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/218956
  • 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/218956
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.

SERGIO SCHWARTZMAN

Listed Specialty: Rheumatology
535 E 70TH ST, NEW YORK, NY, 10021-4872

2018 Payments: At a Glance

572

payments

$560,107

payment total

13

companies paid this doctor

Types of Payments

Category Payments Payment Value
Promotional Speaking/Other
 138 $350K
Consulting
 26 $105K
Travel and Lodging
 236 $94,721
Food and Beverage
 166 $10,173
Education
 6 $159

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†
Payments with no listed product

N/A

 $86,977
KEVZARA

drug

 $86,393
XELJANZ

drug

 $78,163
TALTZ

drug

 $75,996
HUMIRA

drug

 $72,681
COSENTYX

drug

 $71,872
SIMPONI ARIA

drug

 $71,058
STELARA

drug

 $63,469
TREMFYA

drug

 $7,174
REMICADE

drug

 $5,115
CIMZIA

drug

 $3,554
ACTEMRA

drug

 $1,757
AUBAGIO

drug

 $123
LEMTRADA

drug

 $123
RITUXAN

drug

 $7
† 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
Jul 13, 2018 $11,439 KEVZARA Consulting GENZYME CORPORATION
Aug 3, 2018 $8,490 COSENTYX Consulting NOVARTIS PHARMACEUTICALS CORPORATION
Dec 7, 2018 $8,138 KEVZARA Consulting GENZYME CORPORATION
Jul 13, 2018 $7,781 KEVZARA Travel and Lodging GENZYME CORPORATION
Apr 20, 2018 $7,088 KEVZARA Consulting GENZYME CORPORATION
May 11, 2018 $6,960 KEVZARA Consulting REGENERON HEALTHCARE SOLUTIONS, INC.
Feb 8, 2018 $6,500 No Listed Product Consulting ABBVIE, INC.
Jan 2, 2018 $6,490 COSENTYX Consulting NOVARTIS PHARMACEUTICALS CORPORATION
Oct 25, 2018 $6,000 TREMFYA Consulting JANSSEN GLOBAL SERVICES, LLC
Feb 9, 2018 $5,700 TALTZ Consulting LILLY USA, LLC
Dec 7, 2018 $5,643 KEVZARA Travel and Lodging GENZYME CORPORATION
Aug 27, 2018 $5,220 KEVZARA Consulting REGENERON HEALTHCARE SOLUTIONS, INC.
Oct 9, 2018 $5,220 KEVZARA Consulting REGENERON HEALTHCARE SOLUTIONS, INC.
Sep 17, 2018 $4,868 COSENTYX Promotional Speaking/Other NOVARTIS PHARMACEUTICALS CORPORATION
Aug 14, 2018 $4,800 TALTZ Consulting LILLY USA, LLC
Apr 20, 2018 $4,473 KEVZARA Travel and Lodging GENZYME CORPORATION
Feb 23, 2018 $4,253 KEVZARA Promotional Speaking/Other REGENERON HEALTHCARE SOLUTIONS, INC.
Apr 20, 2018 $4,240 SIMPONI ARIA REMICADE Consulting JANSSEN SCIENTIFIC AFFAIRS, LLC
Jan 24, 2018 $4,040 COSENTYX Promotional Speaking/Other NOVARTIS PHARMACEUTICALS CORPORATION
May 30, 2018 $4,040 No Listed Product Promotional Speaking/Other NOVARTIS PHARMACEUTICALS CORPORATION

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/218956

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.