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/155909
  • 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/155909
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.

MALEK KARASSI

Listed Specialty: Endocrinology, Diabetes & Metabolism
817 PRINCETON AVE. SW, BIRMINGHAM, AL, 35211

2018 Payments: At a Glance

148

payments

$3,677

payment total

17

companies paid this doctor

Types of Payments

Category Payments Payment Value
Food and Beverage
 140 $2,820
Travel and Lodging
 5 $788
Gift
 1 $59
Education
 2 $10

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†
MINIMED 670G SYSTEM

device

 $1,161
FARXIGA

drug

 $550
GLYXAMBI

drug

 $212
JARDIANCE

drug

 $212
TRADJENTA

drug

 $184
FREESTYLE LIBRE BLOOD GLUCOSE FLASH MONITORING SYSTEM

device

 $158
BASAGLAR

drug

 $141
SYNJARDY

drug

 $141
LIVALO

drug

 $139
VASCEPA

drug

 $139
HUMULIN

drug

 $127
SOLIQUA

drug

 $124
TRULICITY

drug

 $124
TRESIBA

drug

 $122
VICTOZA

drug

 $122
NATPARA

drug

 $120
MINIMED 630G

device

 $117
AFREZZA

drug

 $114
OMNIPOD

device

 $112
KORLYM

drug

 $105
† 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/155909

Payment Details

When How Much Related To What For From Third Party Payee
Aug 10, 2018 $300 MINIMED 670G SYSTEM Travel and Lodging MEDTRONIC MINIMED, INC.
Aug 9, 2018 $271 MINIMED 670G SYSTEM Travel and Lodging MEDTRONIC MINIMED, INC.
Aug 10, 2018 $152 MINIMED 670G SYSTEM Travel and Lodging MEDTRONIC MINIMED, INC.
Sep 11, 2018 $126 LIVALO VASCEPA Food and Beverage KOWA PHARMACEUTICALS AMERICA, INC.
Apr 18, 2018 $117 MINIMED 630G Food and Beverage MEDTRONIC MINIMED, INC.
Sep 6, 2018 $112 NATPARA Food and Beverage SHIRE NORTH AMERICAN GROUP INC
Aug 10, 2018 $98 MINIMED 670G SYSTEM Food and Beverage MEDTRONIC MINIMED, INC.
Aug 28, 2018 $92 OMNIPOD Food and Beverage INSULET CORPORATION
Aug 10, 2018 $82 MINIMED 670G SYSTEM Food and Beverage MEDTRONIC MINIMED, INC.
Aug 10, 2018 $72 MINIMED 670G SYSTEM Food and Beverage MEDTRONIC MINIMED, INC.
Feb 16, 2018 $59 AFREZZA Gift MANNKIND CORPORATION
Jul 24, 2018 $51 MINIMED 670G SYSTEM Food and Beverage MEDTRONIC MINIMED, INC.
Aug 9, 2018 $47 MINIMED 670G SYSTEM Travel and Lodging MEDTRONIC MINIMED, INC.
Mar 2, 2018 $45 DEXCOM CGM Food and Beverage DEXCOM, INC.
Oct 9, 2018 $24 HUMULIN TRULICITY Food and Beverage LILLY USA, LLC
Apr 2, 2018 $24 TOUJEO Food and Beverage SANOFI-AVENTIS U.S. LLC
Mar 22, 2018 $24 FREESTYLE LIBRE BLOOD GLUCOSE FLASH MONITORING SYSTEM Food and Beverage ABBOTT LABORATORIES
Oct 4, 2018 $23 MINIMED 670G SYSTEM Food and Beverage MEDTRONIC MINIMED, INC.
Aug 28, 2018 $23 TYMLOS Food and Beverage RADIUS HEALTH, INC.
Apr 10, 2018 $23 VICTOZA TRESIBA Food and Beverage NOVO NORDISK 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/155909

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.