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/139384
  • 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/139384
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.

MERRITT KINON

Listed Specialty: Neurological Surgery
111 E 210TH ST, BRONX, NY, 10467-2401

2018 Payments: At a Glance

100

payments

$27,352

payment total

15

companies paid this doctor

Types of Payments

Category Payments Payment Value
Promotional Speaking/Other
 6 $18,400
Food and Beverage
 86 $4,613
Travel and Lodging
 8 $4,340

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†
ALTERA

device

 $21,635
SPECTRA WAVEWRITER

device

 $1,297
TRITANIUM

device

 $1,017
SERRATO

device

 $735
ALL SPINE STIMULATION

drug

 $537
MAZORX - RENAISSANCE

device

 $340
GENERAL PAIN MANAGEMENT

device

 $264
IFUSE IMPLANT

device

 $213
O-ARM-ST

device

 $202
ELSA

device

 $178
PROMETRA II

device

 $154
KINEX

device

 $133
CREO

device

 $129
RELISTOR

drug

 $125
O-ARM-SPINE

device

 $118
COALITION AGX

device

 $117
QUARTEX

device

 $112
ACTIVA

device

 $110
VIPER

device

 $104
VIASHIELD

drug

 $88
† 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/139384

Payment Details

When How Much Related To What For From Third Party Payee
Jul 18, 2018 $4,000 ALTERA Promotional Speaking/Other GLOBUS MEDICAL, INC.
May 9, 2018 $4,000 ALTERA Promotional Speaking/Other GLOBUS MEDICAL, INC.
Oct 17, 2018 $3,200 ALTERA Promotional Speaking/Other GLOBUS MEDICAL, INC.
Oct 17, 2018 $2,400 ALTERA Promotional Speaking/Other GLOBUS MEDICAL, INC.
Jul 18, 2018 $2,400 ALTERA Promotional Speaking/Other GLOBUS MEDICAL, INC.
May 9, 2018 $2,400 ALTERA Promotional Speaking/Other GLOBUS MEDICAL, INC.
Jul 18, 2018 $1,626 ALTERA Travel and Lodging GLOBUS MEDICAL, INC.
May 9, 2018 $1,032 ALTERA Travel and Lodging GLOBUS MEDICAL, INC.
Oct 17, 2018 $506 ALTERA Travel and Lodging GLOBUS MEDICAL, INC.
Oct 12, 2018 $378 TRITANIUM SERRATO Travel and Lodging STRYKER CORPORATION
Oct 12, 2018 $357 TRITANIUM SERRATO Travel and Lodging STRYKER CORPORATION
Oct 29, 2018 $328 ALL SPINE STIMULATION Travel and Lodging ORTHOFIX MEDICAL, INC.
Nov 30, 2018 $215 MAZORX - RENAISSANCE Food and Beverage MEDTRONIC USA, INC.
Aug 29, 2018 $179 O-ARM-ST Food and Beverage MEDTRONIC USA, INC.
May 14, 2018 $154 PROMETRA II Food and Beverage FLOWONIX MEDICAL INCORPORATED
Feb 8, 2018 $148 TRITANIUM Food and Beverage STRYKER CORPORATION
Jun 28, 2018 $145 ELSA Food and Beverage GLOBUS MEDICAL, INC.
Dec 17, 2018 $143 SPECTRA WAVEWRITER Food and Beverage BOSTON SCIENTIFIC CORPORATION
Nov 6, 2018 $140 IFUSE IMPLANT Food and Beverage SI-BONE, INC.
Apr 18, 2018 $134 TRITANIUM Food and Beverage STRYKER 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/139384

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.