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/165426
  • 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/165426
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.

JAMES WHELESS

Listed Specialty: Neurology with Special Qualifications in Child Neurology
1910 NONCONNAH BLVD, SUITE 120, MEMPHIS, TN, 38132-2113

2018 Payments: At a Glance

474

payments

$293,437

payment total

14

companies paid this doctor

Types of Payments

Category Payments Payment Value
Promotional Speaking/Other
 120 $182K
Travel and Lodging
 196 $58,750
Consulting
 11 $26,251
Nonaccredited Training
 6 $12,050
Food and Beverage
 135 $7,216
Honoraria
 2 $4,450
Education
 4 $2,916

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†
FYCOMPA

drug

 $113K
APTIOM

drug

 $89,389
VIMPAT

drug

 $34,665
VNS THERAPY

device

 $16,716
BANZEL

drug

 $11,251
ACTHAR

drug

 $7,536
OXTELLAR XR

drug

 $6,671
VIGADRONE (VIGABATRIN) FOR ORAL SOLUTION

drug

 $5,393
LYRICA

drug

 $2,450
COSYNTROPIN

drug

 $2,100
RNS SYSTEM

device

 $1,800
BRIVIACT

drug

 $1,519
ONFI

drug

 $1,050
Payments with no listed product

N/A

 $80
QUDEXY XR TOPIRAMATE EXTENDED RELEASE CAPSULES

drug

 $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.

Payment Details

When How Much Related To What For From Third Party Payee
Oct 21, 2018 $16,604 FYCOMPA Travel and Lodging EISAI INC.
Dec 4, 2018 $10,883 FYCOMPA Promotional Speaking/Other EISAI CO., LTD.
Jan 12, 2018 $5,626 BANZEL Consulting EISAI INC.
Jan 12, 2018 $5,625 BANZEL Consulting EISAI INC.
Aug 29, 2018 $5,340 FYCOMPA Travel and Lodging EISAI INC.
Nov 29, 2018 $5,000 OXTELLAR XR Promotional Speaking/Other SUPERNUS PHARMACEUTICALS, INC.
Sep 11, 2018 $4,000 VIMPAT Promotional Speaking/Other UCB, INC.
Sep 11, 2018 $4,000 VIMPAT Promotional Speaking/Other UCB, INC.
Sep 11, 2018 $4,000 VIMPAT Promotional Speaking/Other UCB, INC.
Sep 4, 2018 $4,000 VIMPAT Promotional Speaking/Other UCB, INC.
Aug 2, 2018 $3,900 FYCOMPA Promotional Speaking/Other EISAI INC.
Jun 22, 2018 $3,900 FYCOMPA Promotional Speaking/Other EISAI INC.
Jun 20, 2018 $3,900 FYCOMPA Promotional Speaking/Other EISAI INC.
Feb 7, 2018 $3,750 FYCOMPA Promotional Speaking/Other EISAI INC.
Sep 17, 2018 $3,690 ACTHAR Promotional Speaking/Other MALLINCKRODT LLC
Jun 14, 2018 $3,400 APTIOM Promotional Speaking/Other SUNOVION PHARMACEUTICALS INC.
Jul 11, 2018 $3,400 APTIOM Promotional Speaking/Other SUNOVION PHARMACEUTICALS INC.
Feb 21, 2018 $3,400 APTIOM Promotional Speaking/Other SUNOVION PHARMACEUTICALS INC.
Jun 2, 2018 $3,400 VIGADRONE (VIGABATRIN) FOR ORAL SOLUTION Honoraria UPSHER-SMITH LABORATORIES LLC
Mar 1, 2018 $3,400 APTIOM Promotional Speaking/Other SUNOVION PHARMACEUTICALS 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/165426

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.