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/1388028
  • 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/1388028
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.

SHARONA BEN-HAIM

Listed Specialty: Neurological Surgery
10611 GARDEN GROVE AVE, PORTER RANCH, CA, 91326-3211

2018 Payments: At a Glance

113

payments

$8,615

payment total

14

companies paid this doctor

Types of Payments

Category Payments Payment Value
Food and Beverage
 99 $4,331
Travel and Lodging
 13 $3,684
Education
 1 $600

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†
SENZA SPINAL CORD STIMULATION SYSTEM

device

 $1,882
NEUROBLATE

device

 $1,812
ACTIVA

device

 $1,619
RNS SYSTEM

device

 $902
INFINITY DBS PULSE GENERATORS

device

 $760
SPECTRA WAVEWRITER

device

 $555
DEEP BRAIN STIMULATION

device

 $152
VERCISE

device

 $151
RESTORE

device

 $128
NEXFRAME

device

 $113
GENERAL PAIN MANAGEMENT

device

 $113
VISUALASE

device

 $106
BRIVIACT

drug

 $77
ALGOVITA

device

 $55
CLEARPOINT SYSTEM

device

 $43
ELEMENTS

device

 $32
CODMAN CERTAS

device

 $29
CODMAN HAKIM PRECISION VALVE

device

 $29
CUSA CLARITY

device

 $29
DURAGEN

device

 $29
† 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/1388028

Payment Details

When How Much Related To What For From Third Party Payee
Jan 30, 2018 $737 NEUROBLATE Travel and Lodging MONTERIS MEDICAL CORPORATION
Dec 31, 2018 $600 RNS SYSTEM Education NEUROPACE, INC.
Apr 5, 2018 $567 ACTIVA Travel and Lodging MEDTRONIC USA, INC.
Apr 5, 2018 $418 ACTIVA Travel and Lodging MEDTRONIC USA, INC.
Jan 30, 2018 $389 NEUROBLATE Travel and Lodging MONTERIS MEDICAL CORPORATION
Nov 30, 2018 $349 SPECTRA WAVEWRITER Travel and Lodging BOSTON SCIENTIFIC CORPORATION
Jan 30, 2018 $336 NEUROBLATE Travel and Lodging MONTERIS MEDICAL CORPORATION
Jan 28, 2018 $282 SENZA SPINAL CORD STIMULATION SYSTEM Travel and Lodging NEVRO CORP.
Feb 9, 2018 $252 SENZA SPINAL CORD STIMULATION SYSTEM Travel and Lodging NEVRO CORP.
Dec 1, 2018 $206 SPECTRA WAVEWRITER Food and Beverage BOSTON SCIENTIFIC CORPORATION
Jul 20, 2018 $150 INFINITY DBS PULSE GENERATORS Food and Beverage ABBOTT LABORATORIES
Apr 30, 2018 $150 RNS SYSTEM Food and Beverage NEUROPACE, INC.
Jan 12, 2018 $150 SENZA SPINAL CORD STIMULATION SYSTEM Food and Beverage NEVRO CORP.
Feb 9, 2018 $149 SENZA SPINAL CORD STIMULATION SYSTEM Food and Beverage NEVRO CORP.
Apr 25, 2018 $139 SENZA SPINAL CORD STIMULATION SYSTEM Food and Beverage NEVRO CORP.
Mar 20, 2018 $135 SENZA SPINAL CORD STIMULATION SYSTEM Food and Beverage NEVRO CORP.
Feb 20, 2018 $128 RESTORE Food and Beverage MEDTRONIC USA, INC.
Feb 9, 2018 $127 SENZA SPINAL CORD STIMULATION SYSTEM Travel and Lodging NEVRO CORP.
Feb 11, 2018 $127 SENZA SPINAL CORD STIMULATION SYSTEM Travel and Lodging NEVRO CORP.
Jan 30, 2018 $114 NEUROBLATE Food and Beverage MONTERIS MEDICAL 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/1388028

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.