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/176230
  • 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/176230
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.

STEVE VACALIS

Listed Specialty: Family Medicine
2711 X RAY DR, GASTONIA, NC, 28054-7491

2018 Payments: At a Glance

140

payments

$84,788

payment total

12

companies paid this doctor

Types of Payments

Category Payments Payment Value
Promotional Speaking/Other
 39 $52,741
Consulting
 6 $16,575
Travel and Lodging
 40 $12,215
Food and Beverage
 55 $3,256

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†
INVOKANA

drug

 $60,122
SYMPROIC

drug

 $11,011
VICTOZA

drug

 $6,173
LUCEMYRA

drug

 $4,556
BAXDELA

drug

 $1,050
ROXYBOND

drug

 $851
MORPHABOND ER

drug

 $449
OZEMPIC

drug

 $258
ZOHYDRO ER

drug

 $156
TRESIBA

drug

 $110
Payments with no listed product

N/A

 $98
CAMBIA

drug

 $29
GRALISE

drug

 $29
ZIPSOR

drug

 $29
REPATHA

drug

 $18
AFREZZA

drug

 $18
XULTOPHY 100/3.6

drug

 $5
† 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
Jul 20, 2018 $4,845 VICTOZA Consulting NOVO NORDISK INC
Apr 15, 2018 $4,620 INVOKANA Promotional Speaking/Other JANSSEN PHARMACEUTICALS, INC
May 1, 2018 $3,520 SYMPROIC Promotional Speaking/Other PURDUE PHARMA L.P.
Jun 7, 2018 $3,300 INVOKANA Consulting JANSSEN PHARMACEUTICALS, INC
Nov 10, 2018 $3,300 LUCEMYRA Consulting US WORLDMEDS, LLC
May 24, 2018 $2,640 SYMPROIC Promotional Speaking/Other PURDUE PHARMA L.P.
Dec 12, 2018 $2,550 INVOKANA Promotional Speaking/Other JANSSEN PHARMACEUTICALS, INC
Nov 7, 2018 $2,550 INVOKANA Promotional Speaking/Other JANSSEN PHARMACEUTICALS, INC
Nov 20, 2018 $2,550 INVOKANA Promotional Speaking/Other JANSSEN PHARMACEUTICALS, INC
Aug 17, 2018 $2,550 INVOKANA Promotional Speaking/Other JANSSEN PHARMACEUTICALS, INC
Mar 30, 2018 $2,550 INVOKANA Promotional Speaking/Other JANSSEN PHARMACEUTICALS, INC
Oct 10, 2018 $2,550 INVOKANA Promotional Speaking/Other JANSSEN PHARMACEUTICALS, INC
Apr 25, 2018 $2,550 INVOKANA Promotional Speaking/Other JANSSEN PHARMACEUTICALS, INC
Mar 29, 2018 $2,160 INVOKANA Consulting JANSSEN PHARMACEUTICALS, INC
Feb 7, 2018 $2,050 INVOKANA Promotional Speaking/Other JANSSEN PHARMACEUTICALS, INC
Dec 14, 2018 $2,050 INVOKANA Promotional Speaking/Other JANSSEN PHARMACEUTICALS, INC
Dec 19, 2018 $2,050 INVOKANA Promotional Speaking/Other JANSSEN PHARMACEUTICALS, INC
Aug 29, 2018 $2,050 INVOKANA Promotional Speaking/Other JANSSEN PHARMACEUTICALS, INC
May 18, 2018 $2,050 INVOKANA Promotional Speaking/Other JANSSEN PHARMACEUTICALS, INC
May 17, 2018 $1,980 SYMPROIC Promotional Speaking/Other PURDUE PHARMA L.P.

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/176230

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.