMLOS

drug

 $12,459
HUMIRA

drug

 $11,461
ACTHAR

drug

 $9,995
KEVZARA

drug

 $9,960
PROLIA

drug

 $9,944
COSENTYX

drug

 $7,164
ZILRETTA

drug

 $6,403
LYRICA

drug

 $1,824
STELARA

drug

 $358
SIMPONI ARIA

drug

 $250
REMICADE

drug

 $128
CIMZIA

drug

 $115
MONOVISC

device

 $107
ENBREL

drug

 $75
FORTEO

drug

 $32
† 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/135266

Payment Details

When How Much Related To What For From Third Party Payee
Oct 12, 2018 $6,040 COSENTYX Consulting NOVARTIS PHARMACEUTICALS CORPORATION
Apr 13, 2018 $5,400 TYMLOS Promotional Speaking/Other RADIUS HEALTH, INC.
Jan 6, 2018 $4,518 OTEZLA Consulting CELGENE CORPORATION
Nov 21, 2018 $4,500 ZILRETTA Consulting FLEXION THERAPEUTICS, INC.
May 15, 2018 $3,915 KEVZARA Consulting REGENERON PHARMACEUTICALS, INC.
Mar 14, 2018 $3,850 ACTHAR Consulting MALLINCKRODT LLC
Jun 21, 2018 $3,150 TYMLOS Promotional Speaking/Other RADIUS HEALTH, INC.
Feb 20, 2018 $3,088 TALTZ Consulting LILLY USA, LLC
Oct 30, 2018 $2,970 KEVZARA Consulting REGENERON HEALTHCARE SOLUTIONS, INC.
Oct 9, 2018 $2,968 OTEZLA Promotional Speaking/Other CELGENE CORPORATION
Dec 20, 2018 $2,750 No Listed Product Consulting UCB, INC. Wassim Saikali
Mar 20, 2018 $2,500 DUZALLO Consulting IRONWOOD PHARMACEUTICALS, INC
Jan 27, 2018 $2,500 DUZALLO Consulting IRONWOOD PHARMACEUTICALS, INC
Nov 18, 2018 $2,400 PROLIA Promotional Speaking/Other AMGEN INC.
Apr 11, 2018 $2,400 DUZALLO Consulting IRONWOOD PHARMACEUTICALS, INC
Sep 27, 2018 $2,400 PROLIA Promotional Speaking/Other AMGEN INC.
Nov 12, 2018 $2,400 PROLIA Promotional Speaking/Other AMGEN INC.
May 15, 2018 $2,400 DUZALLO Consulting IRONWOOD PHARMACEUTICALS, INC
Mar 28, 2018 $2,348 OTEZLA Promotional Speaking/Other CELGENE CORPORATION
Sep 27, 2018 $2,038 OTEZLA Promotional Speaking/Other CELGENE 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/135266

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.