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/22570
  • 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/22570
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.

JOSEPH SPARANO

Listed Specialty: Medical Oncology
MMC - DEPT. OF ONCOLOGY, 1695 EASTCHESTER ROAD, BRONX, NY, 10461

2018 Payments: At a Glance

31

payments

$25,894

payment total

12

companies paid this doctor

Types of Payments

Category Payments Payment Value
Consulting
 6 $18,037
Travel and Lodging
 9 $4,837
Promotional Speaking/Other
 1 $2,500
Food and Beverage
 15 $520

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

 $10,559
NON-COVERED PRODUCT

drug

 $4,204
CELLSEARCH

device

 $3,516
CAR-T

drug

 $2,000
SELZENTRY

drug

 $2,000
JCAR017

drug

 $2,000
IMFINZI

drug

 $1,052
PACLITAXEL

drug

 $385
IBRANCE

drug

 $46
IMBRUVICA

drug

 $43
KISQALI

drug

 $28
AFINITOR

drug

 $25
VENCLEXTA

drug

 $23
OPDIVO

drug

 $13
† 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 30, 2018 $7,500 No Listed Product Consulting PFIZER INTERNATIONAL LLC
Mar 16, 2018 $4,000 NON-COVERED PRODUCT Consulting GENENTECH, INC.
Jan 1, 2018 $2,500 No Listed Product Promotional Speaking/Other NOVARTIS PHARMACEUTICALS CORPORATION
Sep 17, 2018 $2,081 CELLSEARCH Travel and Lodging MENARINI SILICON BIOSYSTEMS, INC.
Jul 23, 2018 $2,000 SELZENTRY Consulting PFIZER INC.
Nov 6, 2018 $2,000 JCAR017 Consulting CELGENE CORPORATION
Mar 27, 2018 $2,000 CAR-T Consulting CELGENE CORPORATION
Jul 24, 2018 $1,435 CELLSEARCH Travel and Lodging MENARINI SILICON BIOSYSTEMS, INC.
Jun 24, 2018 $537 IMFINZI Consulting ASTRAZENECA PHARMACEUTICALS LP
Dec 3, 2018 $326 PACLITAXEL Travel and Lodging ATHENEX PHARMACEUTICAL DIVISION, LLC
Jan 3, 2018 $292 IMFINZI Travel and Lodging ASTRAZENECA PHARMACEUTICALS LP
Jan 3, 2018 $222 IMFINZI Travel and Lodging ASTRAZENECA PHARMACEUTICALS LP
Jan 1, 2018 $192 No Listed Product Travel and Lodging NOVARTIS PHARMACEUTICALS CORPORATION
Mar 16, 2018 $139 NON-COVERED PRODUCT Travel and Lodging GENENTECH, INC.
Jun 23, 2018 $115 No Listed Product Food and Beverage PFIZER INTERNATIONAL LLC
Jan 1, 2018 $101 No Listed Product Travel and Lodging NOVARTIS PHARMACEUTICALS CORPORATION
Mar 16, 2018 $65 NON-COVERED PRODUCT Food and Beverage GENENTECH, INC.
Dec 3, 2018 $59 PACLITAXEL Food and Beverage ATHENEX PHARMACEUTICAL DIVISION, LLC
Jun 1, 2018 $58 No Listed Product Food and Beverage DAIICHI SANKYO INC.
Aug 20, 2018 $50 No Listed Product Travel and Lodging PFIZER INTERNATIONAL 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/22570

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.