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/191638
  • 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/191638
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.


ANDRIS KAZMERS

Listed Specialty: Surgery
521 MONROE ST, PETOSKEY, MI, 49770-2266

2018 Payments: At a Glance

35

payments

$711

payment total

10

companies paid this doctor

Types of Payments

Category Payments Payment Value
Food and Beverage
35 $711

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
EXCLUDER ILIAC BRANCH ENDOPROSTHESIS

device

$223
ANGIOGUARD RX EMBOLI CAPTURE GUIDEWIRE SYSTEM

device

$114
PRECISE PRO RX CAROTID STENT SYSTEM

device

$90
PRALUENT

drug

$78
REPATHA

drug

$52
HERCULINK ELITE RENAL AND BILIARY STENT SYSTEM

device

$39
VIABAHN VBX BALLOON EXPANDABLE ENDOPROSTHESIS

device

$31
FLIXENE

device

$31
OPTA PRO PTA DILATATION CATHETER

device

$24
SABER

device

$24
RELAY PLUS

device

$22
XARELTO

drug

$22
PERIPHERAL ORBITAL ATHERECTOMY SYSTEM

device

$16
AVIATOR BALLOON

device

$16
ARMADA 18 PERCUTANEOUS CATHETER

device

$13
OPTEASE RETRIEVABLE VENA CAVA FILTER

device

$12
SUPERA PERIPHERAL STENT SYSTEM

device

$12
PERCLOSE PROGLIDE SUTURE MEDIATED CLOSURE SYSTEM

device

$11
PROSTAR XL SURGICAL SYSTEM

device

$11
STARCLOSE SE VASCULAR CLOSURE SYSTEM

device

$11
† 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/191638

Payment Details

When How Much Related To What For From Third Party Payee
Nov 2, 2018 $164 EXCLUDER ILIAC BRANCH ENDOPROSTHESIS Food and Beverage W. L. GORE & ASSOCIATES, INC.
Jan 26, 2018 $54 EXCLUDER ILIAC BRANCH ENDOPROSTHESIS Food and Beverage W. L. GORE & ASSOCIATES, INC.
May 8, 2018 $29 ANGIOGUARD RX EMBOLI CAPTURE GUIDEWIRE SYSTEM PRECISE PRO RX CAROTID STENT SYSTEM Food and Beverage CARDINAL HEALTH 200, LLC
May 24, 2018 $25 ANGIOGUARD RX EMBOLI CAPTURE GUIDEWIRE SYSTEM PRECISE PRO RX CAROTID STENT SYSTEM Food and Beverage CARDINAL HEALTH 200, LLC
Jun 28, 2018 $24 OPTA PRO PTA DILATATION CATHETER SABER Food and Beverage CARDINAL HEALTH 200, LLC
Sep 26, 2018 $23 PRALUENT Food and Beverage SANOFI-AVENTIS U.S. LLC
Oct 3, 2018 $22 XARELTO Food and Beverage JANSSEN PHARMACEUTICALS, INC
Mar 6, 2018 $21 REPATHA Food and Beverage AMGEN INC.
Sep 12, 2018 $20 REPATHA Food and Beverage AMGEN INC.
Mar 29, 2018 $19 ANGIOGUARD RX EMBOLI CAPTURE GUIDEWIRE SYSTEM PRECISE PRO RX CAROTID STENT SYSTEM Food and Beverage CARDINAL HEALTH 200, LLC
Feb 7, 2018 $19 PRALUENT Food and Beverage SANOFI-AVENTIS U.S. LLC
Jul 12, 2018 $17 ANGIOGUARD RX EMBOLI CAPTURE GUIDEWIRE SYSTEM PRECISE PRO RX CAROTID STENT SYSTEM Food and Beverage CARDINAL HEALTH 200, LLC
Apr 10, 2018 $17 FLIXENE Food and Beverage MAQUET CARDIOVASCULAR U.S. SALES, L.L.C.
Nov 5, 2018 $17 VIABAHN VBX BALLOON EXPANDABLE ENDOPROSTHESIS Food and Beverage W. L. GORE & ASSOCIATES, INC.
Jun 1, 2018 $16 ANGIOGUARD RX EMBOLI CAPTURE GUIDEWIRE SYSTEM AVIATOR BALLOON Food and Beverage CARDINAL HEALTH 200, LLC
Dec 20, 2018 $14 VIABAHN VBX BALLOON EXPANDABLE ENDOPROSTHESIS Food and Beverage W. L. GORE & ASSOCIATES, INC.
Aug 14, 2018 $14 FLIXENE Food and Beverage MAQUET CARDIOVASCULAR U.S. SALES, L.L.C.
Jul 24, 2018 $14 RELAY PLUS Food and Beverage BOLTON MEDICAL INC
Jun 21, 2018 $13 ARMADA 18 PERCUTANEOUS CATHETER Food and Beverage ABBOTT LABORATORIES
Sep 12, 2018 $13 HERCULINK ELITE RENAL AND BILIARY STENT SYSTEM Food and Beverage ABBOTT LABORATORIES

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/191638

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.