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/217027
  • 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/217027
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.

MICHAEL FREY

Listed Specialty: Interventional Pain Medicine
8255 COLLEGE PKWY, STE 100, FORT MYERS, FL, 33919-5119

2018 Payments: At a Glance

101

payments

$12,360

payment total

25

companies paid this doctor

Types of Payments

Category Payments Payment Value
Promotional Speaking/Other
 9 $9,543
Food and Beverage
 90 $2,472
Travel and Lodging
 2 $345

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†
XTAMPZA

drug

 $4,033
ZOHYDRO ER

drug

 $2,417
LYRICA

drug

 $2,167
EVZIO

drug

 $1,429
GRALISE

drug

 $519
PRIMLEV

drug

 $391
INTELLIS

device

 $351
Payments with no listed product

N/A

 $344
MORPHABOND ER

drug

 $165
EMBEDA

drug

 $138
FLECTOR PATCH

drug

 $138
SYMPROIC

drug

 $110
GENERAL PAIN MANAGEMENT

device

 $60
PRIALT

drug

 $55
AMITIZA

drug

 $51
RELISTOR

drug

 $29
XIFAXAN

drug

 $29
BOTOX

drug

 $28
TROKENDI XR

drug

 $26
SPRIX

drug

 $26
† 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.

For ease of printing, only the 20 drugs and devices with the highest payments are displayed. For a complete list, please visit: https://projects.propublica.org/docdollars/doctors/pid/217027

Payment Details

When How Much Related To What For From Third Party Payee
Apr 30, 2018 $1,770 ZOHYDRO ER Promotional Speaking/Other PERNIX THERAPEUTICS HOLDINGS, INC.
Mar 28, 2018 $1,725 XTAMPZA Promotional Speaking/Other COLLEGIUM PHARMACEUTICAL, INC.
Feb 7, 2018 $1,725 XTAMPZA Promotional Speaking/Other COLLEGIUM PHARMACEUTICAL, INC.
May 1, 2018 $1,400 EVZIO Promotional Speaking/Other KALEO, INC.
Apr 11, 2018 $1,000 LYRICA Promotional Speaking/Other PFIZER INC.
Feb 21, 2018 $1,000 LYRICA Promotional Speaking/Other PFIZER INC.
Feb 23, 2018 $500 GRALISE Promotional Speaking/Other DEPOMED, INC.
Apr 10, 2018 $322 PRIMLEV Food and Beverage AKRIMAX PHARMACEUTICALS, LLC
Apr 24, 2018 $250 ZOHYDRO ER Promotional Speaking/Other PERNIX THERAPEUTICS HOLDINGS, INC.
Apr 19, 2018 $187 ZOHYDRO ER Travel and Lodging PERNIX THERAPEUTICS HOLDINGS, INC.
Feb 28, 2018 $173 XTAMPZA Promotional Speaking/Other COLLEGIUM PHARMACEUTICAL, INC.
Apr 11, 2018 $158 XTAMPZA Travel and Lodging COLLEGIUM PHARMACEUTICAL, INC.
Jan 15, 2018 $134 No Listed Product Food and Beverage AKRIMAX PHARMACEUTICALS, LLC
Feb 1, 2018 $125 XTAMPZA Food and Beverage COLLEGIUM PHARMACEUTICAL, INC.
Mar 21, 2018 $121 XTAMPZA Food and Beverage COLLEGIUM PHARMACEUTICAL, INC.
Apr 19, 2018 $120 ZOHYDRO ER Food and Beverage PERNIX THERAPEUTICS HOLDINGS, INC.
Feb 21, 2018 $106 No Listed Product Food and Beverage AKRIMAX PHARMACEUTICALS, LLC
May 2, 2018 $98 SYMPROIC Food and Beverage PURDUE PHARMA L.P.
Jan 19, 2018 $91 INTELLIS Food and Beverage MEDTRONIC USA, INC.
Jun 20, 2018 $86 INTELLIS Food and Beverage MEDTRONIC USA, 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/217027

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.