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/203598
  • 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/203598
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.

RONALD SING

Listed Specialty: Surgery
1350 S KINGS DR, CHARLOTTE, NC, 28207-2134

2018 Payments: At a Glance

33

payments

$20,694

payment total

7

companies paid this doctor

Types of Payments

Category Payments Payment Value
Nonaccredited Training
 3 $13,200
Accredited Training
 1 $4,550
Travel and Lodging
 13 $2,103
Food and Beverage
 16 $840

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†
COOK MEDICAL IAA

device

 $13,338
COOK MEDICAL NEEDLES

device

 $4,642
COOK MEDICAL FILTERS

device

 $1,456
COOK MEDICAL PERIPHERAL INTERVENTION

device

 $713
WATCHMAN

device

 $122
COOK MEDICAL CELECT PLATINUM

device

 $98
COOK MEDICAL CENTESIS & DRAINAGE

device

 $84
OPTION

device

 $55
ARISTA AH

device

 $55
COOK MEDICAL CRITICAL CARE

device

 $43
COOK MEDICAL AIRWAY MANAGEMENT

device

 $29
COOK MEDICAL ANTIMICROBIAL COATED CATHETERS

device

 $21
SYNECOR BIOMATERIAL

device

 $21
PIPELINE

device

 $16
† 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
Apr 27, 2018 $4,550 COOK MEDICAL NEEDLES Accredited Training COOK INCORPORATED
Aug 6, 2018 $4,400 COOK MEDICAL IAA Nonaccredited Training COOK INCORPORATED
Nov 16, 2018 $4,400 COOK MEDICAL IAA Nonaccredited Training COOK INCORPORATED
Nov 29, 2018 $4,400 COOK MEDICAL IAA Nonaccredited Training COOK INCORPORATED
Nov 8, 2018 $539 COOK MEDICAL FILTERS Travel and Lodging COOK MEDICAL LLC
Oct 2, 2018 $388 COOK MEDICAL FILTERS Travel and Lodging COOK MEDICAL LLC
Oct 13, 2018 $356 COOK MEDICAL FILTERS Travel and Lodging COOK MEDICAL LLC
Oct 18, 2018 $249 COOK MEDICAL PERIPHERAL INTERVENTION Travel and Lodging COOK INCORPORATED
Sep 27, 2018 $203 COOK MEDICAL PERIPHERAL INTERVENTION Travel and Lodging COOK INCORPORATED
Oct 17, 2018 $123 COOK MEDICAL PERIPHERAL INTERVENTION Food and Beverage COOK INCORPORATED
Aug 1, 2018 $122 WATCHMAN Food and Beverage BOSTON SCIENTIFIC CORPORATION
May 10, 2018 $100 COOK MEDICAL FILTERS Food and Beverage COOK MEDICAL LLC
Sep 5, 2018 $98 COOK MEDICAL CELECT PLATINUM Food and Beverage COOK MEDICAL LLC
Nov 29, 2018 $90 COOK MEDICAL IAA Travel and Lodging COOK INCORPORATED
Mar 29, 2018 $84 COOK MEDICAL CENTESIS & DRAINAGE Food and Beverage COOK INCORPORATED
Apr 27, 2018 $72 COOK MEDICAL NEEDLES Travel and Lodging COOK INCORPORATED
May 10, 2018 $69 COOK MEDICAL FILTERS Food and Beverage COOK MEDICAL LLC
May 10, 2018 $55 OPTION Food and Beverage ARGON MEDICAL DEVICES, INC.
Nov 16, 2018 $48 COOK MEDICAL IAA Travel and Lodging COOK INCORPORATED
Oct 23, 2018 $43 COOK MEDICAL CRITICAL CARE Food and Beverage COOK INCORPORATED

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/203598

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.