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/215138
  • 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/215138
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.

SUNDARAM RAVIKUMAR

Listed Specialty: Vascular Surgery
88 ASHFORD AVE, DOBBS FERRY, NY, 10522-1812

2018 Payments: At a Glance

17

payments

$340,251

payment total

7

companies paid this doctor

Types of Payments

Category Payments Payment Value
Royalty or License
 4 $334K
Education
 1 $4,800
Food and Beverage
 12 $1,870

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†
PERCUTANEOUS SOLUTIONS: PERCUVANCE & MINILAP BRANDS

device

 $334K
EVLT

device

 $4,800
AFX

device

 $864
OVATION

device

 $329
FLEXITOUCH

device

 $307
ACTITOUCH

device

 $307
ENTRE

device

 $307
SUPERA PERIPHERAL STENT SYSTEM

device

 $170
Payments with no listed product

N/A

 $150
ASSURITY PACEMAKER

device

 $34
CYCLOSET

drug

 $17
† 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

All payments are displayed, the largest appearing on top.

When How Much Related To What For From Third Party Payee
Jan 12, 2018 $91,274 PERCUTANEOUS SOLUTIONS: PERCUVANCE & MINILAP BRANDS Royalty or License TELEFLEX MEDICAL INCORPORATED
Jul 20, 2018 $83,372 PERCUTANEOUS SOLUTIONS: PERCUVANCE & MINILAP BRANDS Royalty or License TELEFLEX MEDICAL INCORPORATED
Nov 23, 2018 $80,500 PERCUTANEOUS SOLUTIONS: PERCUVANCE & MINILAP BRANDS Royalty or License TELEFLEX MEDICAL INCORPORATED MINI-LAP TECHNOLOGIES INC
Apr 13, 2018 $78,435 PERCUTANEOUS SOLUTIONS: PERCUVANCE & MINILAP BRANDS Royalty or License TELEFLEX MEDICAL INCORPORATED MINI-LAP TECHNOLOGIES LLC
Dec 31, 2018 $4,800 EVLT Education ANGIODYNAMICS, INC.
Jun 28, 2018 $432 AFX Food and Beverage ENDOLOGIX, INC.
Jul 26, 2018 $259 AFX Food and Beverage ENDOLOGIX, INC.
Mar 30, 2018 $201 OVATION Food and Beverage ENDOLOGIX, INC.
Jul 12, 2018 $170 SUPERA PERIPHERAL STENT SYSTEM Food and Beverage ABBOTT LABORATORIES
Oct 1, 2018 $162 FLEXITOUCH ACTITOUCH ENTRE Food and Beverage TACTILE SYSTEMS TECHNOLOGY INC
Apr 24, 2018 $150 AFX Food and Beverage ENDOLOGIX, INC.
May 17, 2018 $150 No Listed Product Food and Beverage BIOTRONIK INC.
Jun 21, 2018 $145 FLEXITOUCH ACTITOUCH ENTRE Food and Beverage TACTILE SYSTEMS TECHNOLOGY INC
Feb 13, 2018 $128 OVATION Food and Beverage ENDOLOGIX, INC.
Jun 5, 2018 $34 ASSURITY PACEMAKER Food and Beverage ABBOTT LABORATORIES
Jul 26, 2018 $22 AFX Food and Beverage ENDOLOGIX, INC.
Dec 10, 2018 $17 CYCLOSET Food and Beverage SALIX PHARMACEUTICALS, A DIVISION OF BAUSCH HEALTH US, LLC

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.