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/24482
  • 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/24482
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.


DENIS PATTERSON

Listed Specialty: Physical Medicine & Rehabilitation
5578 LONGLEY LN, RENO, NV, 89511-1825

2018 Payments: At a Glance

259

payments

$117,204

payment total

30

companies paid this doctor

Types of Payments

Category Payments Payment Value
Consulting
27 $50,335
Promotional Speaking/Other
13 $46,225
Travel and Lodging
37 $12,331
Food and Beverage
181 $8,292
Entertainment
1 $22

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
SUPERION ISS

device

$28,268
BOTOX

drug

$26,875
AXIUM INS DRG IPG

device

$16,846
NEUROMODULATION DSPSBLS AND ACCS

device

$15,785
SCS IPGS

device

$10,186
AIMOVIG

drug

$7,393
PROCLAIM FAMILY OF SCS IPGS

device

$5,850
PRODIGY FAMILY OF SCS IPGS

device

$2,107
CLOSUREFAST

device

$1,499
DRG IPGS

device

$335
ALGOVITA

device

$263
Payments with no listed product

N/A

$192
SCS LEADS

device

$177
DRG LEADS

device

$177
PROTEGE FAMILY OF SCS IPGS

device

$167
PRIALT

drug

$151
NEUROMODULATION-RESEARCH ONLY

device

$136
MILD DEVICE KIT

device

$117
SENZA SPINAL CORD STIMULATION SYSTEM

device

$110
ABLATION THERAPY HARDWARE

device

$92
† 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/24482

Payment Details

When How Much Related To What For From Third Party Payee
Mar 1, 2018 $16,750 SUPERION ISS Promotional Speaking/Other VERTIFLEX, INC.
Mar 21, 2018 $7,175 SUPERION ISS Promotional Speaking/Other VERTIFLEX, INC.
Jul 12, 2018 $3,216 AXIUM INS DRG IPG Consulting ABBOTT LABORATORIES Nevada Advanced Pain Specialists
May 3, 2018 $3,216 SCS IPGS Consulting ABBOTT LABORATORIES NEVADA ADVANCED PAIN SPECIALISTS
Jul 26, 2018 $3,216 NEUROMODULATION DSPSBLS AND ACCS Consulting ABBOTT LABORATORIES Nevada Advanced Pain Specialists
May 3, 2018 $3,216 SCS IPGS Consulting ABBOTT LABORATORIES NEVADA ADVANCED PAIN SPECIALISTS
Nov 16, 2018 $3,216 AXIUM INS DRG IPG Consulting ABBOTT LABORATORIES
Mar 19, 2018 $3,000 BOTOX Consulting ALLERGAN INC.
May 23, 2018 $3,000 BOTOX Promotional Speaking/Other ALLERGAN INC.
Mar 28, 2018 $3,000 BOTOX Promotional Speaking/Other ALLERGAN INC.
Apr 2, 2018 $3,000 BOTOX Consulting ALLERGAN INC.
Dec 13, 2018 $3,000 BOTOX Promotional Speaking/Other ALLERGAN INC.
Mar 14, 2018 $3,000 BOTOX Promotional Speaking/Other ALLERGAN INC.
Mar 30, 2018 $3,000 BOTOX Promotional Speaking/Other ALLERGAN INC.
Dec 21, 2018 $2,718 NEUROMODULATION DSPSBLS AND ACCS Consulting ABBOTT LABORATORIES
Dec 21, 2018 $2,492 NEUROMODULATION DSPSBLS AND ACCS Consulting ABBOTT LABORATORIES
May 3, 2018 $2,412 SCS IPGS Consulting ABBOTT LABORATORIES NEVADA ADVANCED PAIN SPECIALISTS
Nov 1, 2018 $2,400 AIMOVIG Promotional Speaking/Other AMGEN INC.
Sep 16, 2018 $2,400 AIMOVIG Promotional Speaking/Other AMGEN INC.
Jul 26, 2018 $2,010 NEUROMODULATION DSPSBLS AND ACCS Consulting ABBOTT LABORATORIES Nevada Advanced Pain Specialists

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/24482

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.