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/226921
  • 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/226921
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.

MICHAEL GERHARDT

Listed Specialty: Sports Medicine
2020 SANTA MONICA BLVD STE 400, SANTA MONICA, CA, 90404-2139

2018 Payments: At a Glance

71

payments

$55,916

payment total

13

companies paid this doctor

Types of Payments

Category Payments Payment Value
Consulting
 10 $34,197
Promotional Speaking/Other
 1 $13,800
Travel and Lodging
 14 $4,101
Food and Beverage
 41 $2,930
Royalty or License
 4 $537
Honoraria
 1 $350

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

 $14,537
NOVATION

device

 $13,547
SHOULDER IMPLANTS OTHER BICEPS REPAIR

device

 $11,335
SHOULDER INSTRUMENTS ANCHOR SPECIFIC INSTRUMENTS OTHER

device

 $11,335
KNEE & HIP SUTURE FIBERWIRE #2 FIBERWIRE

device

 $11,335
ACTIS

device

 $7,754
DOUBLE MOBILITY HIP PRODUCTS

device

 $4,200
EXPAREL

drug

 $3,950
PINNACLE

device

 $2,765
EQUINOXE

device

 $1,200
GMK SPHERE

device

 $928
AMISTEM

device

 $598
KNEE & HIP INSTRUMENTS HIP LIMB POSITIONERS

device

 $537
MAKO

device

 $523
CINGAL

device

 $350
CINCHLOCK SS

device

 $233
ZILRETTA

drug

 $141
COLLAGEN MENISCAL IMPLANT

device

 $141
ACCUPASS DIRECT CRESCENT XL

device

 $135
SUTUREFIX

device

 $135
† 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/226921

Payment Details

When How Much Related To What For From Third Party Payee
May 17, 2018 $13,800 No Listed Product Promotional Speaking/Other ARTHREX, INC.
Oct 4, 2018 $10,200 SHOULDER INSTRUMENTS ANCHOR SPECIFIC INSTRUMENTS OTHER KNEE & HIP SUTURE FIBERWIRE #2 FIBERWIRE SHOULDER IMPLANTS OTHER BICEPS REPAIR Consulting ARTHREX, INC.
Oct 5, 2018 $7,500 NOVATION Consulting EXACTECH, INC.
May 24, 2018 $4,200 DOUBLE MOBILITY HIP PRODUCTS Consulting MEDACTA USA, INC.
Dec 10, 2018 $3,950 ACTIS EXPAREL Consulting MEDICAL DEVICE BUSINESS SERVICES, INC.
Jul 18, 2018 $2,765 ACTIS PINNACLE Consulting MEDICAL DEVICE BUSINESS SERVICES, INC.
Oct 5, 2018 $2,750 NOVATION Consulting EXACTECH, INC.
Sep 22, 2018 $2,188 NOVATION Consulting EXACTECH, INC.
Nov 8, 2018 $663 ACTIS Travel and Lodging MEDICAL DEVICE BUSINESS SERVICES, INC.
Oct 5, 2018 $635 EQUINOXE Travel and Lodging EXACTECH, INC.
Apr 3, 2018 $582 No Listed Product Food and Beverage ARTHREX, INC.
May 19, 2018 $575 SHOULDER INSTRUMENTS ANCHOR SPECIFIC INSTRUMENTS OTHER KNEE & HIP SUTURE FIBERWIRE #2 FIBERWIRE SHOULDER IMPLANTS OTHER BICEPS REPAIR Travel and Lodging ARTHREX, INC.
Sep 25, 2018 $500 NOVATION Consulting EXACTECH, INC.
Oct 19, 2018 $420 MAKO Travel and Lodging STRYKER CORPORATION
Sep 7, 2018 $394 GMK SPHERE Travel and Lodging MEDACTA USA, INC.
May 30, 2018 $388 SHOULDER INSTRUMENTS ANCHOR SPECIFIC INSTRUMENTS OTHER KNEE & HIP SUTURE FIBERWIRE #2 FIBERWIRE SHOULDER IMPLANTS OTHER BICEPS REPAIR Travel and Lodging ARTHREX, INC.
Oct 5, 2018 $360 EQUINOXE Travel and Lodging EXACTECH, INC.
Mar 22, 2018 $350 CINGAL Honoraria ANIKA THERAPEUTICS, INC.
Aug 15, 2018 $197 KNEE & HIP INSTRUMENTS HIP LIMB POSITIONERS Royalty or License ARTHREX, INC.
Sep 21, 2018 $170 GMK SPHERE AMISTEM Travel and Lodging MEDACTA USA, 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/226921

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.