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/165644
  • 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/165644
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.

TAPAN DAFTARI

Listed Specialty: Orthopaedic Surgery of the Spine
2041 MESA VALLEY WAY, SUITE 100, AUSTELL, GA, 30106-8157

2018 Payments: At a Glance

86

payments

$122,564

payment total

15

companies paid this doctor

Types of Payments

Category Payments Payment Value
Royalty or License
 4 $50,757
Promotional Speaking/Other
 6 $28,463
Travel and Lodging
 30 $27,646
Consulting
 2 $13,133
Food and Beverage
 44 $2,566

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†
PROVIDENCE

device

 $50,757
SYNFIX

device

 $13,133
REVERE 5.5 DEGEN TI SYSTEM

device

 $10,924
MARS 3VL RETRACTOR

device

 $10,543
MARS 3VL

device

 $10,463
QUARTEX

device

 $9,669
MONUMENT

device

 $9,026
SOLSTICE, PRO-LINK, CENTERLINE, SIMPACT

device

 $2,002
Payments with no listed product

N/A

 $1,660
NVM5

device

 $1,166
IFUSE IMPLANT

device

 $777
ALL THOROCOLUMBAR PRODUCTS

drug

 $688
SIMPACT

device

 $440
EXPEDIUM

device

 $196
VIPER

device

 $191
PRODISC VIVO

device

 $159
EXCELSIUS - GPS

device

 $139
INDEPENDENCE

device

 $127
ROI-A

device

 $123
FIREBIRD

drug

 $89
† 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/165644

Payment Details

When How Much Related To What For From Third Party Payee
Mar 31, 2018 $13,677 PROVIDENCE Royalty or License GLOBUS MEDICAL, INC.
Dec 31, 2018 $13,497 PROVIDENCE Royalty or License GLOBUS MEDICAL, INC.
Jun 30, 2018 $11,887 PROVIDENCE Royalty or License GLOBUS MEDICAL, INC.
Sep 30, 2018 $11,696 PROVIDENCE Royalty or License GLOBUS MEDICAL, INC.
Jul 24, 2018 $10,924 REVERE 5.5 DEGEN TI SYSTEM Travel and Lodging GLOBUS MEDICAL, INC.
May 4, 2018 $10,441 MARS 3VL RETRACTOR Travel and Lodging GLOBUS MEDICAL, INC.
Sep 3, 2018 $6,695 SYNFIX Consulting DEPUY SYNTHES PRODUCTS LLC
Feb 7, 2018 $6,438 SYNFIX Consulting DEPUY SYNTHES PRODUCTS LLC
May 4, 2018 $5,963 MARS 3VL Promotional Speaking/Other GLOBUS MEDICAL, INC.
Sep 15, 2018 $4,500 QUARTEX Promotional Speaking/Other GLOBUS MEDICAL, INC.
Sep 15, 2018 $4,500 QUARTEX Promotional Speaking/Other GLOBUS MEDICAL, INC.
Mar 3, 2018 $4,500 MONUMENT Promotional Speaking/Other GLOBUS MEDICAL, INC.
May 4, 2018 $4,500 MARS 3VL Promotional Speaking/Other GLOBUS MEDICAL, INC.
Mar 3, 2018 $4,500 MONUMENT Promotional Speaking/Other GLOBUS MEDICAL, INC.
Aug 16, 2018 $798 SOLSTICE, PRO-LINK, CENTERLINE, SIMPACT Travel and Lodging LIFE SPINE, INC.
Nov 27, 2018 $678 NVM5 Travel and Lodging NUVASIVE, INC.
Sep 28, 2018 $488 ALL THOROCOLUMBAR PRODUCTS Travel and Lodging ORTHOFIX MEDICAL, INC.
Sep 15, 2018 $462 QUARTEX Travel and Lodging GLOBUS MEDICAL, INC.
Aug 5, 2018 $428 SOLSTICE, PRO-LINK, CENTERLINE, SIMPACT Travel and Lodging LIFE SPINE, INC.
Sep 13, 2018 $385 SIMPACT Travel and Lodging LIFE SPINE, 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/165644

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.