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/222151
  • 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/222151
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.


STEVEN MCCARUS

Listed Specialty: Obstetrics & Gynecology
400 CELEBRATION PL, SUITE A-310, CELEBRATION, FL, 34747-4970

2018 Payments: At a Glance

422

payments

$416,888

payment total

16

companies paid this doctor

Types of Payments

Category Payments Payment Value
Consulting
35 $169K
Promotional Speaking/Other
44 $123K
Travel and Lodging
203 $51,690
Royalty or License
1 $50,558
Nonaccredited Training
1 $10,000
Food and Beverage
133 $8,491
Honoraria
1 $4,500
Gift
4 $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
FORNISEE

device

$85,760
LUPRON

drug

$83,762
EXPAREL

drug

$60,820
HARMONIC PRODUCT FAMILY

device

$42,180
ENSEAL PRODUCT FAMILY

device

$41,112
STRATAFIX

device

$38,895
RUNNING DEVICE RD180

device

$34,763
TI KNOT

device

$34,763
AIM LAPARASCOPES

device

$33,090
GYNECARE TVT FAMILY OF PRODUCTS

device

$31,278
SURGICEL FAMILY OF ABSORBABLE HEMOSTATS

device

$29,674
Payments with no listed product

N/A

$29,595
DERMACELL

device

$23,375
SPY TECHNOLOGY

device

$16,496
NOVASURE

device

$13,217
MYOSURE

device

$11,008
ENDOPATH ETS ARTICULATING LINEAR CUTTER

device

$10,145
1588 HD 3 CHIP CAMERA

device

$9,335
SPRIX

drug

$4,818
PERCUTANEOUS SOLUTIONS: PERCUVANCE & MINILAP BRANDS

device

$4,307
† 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/222151

Payment Details

When How Much Related To What For From Third Party Payee
Jan 9, 2018 $50,558 FORNISEE Royalty or License LSI SOLUTIONS INC American Society Women's Health
Aug 26, 2018 $23,566 FORNISEE RUNNING DEVICE RD180 TI KNOT Consulting LSI SOLUTIONS INC American Society Women's Health
Dec 21, 2018 $10,719 ENSEAL PRODUCT FAMILY HARMONIC PRODUCT FAMILY STRATAFIX SURGICEL FAMILY OF ABSORBABLE HEMOSTATS Consulting MEDICAL DEVICE BUSINESS SERVICES, INC. ENDOSCOPIC CONSULTANTS LLC
Jan 14, 2018 $10,000 FORNISEE RUNNING DEVICE RD180 TI KNOT Nonaccredited Training LSI SOLUTIONS INC American Society Women's Health
May 3, 2018 $9,775 AIM LAPARASCOPES Consulting STRYKER CORPORATION ENDOSCOPIC CONSULTANTS
Apr 3, 2018 $8,094 ENSEAL PRODUCT FAMILY HARMONIC PRODUCT FAMILY STRATAFIX SURGICEL FAMILY OF ABSORBABLE HEMOSTATS Consulting MEDICAL DEVICE BUSINESS SERVICES, INC. ENDOSCOPIC CONSULTANTS LLC
Sep 27, 2018 $7,650 SPY TECHNOLOGY DERMACELL Consulting STRYKER CORPORATION ENDOSCOPIC CONSULTANTS
Jun 7, 2018 $7,225 DERMACELL Consulting STRYKER CORPORATION ENDOSCOPIC CONSULTANTS
Oct 18, 2018 $7,004 GYNECARE TVT FAMILY OF PRODUCTS Consulting MEDICAL DEVICE BUSINESS SERVICES, INC.
Mar 8, 2018 $6,800 AIM LAPARASCOPES Consulting STRYKER CORPORATION ENDOSCOPIC CONSULTANTS
Jun 8, 2018 $6,400 No Listed Product Consulting ABBVIE, INC. Endoscopic Consultants
Jan 11, 2018 $6,000 No Listed Product Consulting ABBVIE, INC. Endoscopic Consultants
Oct 10, 2018 $5,250 GYNECARE TVT FAMILY OF PRODUCTS Consulting MEDICAL DEVICE BUSINESS SERVICES, INC.
May 17, 2018 $4,625 EXPAREL Promotional Speaking/Other PACIRA PHARMACEUTICALS INCORPORATED Endoscopic Consultants LLC
Apr 5, 2018 $4,625 EXPAREL Promotional Speaking/Other PACIRA PHARMACEUTICALS INCORPORATED Endoscopic Consultants LLC
Jan 18, 2018 $4,500 No Listed Product Honoraria RICHARD WOLF MEDICAL INSTRUMENTS CORP.
Jan 30, 2018 $4,377 ENDOPATH ETS ARTICULATING LINEAR CUTTER HARMONIC PRODUCT FAMILY STRATAFIX ENSEAL PRODUCT FAMILY Consulting MEDICAL DEVICE BUSINESS SERVICES, INC. ENDOSCOPIC CONSULTANTS LLC
Jul 6, 2018 $4,376 GYNECARE TVT FAMILY OF PRODUCTS Consulting MEDICAL DEVICE BUSINESS SERVICES, INC.
Dec 12, 2018 $4,255 EXPAREL Promotional Speaking/Other PACIRA PHARMACEUTICALS INCORPORATED Endoscopic Consultants LLC
Jun 28, 2018 $4,250 AIM LAPARASCOPES Consulting STRYKER CORPORATION ENDOSCOPIC CONSULTANTS

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/222151

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.