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/2237
  • 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/2237
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.

SHANKAR PERUMAL

Listed Specialty: Neurology
1918 RANDOLPH ROAD, SUITE 400, CHARLOTTE, NC, 28207-1196

2018 Payments: At a Glance

85

payments

$10,582

payment total

17

companies paid this doctor

Types of Payments

Category Payments Payment Value
Promotional Speaking/Other
 3 $2,875
Consulting
 2 $2,750
Travel and Lodging
 15 $2,258
Food and Beverage
 64 $2,099
Education
 1 $600

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†
BRIVIACT

drug

 $6,938
VNS THERAPY

device

 $1,263
ROSA BRAIN

device

 $816
RNS SYSTEM

device

 $725
Payments with no listed product

N/A

 $213
AIMOVIG

drug

 $133
FYCOMPA

drug

 $119
TECFIDERA

drug

 $76
ARC APOLLO

device

 $63
LYRICA

drug

 $44
GILENYA

drug

 $34
BOTOX

drug

 $33
TROKENDI XR

drug

 $27
AJOVY

drug

 $25
ONFI

drug

 $22
HIZENTRA

drug

 $20
KEVEYIS

drug

 $16
EMGALITY

drug

 $15
† 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
Oct 15, 2018 $2,500 BRIVIACT Consulting UCB, INC. Shankar Perumal
Jun 12, 2018 $2,000 BRIVIACT Promotional Speaking/Other UCB, INC.
Dec 17, 2018 $750 BRIVIACT Promotional Speaking/Other UCB, INC.
Dec 31, 2018 $600 RNS SYSTEM Education NEUROPACE, INC.
Sep 28, 2018 $517 BRIVIACT Travel and Lodging UCB, INC. Shankar Perumal
Aug 10, 2018 $475 VNS THERAPY Travel and Lodging LIVANOVA USA, INC.
Sep 28, 2018 $281 BRIVIACT Travel and Lodging UCB, INC. Shankar Perumal
Aug 11, 2018 $255 VNS THERAPY Travel and Lodging LIVANOVA USA, INC.
Apr 25, 2018 $250 VNS THERAPY Consulting LIVANOVA USA, INC.
Nov 16, 2018 $199 ROSA BRAIN Travel and Lodging ZIMMER BIOMET HOLDINGS, INC.
Aug 11, 2018 $179 VNS THERAPY Food and Beverage LIVANOVA USA, INC.
Dec 1, 2018 $125 RNS SYSTEM Food and Beverage NEUROPACE, INC.
May 31, 2018 $125 BRIVIACT Promotional Speaking/Other UCB, INC.
Jun 14, 2018 $119 AIMOVIG Food and Beverage AMGEN INC.
Nov 16, 2018 $117 ROSA BRAIN Food and Beverage ZIMMER BIOMET HOLDINGS, INC.
Dec 1, 2018 $115 FYCOMPA Food and Beverage EISAI INC.
Jul 25, 2018 $113 BRIVIACT Food and Beverage UCB, INC.
Oct 23, 2018 $113 ROSA BRAIN Travel and Lodging ZIMMER BIOMET HOLDINGS, INC.
Oct 23, 2018 $108 ROSA BRAIN Travel and Lodging ZIMMER BIOMET HOLDINGS, INC.
Apr 16, 2018 $106 BRIVIACT Food and Beverage UCB, 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/2237

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.