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/17239
  • 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/17239
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.

DARRYL WELLS

Listed Specialty: Clinical Cardiac Electrophysiology
550 17TH AVE, SUITE 680, SEATTLE, WA, 98122-5788

2018 Payments: At a Glance

63

payments

$38,630

payment total

6

companies paid this doctor

Types of Payments

Category Payments Payment Value
Promotional Speaking/Other
 10 $30,225
Travel and Lodging
 15 $5,677
Food and Beverage
 37 $2,478
Consulting
 1 $250

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†
ELIQUIS

drug

 $22,225
ARCTIC FRONT

device

 $11,070
Payments with no listed product

N/A

 $3,317
MICRA

device

 $1,014
CRT-DS

device

 $194
ALLURE CRT PACEMAKER

device

 $180
WATCHMAN

device

 $154
ENTRUST

device

 $125
PACEMAKERS

device

 $113
ENSITE CARDIAC MAPPING SYSTEM

device

 $105
NIOBE

device

 $69
COREVALVE EVOLUT

device

 $37
CLARIA MRI

device

 $16
RHYTHMIA

device

 $12
† 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
Apr 16, 2018 $3,500 ELIQUIS Promotional Speaking/Other E.R. SQUIBB & SONS, L.L.C.
Apr 16, 2018 $3,500 ELIQUIS Promotional Speaking/Other E.R. SQUIBB & SONS, L.L.C.
Mar 14, 2018 $3,500 ELIQUIS Promotional Speaking/Other E.R. SQUIBB & SONS, L.L.C.
Oct 8, 2018 $3,500 ELIQUIS Promotional Speaking/Other E.R. SQUIBB & SONS, L.L.C.
Apr 10, 2018 $3,500 ELIQUIS Promotional Speaking/Other E.R. SQUIBB & SONS, L.L.C.
Apr 24, 2018 $2,900 No Listed Product Promotional Speaking/Other MEDTRONIC VASCULAR, INC.
Apr 16, 2018 $2,625 ELIQUIS Promotional Speaking/Other E.R. SQUIBB & SONS, L.L.C.
Jan 17, 2018 $2,400 ARCTIC FRONT Promotional Speaking/Other MEDTRONIC VASCULAR, INC.
Dec 18, 2018 $2,400 ARCTIC FRONT Promotional Speaking/Other MEDTRONIC VASCULAR, INC.
Jul 5, 2018 $2,400 ARCTIC FRONT Promotional Speaking/Other MEDTRONIC VASCULAR, INC.
Apr 13, 2018 $2,079 ARCTIC FRONT Travel and Lodging MEDTRONIC VASCULAR, INC.
Apr 12, 2018 $1,306 ARCTIC FRONT Travel and Lodging MEDTRONIC VASCULAR, INC.
Apr 2, 2018 $504 ELIQUIS Travel and Lodging E.R. SQUIBB & SONS, L.L.C.
Apr 2, 2018 $475 ELIQUIS Travel and Lodging E.R. SQUIBB & SONS, L.L.C.
Nov 21, 2018 $407 No Listed Product Food and Beverage PREVENTICE SERVICES, LLC
Nov 13, 2018 $250 ELIQUIS Consulting E.R. SQUIBB & SONS, L.L.C.
Apr 13, 2018 $228 MICRA Travel and Lodging MEDTRONIC VASCULAR, INC.
Apr 13, 2018 $195 MICRA Food and Beverage MEDTRONIC VASCULAR, INC.
Jun 4, 2018 $180 ALLURE CRT PACEMAKER Food and Beverage ABBOTT LABORATORIES
Apr 13, 2018 $180 MICRA Travel and Lodging MEDTRONIC VASCULAR, 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/17239

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.