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/217619
  • 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/217619
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.

SALAM ZAKKO

Listed Specialty: Gastroenterology
25 NEWELL RD, SUITE E-36, BRISTOL, CT, 06010-5100

2018 Payments: At a Glance

89

payments

$27,019

payment total

18

companies paid this doctor

Types of Payments

Category Payments Payment Value
Nonaccredited Training
 3 $15,000
Travel and Lodging
 19 $5,935
Consulting
 1 $3,500
Food and Beverage
 64 $2,576
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†
XIFAXAN

drug

 $17,655
Payments with no listed product

N/A

 $4,158
OZANIMOD

drug

 $2,718
MB MMX

drug

 $1,283
LINZESS

drug

 $738
SMART PILL

device

 $112
CREON

drug

 $88
HUMIRA

drug

 $76
VIBERZI

drug

 $58
UCERIS

drug

 $49
TRULANCE

drug

 $29
CANASA

drug

 $28
PHOTOFRIN

drug

 $19
ZEPATIER

drug

 $17
AMITIZA

drug

 $16
STELARA

drug

 $16
GATTEX

drug

 $14
SUCRAID

drug

 $8
† 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
Jun 4, 2018 $5,000 XIFAXAN Nonaccredited Training SALIX PHARMACEUTICALS, A DIVISION OF BAUSCH HEALTH US, LLC
Jun 4, 2018 $5,000 XIFAXAN Nonaccredited Training SALIX PHARMACEUTICALS, A DIVISION OF BAUSCH HEALTH US, LLC
Mar 2, 2018 $5,000 XIFAXAN Nonaccredited Training SALIX PHARMACEUTICALS, A DIVISION OF BAUSCH HEALTH US, LLC
Jun 2, 2018 $3,500 No Listed Product Consulting US WORLDMEDS, LLC
Apr 11, 2018 $943 OZANIMOD Travel and Lodging CELGENE CORPORATION
Apr 11, 2018 $906 OZANIMOD Travel and Lodging CELGENE CORPORATION
May 5, 2018 $866 MB MMX Travel and Lodging ARIES PHARMACEUTICALS, INC.
May 9, 2018 $576 XIFAXAN Travel and Lodging SALIX PHARMACEUTICALS, A DIVISION OF BAUSCH HEALTH US, LLC
Apr 25, 2018 $494 XIFAXAN Travel and Lodging SALIX PHARMACEUTICALS, A DIVISION OF BAUSCH HEALTH US, LLC
Feb 7, 2018 $424 XIFAXAN Travel and Lodging SALIX PHARMACEUTICALS, A DIVISION OF BAUSCH HEALTH US, LLC
Jun 23, 2018 $312 LINZESS Food and Beverage IRONWOOD PHARMACEUTICALS, INC
May 4, 2018 $277 MB MMX Food and Beverage ARIES PHARMACEUTICALS, INC.
Apr 11, 2018 $216 OZANIMOD Travel and Lodging CELGENE CORPORATION
May 9, 2018 $202 XIFAXAN Travel and Lodging SALIX PHARMACEUTICALS, A DIVISION OF BAUSCH HEALTH US, LLC
Apr 25, 2018 $196 XIFAXAN Travel and Lodging SALIX PHARMACEUTICALS, A DIVISION OF BAUSCH HEALTH US, LLC
Jun 2, 2018 $183 No Listed Product Food and Beverage PFIZER INC.
Jun 23, 2018 $178 LINZESS Travel and Lodging IRONWOOD PHARMACEUTICALS, INC
Jun 23, 2018 $144 LINZESS Travel and Lodging IRONWOOD PHARMACEUTICALS, INC
May 3, 2018 $140 MB MMX Travel and Lodging ARIES PHARMACEUTICALS, INC.
Jun 12, 2018 $133 No Listed Product Travel and Lodging US WORLDMEDS, LLC

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/217619

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.