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/214194
  • 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/214194
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.

JOSEPH LOWNEY

Listed Specialty: Gastroenterology
1050 WARWICK AVE, WARWICK, RI, 02888-3655

2018 Payments: At a Glance

146

payments

$62,892

payment total

12

companies paid this doctor

Types of Payments

Category Payments Payment Value
Promotional Speaking/Other
 22 $41,375
Nonaccredited Training
 5 $11,000
Consulting
 1 $3,750
Food and Beverage
 81 $3,680
Travel and Lodging
 35 $3,080
Education
 2 $8

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†
HUMIRA

drug

 $21,475
TRULANCE

drug

 $16,224
XELJANZ

drug

 $7,836
XIFAXAN

drug

 $6,276
RELISTOR

drug

 $4,211
Payments with no listed product

N/A

 $2,745
UCERIS

drug

 $2,108
DOPTELET

drug

 $1,799
PROLIA

drug

 $81
REPATHA

drug

 $81
CIMZIA

drug

 $39
LYRICA

drug

 $23
ORENCIA

drug

 $17
MORPHABOND ER

drug

 $15
CREON

drug

 $15
MITIGARE

drug

 $14
INVOKANA

drug

 $14
XARELTO

drug

 $14
† 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
Nov 27, 2018 $3,750 XELJANZ Consulting PFIZER INC. JOSEPH LOWNEY
Feb 23, 2018 $3,000 TRULANCE Promotional Speaking/Other SYNERGY PHARMACEUTICALS INC
Jul 30, 2018 $3,000 XIFAXAN Nonaccredited Training SALIX PHARMACEUTICALS, A DIVISION OF BAUSCH HEALTH US, LLC
Dec 17, 2018 $2,250 HUMIRA Promotional Speaking/Other ABBVIE, INC.
Jan 22, 2018 $2,250 HUMIRA Promotional Speaking/Other ABBVIE, INC.
Jul 10, 2018 $2,250 No Listed Product Promotional Speaking/Other ABBVIE, INC.
Sep 4, 2018 $2,250 HUMIRA Promotional Speaking/Other ABBVIE, INC.
Nov 12, 2018 $2,250 HUMIRA Promotional Speaking/Other ABBVIE, INC.
Sep 17, 2018 $2,250 HUMIRA Promotional Speaking/Other ABBVIE, INC.
Jun 12, 2018 $2,250 HUMIRA Promotional Speaking/Other ABBVIE, INC.
Feb 27, 2018 $2,250 HUMIRA Promotional Speaking/Other ABBVIE, INC.
Nov 14, 2018 $2,250 HUMIRA Promotional Speaking/Other ABBVIE, INC.
Oct 29, 2018 $2,250 HUMIRA Promotional Speaking/Other ABBVIE, INC.
Mar 6, 2018 $2,000 UCERIS Nonaccredited Training SALIX PHARMACEUTICALS, A DIVISION OF BAUSCH HEALTH US, LLC
Apr 24, 2018 $2,000 RELISTOR Nonaccredited Training SALIX PHARMACEUTICALS, A DIVISION OF BAUSCH HEALTH US, LLC
Oct 8, 2018 $2,000 RELISTOR Nonaccredited Training SALIX PHARMACEUTICALS, A DIVISION OF BAUSCH HEALTH US, LLC
Jun 26, 2018 $2,000 XIFAXAN Nonaccredited Training SALIX PHARMACEUTICALS, A DIVISION OF BAUSCH HEALTH US, LLC
Jul 24, 2018 $1,800 TRULANCE Promotional Speaking/Other SYNERGY PHARMACEUTICALS INC
Apr 19, 2018 $1,800 TRULANCE Promotional Speaking/Other SYNERGY PHARMACEUTICALS INC
Apr 3, 2018 $1,800 TRULANCE Promotional Speaking/Other SYNERGY PHARMACEUTICALS 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/214194

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.