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/192510
  • 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/192510
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.


MARCOS VARGAS

Listed Specialty: Dentist, General Practice
322 S DENTAL SCIENCE BLDG, IOWA CITY, IA, 52242-1001

2018 Payments: At a Glance

21

payments

$87,924

payment total

5

companies paid this doctor

Types of Payments

Category Payments Payment Value
Nonaccredited Training
4 $43,500
Travel and Lodging
6 $34,644
Honoraria
1 $7,500
Education
1 $1,380
Food and Beverage
9 $900

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
FILTEK ONE BULK FILL RESTORATIVE

device

$61,634
FILTEK SUPREME ULTRA UNIVERSAL RESTORATIVE MATERIALS

device

$53,694
SCOTCHBOND UNIVERSAL ADHESIVE

device

$52,870
FILTEK SUPREME ULTRA FLOWABLE RESTORATIVE MATERIALS

device

$45,276
FILTEK BULK FILL POSTERIOR RESTORATIVE MATERIALS

device

$15,605
FILTEK BULK FILL FLOWABLE RESTORATIVE MATERIALS

device

$15,500
RELYX UNICEM & UNICEM 2 CEMENTS

device

$8,386
IMPRINT 4 VPS IMPRESSION MATERIALS

device

$8,309
LUXACORE

device

$7,500
LUXATEMP

device

$7,500
TEMPOCEM

device

$7,500
VITIQUE

device

$7,500
Payments with no listed product

N/A

$2,200
AQUASIL

device

$1,380
CLINPRO 5000 TOOTHPASTE

drug

$837
PARADIGM DEEPCURE DENTAL CURING LIGHT

device

$28
PARADIGM NANO HYBRID UNIVERSAL RESTORATIVE MATERIALS

device

$28
PARADIGM PENTA HB VPS IMPRESSION MATERIALS

device

$28
† 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
Aug 19, 2018 $22,900 FILTEK ONE BULK FILL RESTORATIVE FILTEK SUPREME ULTRA FLOWABLE RESTORATIVE MATERIALS FILTEK SUPREME ULTRA UNIVERSAL RESTORATIVE MATERIALS SCOTCHBOND UNIVERSAL ADHESIVE Travel and Lodging 3M COMPANY
Aug 19, 2018 $21,000 FILTEK ONE BULK FILL RESTORATIVE FILTEK SUPREME ULTRA FLOWABLE RESTORATIVE MATERIALS FILTEK SUPREME ULTRA UNIVERSAL RESTORATIVE MATERIALS SCOTCHBOND UNIVERSAL ADHESIVE Nonaccredited Training 3M COMPANY
May 29, 2018 $8,000 FILTEK BULK FILL FLOWABLE RESTORATIVE MATERIALS FILTEK BULK FILL POSTERIOR RESTORATIVE MATERIALS FILTEK ONE BULK FILL RESTORATIVE Travel and Lodging 3M COMPANY
Jun 2, 2018 $7,500 FILTEK BULK FILL FLOWABLE RESTORATIVE MATERIALS FILTEK BULK FILL POSTERIOR RESTORATIVE MATERIALS FILTEK ONE BULK FILL RESTORATIVE Nonaccredited Training 3M COMPANY
Jun 30, 2018 $7,500 IMPRINT 4 VPS IMPRESSION MATERIALS RELYX UNICEM & UNICEM 2 CEMENTS Nonaccredited Training 3M COMPANY
Dec 1, 2018 $7,500 TEMPOCEM LUXATEMP LUXACORE VITIQUE Honoraria DMG AMERICA LLC
Feb 10, 2018 $7,500 FILTEK SUPREME ULTRA UNIVERSAL RESTORATIVE MATERIALS SCOTCHBOND UNIVERSAL ADHESIVE Nonaccredited Training 3M COMPANY
Nov 21, 2018 $2,167 No Listed Product Travel and Lodging CLINICIAN'S CHOICE DENTAL PRODUCTS INC.
Feb 14, 2018 $1,380 AQUASIL Education DENTSPLY LLC
Aug 31, 2018 $768 FILTEK ONE BULK FILL RESTORATIVE FILTEK SUPREME ULTRA FLOWABLE RESTORATIVE MATERIALS FILTEK SUPREME ULTRA UNIVERSAL RESTORATIVE MATERIALS SCOTCHBOND UNIVERSAL ADHESIVE Travel and Lodging 3M COMPANY
May 16, 2018 $620 CLINPRO 5000 TOOTHPASTE FILTEK ONE BULK FILL RESTORATIVE FILTEK SUPREME ULTRA UNIVERSAL RESTORATIVE MATERIALS IMPRINT 4 VPS IMPRESSION MATERIALS RELYX UNICEM & UNICEM 2 CEMENTS Travel and Lodging 3M COMPANY
Aug 24, 2018 $450 FILTEK ONE BULK FILL RESTORATIVE FILTEK SUPREME ULTRA FLOWABLE RESTORATIVE MATERIALS FILTEK SUPREME ULTRA UNIVERSAL RESTORATIVE MATERIALS SCOTCHBOND UNIVERSAL ADHESIVE Food and Beverage 3M COMPANY
May 16, 2018 $189 CLINPRO 5000 TOOTHPASTE FILTEK ONE BULK FILL RESTORATIVE FILTEK SUPREME ULTRA UNIVERSAL RESTORATIVE MATERIALS IMPRINT 4 VPS IMPRESSION MATERIALS RELYX UNICEM & UNICEM 2 CEMENTS Travel and Lodging 3M COMPANY
Aug 31, 2018 $158 FILTEK ONE BULK FILL RESTORATIVE FILTEK SUPREME ULTRA FLOWABLE RESTORATIVE MATERIALS FILTEK SUPREME ULTRA UNIVERSAL RESTORATIVE MATERIALS SCOTCHBOND UNIVERSAL ADHESIVE Food and Beverage 3M COMPANY
Jun 30, 2018 $77 RELYX UNICEM & UNICEM 2 CEMENTS Food and Beverage 3M COMPANY
Feb 9, 2018 $60 FILTEK SUPREME ULTRA UNIVERSAL RESTORATIVE MATERIALS FILTEK BULK FILL POSTERIOR RESTORATIVE MATERIALS Food and Beverage 3M COMPANY
Feb 23, 2018 $45 FILTEK BULK FILL POSTERIOR RESTORATIVE MATERIALS SCOTCHBOND UNIVERSAL ADHESIVE Food and Beverage 3M COMPANY
Mar 26, 2018 $32 No Listed Product Food and Beverage KURARAY AMERICA INC.
May 17, 2018 $28 PARADIGM NANO HYBRID UNIVERSAL RESTORATIVE MATERIALS PARADIGM DEEPCURE DENTAL CURING LIGHT PARADIGM PENTA HB VPS IMPRESSION MATERIALS CLINPRO 5000 TOOTHPASTE Food and Beverage 3M COMPANY
Sep 18, 2018 $25 FILTEK ONE BULK FILL RESTORATIVE SCOTCHBOND UNIVERSAL ADHESIVE FILTEK SUPREME ULTRA UNIVERSAL RESTORATIVE MATERIALS Food and Beverage 3M COMPANY

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/192510

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.