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/203242
  • 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/203242
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.

GERALD BILSKY

Listed Specialty: Physical Medicine & Rehabilitation
2020 PEACHTREE RD NW, ATLANTA, GA, 30309-1426

2018 Payments: At a Glance

24

payments

$4,534

payment total

13

companies paid this doctor

Types of Payments

Category Payments Payment Value
Promotional Speaking/Other
 2 $2,210
Consulting
 2 $1,317
Food and Beverage
 19 $753
Travel and Lodging
 1 $254

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†
LIORESAL

device

 $3,147
SYNCHROMED

device

 $1,048
N'VISION

device

 $71
NORTHERA

drug

 $48
BEVYXXA

drug

 $32
XEOMIN

drug

 $31
ZERBAXA

drug

 $25
AIMOVIG

drug

 $24
GABLOFEN 1 ML IN 1 SYRINGE, GLASS

drug

 $23
GATTEX

drug

 $20
Payments with no listed product

N/A

 $19
VIBATIV

drug

 $18
NUEDEXTA

drug

 $16
XARELTO

drug

 $13
† 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
Oct 12, 2018 $1,305 LIORESAL Consulting SAOL THERAPEUTICS INC.
Jul 25, 2018 $1,300 LIORESAL Promotional Speaking/Other MEDTRONIC USA, INC.
Oct 10, 2018 $910 SYNCHROMED Promotional Speaking/Other MEDTRONIC USA, INC.
Jul 13, 2018 $254 LIORESAL Travel and Lodging MEDTRONIC VASCULAR, INC.
Sep 5, 2018 $109 LIORESAL Food and Beverage MEDTRONIC USA, INC.
Dec 10, 2018 $95 LIORESAL Food and Beverage SAOL THERAPEUTICS INC.
Feb 13, 2018 $84 SYNCHROMED Food and Beverage MEDTRONIC USA, INC.
Jul 10, 2018 $71 LIORESAL Food and Beverage MEDTRONIC USA, INC.
Feb 15, 2018 $54 SYNCHROMED Food and Beverage MEDTRONIC USA, INC.
Jun 25, 2018 $53 N'VISION Food and Beverage MEDTRONIC USA, INC.
Sep 17, 2018 $32 BEVYXXA Food and Beverage PORTOLA PHARMACEUTICALS, INC.
Feb 9, 2018 $31 XEOMIN Food and Beverage MERZ NORTH AMERICA, INC.
Apr 10, 2018 $25 ZERBAXA Food and Beverage MERCK SHARP & DOHME CORPORATION
Feb 6, 2018 $24 NORTHERA Food and Beverage LUNDBECK LLC
Jun 26, 2018 $24 AIMOVIG Food and Beverage AMGEN INC.
May 24, 2018 $24 NORTHERA Food and Beverage LUNDBECK LLC
Apr 19, 2018 $23 GABLOFEN 1 ML IN 1 SYRINGE, GLASS Food and Beverage PIRAMAL CRITICAL CARE
Jun 27, 2018 $20 GATTEX Food and Beverage SHIRE NORTH AMERICAN GROUP INC
May 8, 2018 $19 No Listed Product Food and Beverage AMGEN INC.
Jan 10, 2018 $18 VIBATIV Food and Beverage THERAVANCE BIOPHARMA 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/203242

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.