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/180736
  • 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/180736
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.

LEONARDO PALAU

Listed Specialty: Infectious Disease
1111 MEDICAL PLAZA DR, SUITE 170, THE WOODLANDS, TX, 77380-3476

2018 Payments: At a Glance

266

payments

$8,289

payment total

23

companies paid this doctor

Types of Payments

Category Payments Payment Value
Food and Beverage
 261 $4,246
Promotional Speaking/Other
 2 $4,000
Education
 3 $44

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†
NUSHIELD

device

 $4,000
BAXDELA

drug

 $949
ORBACTIV

drug

 $634
VABOMERE

drug

 $634
MENOCIN

drug

 $634
Payments with no listed product

N/A

 $613
JULUCA

drug

 $473
AVYCAZ

drug

 $360
TRIUMEQ

drug

 $320
GRAFIX & STRAVIX

drug

 $289
VIBATIV

drug

 $278
BIKTARVY

drug

 $212
ZERBAXA

drug

 $184
CRESEMBA

drug

 $117
MYCAMINE

drug

 $95
ISENTRESS

drug

 $85
DALVANCE

drug

 $84
PREZCOBIX

drug

 $75
SIVEXTRO

drug

 $67
DARAPRIM TABLET 25MG

drug

 $66
† 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/180736

Payment Details

When How Much Related To What For From Third Party Payee
Jun 21, 2018 $3,000 NUSHIELD Promotional Speaking/Other ORGANOGENESIS INC.
Sep 4, 2018 $1,000 NUSHIELD Promotional Speaking/Other ORGANOGENESIS INC.
Oct 30, 2018 $138 AVYCAZ Food and Beverage ALLERGAN INC.
Jun 12, 2018 $122 BAXDELA VABOMERE ORBACTIV MENOCIN Food and Beverage MELINTA THERAPEUTICS, INC.
Jun 12, 2018 $122 BAXDELA VABOMERE ORBACTIV MENOCIN Food and Beverage MELINTA THERAPEUTICS, INC.
Jun 26, 2018 $118 BIKTARVY Food and Beverage GILEAD SCIENCES INC
Feb 28, 2018 $116 JULUCA Food and Beverage VIIV HEALTHCARE COMPANY
Oct 30, 2018 $116 AVYCAZ Food and Beverage ALLERGAN INC.
Nov 20, 2018 $113 TRIUMEQ Food and Beverage VIIV HEALTHCARE COMPANY
May 18, 2018 $111 JULUCA Food and Beverage VIIV HEALTHCARE COMPANY
Aug 21, 2018 $110 BAXDELA VABOMERE ORBACTIV MENOCIN Food and Beverage MELINTA THERAPEUTICS, INC.
May 22, 2018 $95 BIKTARVY Food and Beverage GILEAD SCIENCES INC
Dec 5, 2018 $30 No Listed Product Food and Beverage GILEAD SCIENCES INC
Jun 26, 2018 $29 BEVYXXA Food and Beverage PORTOLA PHARMACEUTICALS, INC.
Jun 6, 2018 $28 No Listed Product Food and Beverage GILEAD SCIENCES INC
Oct 30, 2018 $27 PREZCOBIX Education JANSSEN PRODUCTS, LP
Jul 11, 2018 $26 No Listed Product Food and Beverage GILEAD SCIENCES INC
Aug 23, 2018 $25 No Listed Product Food and Beverage GILEAD SCIENCES INC
Oct 30, 2018 $25 SYMTUZA Food and Beverage JANSSEN BIOTECH, INC.
Jun 13, 2018 $25 TROGARZO EGRIFTA Food and Beverage THERATECHNOLOGIES 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/180736

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.