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/18279
  • 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/18279
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.

MATTHEW NIELSEN

Listed Specialty: Podiatrist, Foot & Ankle Surgery
550 RUSH CREEK PKWY, SUITE A, LIBERTY, MO, 64068-9604

2018 Payments: At a Glance

23

payments

$4,568

payment total

10

companies paid this doctor

Types of Payments

Category Payments Payment Value
Honoraria
 2 $3,500
Travel and Lodging
 1 $540
Food and Beverage
 20 $528

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†
COLINK

device

 $4,040
COLAG

device

 $540
SANTYL

drug

 $189
REGRANEX

drug

 $174
OASIS

device

 $125
AUGMENT

device

 $93
ORTHOLOC

device

 $64
KRYSTEXXA

drug

 $35
CADENCE ANKLE REPLACEMENT SYSTEM

device

 $34
HALLU-LOCK

device

 $34
PANTA NAIL

device

 $34
SALTO TALARIS TOTAL ANKLE PROSTHESIS

device

 $34
TOTAL FOOT SYSTEM

device

 $34
MEROGEL

device

 $32
GRAFIX & STRAVIX

drug

 $27
SLIMTIP LEAD DRG LEAD

device

 $17
JUBLIA EFINACONAZOLE

drug

 $16
JUBLIA

drug

 $16
EXOGEN

device

 $13
GEL ONE

drug

 $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.

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/18279

Payment Details

When How Much Related To What For From Third Party Payee
Dec 14, 2018 $2,000 COLINK Honoraria IN2BONES USA, LLC
Mar 14, 2018 $1,500 COLINK Honoraria IN2BONES USA, LLC
Dec 31, 2018 $540 COLINK COLAG Travel and Lodging IN2BONES USA, LLC
Mar 22, 2018 $125 SANTYL REGRANEX OASIS Food and Beverage SMITH & NEPHEW, INC.
Jun 19, 2018 $93 AUGMENT Food and Beverage WRIGHT MEDICAL TECHNOLOGY, INC.
Feb 13, 2018 $33 ORTHOLOC Food and Beverage WRIGHT MEDICAL TECHNOLOGY, INC.
May 18, 2018 $31 ORTHOLOC Food and Beverage WRIGHT MEDICAL TECHNOLOGY, INC.
Oct 5, 2018 $27 GRAFIX & STRAVIX Food and Beverage OSIRIS THERAPEUTICS INC.
Feb 9, 2018 $18 KRYSTEXXA Food and Beverage HORIZON PHARMA PLC
May 15, 2018 $17 SALTO TALARIS TOTAL ANKLE PROSTHESIS CADENCE ANKLE REPLACEMENT SYSTEM HALLU-LOCK PANTA NAIL TOTAL FOOT SYSTEM Food and Beverage INTEGRA LIFESCIENCES CORPORATION
May 30, 2018 $17 SLIMTIP LEAD DRG LEAD Food and Beverage ABBOTT LABORATORIES
Nov 15, 2018 $16 KRYSTEXXA Food and Beverage HORIZON PHARMA PLC
Jun 28, 2018 $16 SALTO TALARIS TOTAL ANKLE PROSTHESIS CADENCE ANKLE REPLACEMENT SYSTEM HALLU-LOCK PANTA NAIL TOTAL FOOT SYSTEM Food and Beverage INTEGRA LIFESCIENCES CORPORATION
Jun 29, 2018 $16 MEROGEL JUBLIA EFINACONAZOLE Food and Beverage ORTHO DERMATOLOGICS, A DIVISION OF BAUSCH HEALTH US, LLC
Mar 8, 2018 $16 MEROGEL JUBLIA Food and Beverage ORTHO DERMATOLOGICS, A DIVISION OF BAUSCH HEALTH US, LLC
Oct 2, 2018 $15 SANTYL Food and Beverage SMITH & NEPHEW, INC.
Mar 27, 2018 $14 SANTYL REGRANEX Food and Beverage SMITH & NEPHEW, INC.
Jun 5, 2018 $13 EXOGEN Food and Beverage BIOVENTUS LLC
Aug 21, 2018 $13 SANTYL REGRANEX Food and Beverage SMITH & NEPHEW, INC.
Nov 8, 2018 $12 GEL ONE SCP BONE SUBSTITUTE NEXTREMITY NEXTRA HAMMERTOE Food and Beverage ZIMMER BIOMET HOLDINGS, 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/18279

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.