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/246440
  • 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/246440
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.

BRETT SANDERS

Listed Specialty: Sports Medicine
2415 MCCALLIE AVE, CHATTANOOGA, TN, 37404-3322

2018 Payments: At a Glance

33

payments

$4,468

payment total

7

companies paid this doctor

Types of Payments

Category Payments Payment Value
Travel and Lodging
 6 $2,265
Food and Beverage
 25 $2,196
Education
 2 $7

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†
BIOSURE REGENESORB

device

 $1,054
TRUNAV

device

 $1,054
DJO SURGICAL ALTIVATE REVERSE

device

 $821
MENISCAL ROOT REPAIR SYSTEM

device

 $735
PINPOINT SYSTEM

device

 $735
ULTRA FAST-FIX

device

 $735
EQUINOXE

device

 $650
HIPSTRUMENTS

device

 $144
VISIONAIRE SOLUTIONS

device

 $135
DJO SURGICAL TAPERFILL HIP SYSTEM

device

 $134
DUROLANE

device

 $114
DJO SURGICAL FMP ACETABULAR SYSTEM

device

 $112
ACUFEX

device

 $103
CHECKPOINT STIMULATORS

device

 $94
COBLATION WANDS

device

 $89
REGENETEN

device

 $75
COMPOSITCP

device

 $73
ULTRABUTTON

device

 $73
DJO SURGICAL ALTIVATE ANATOMIC SYSTEM

device

 $17
REGENESORB

device

 $17
† 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/246440

Payment Details

When How Much Related To What For From Third Party Payee
Jun 13, 2018 $735 PINPOINT SYSTEM ULTRA FAST-FIX MENISCAL ROOT REPAIR SYSTEM Travel and Lodging SMITH & NEPHEW, INC.
Jun 13, 2018 $659 BIOSURE REGENESORB TRUNAV Travel and Lodging SMITH & NEPHEW, INC.
May 3, 2018 $320 EQUINOXE Travel and Lodging EXACTECH, INC.
Jun 27, 2018 $226 DJO SURGICAL ALTIVATE REVERSE Travel and Lodging ENCORE MEDICAL, LP
Jun 27, 2018 $226 DJO SURGICAL ALTIVATE REVERSE Travel and Lodging ENCORE MEDICAL, LP
May 3, 2018 $175 EQUINOXE Food and Beverage EXACTECH, INC.
Mar 8, 2018 $155 EQUINOXE Food and Beverage EXACTECH, INC.
Oct 11, 2018 $148 DJO SURGICAL ALTIVATE REVERSE Food and Beverage ENCORE MEDICAL, LP
Jun 14, 2018 $144 HIPSTRUMENTS Food and Beverage SMITH & NEPHEW, INC.
Mar 15, 2018 $135 VISIONAIRE SOLUTIONS Food and Beverage SMITH & NEPHEW, INC.
Jun 15, 2018 $134 BIOSURE REGENESORB TRUNAV Food and Beverage SMITH & NEPHEW, INC.
Oct 19, 2018 $134 DJO SURGICAL TAPERFILL HIP SYSTEM Food and Beverage ENCORE MEDICAL, LP
Jun 27, 2018 $124 DJO SURGICAL ALTIVATE REVERSE Food and Beverage ENCORE MEDICAL, LP
Mar 8, 2018 $112 DJO SURGICAL FMP ACETABULAR SYSTEM Food and Beverage ENCORE MEDICAL, LP
Apr 25, 2018 $110 DUROLANE Food and Beverage BIOVENTUS LLC
Jun 14, 2018 $103 BIOSURE REGENESORB TRUNAV Food and Beverage SMITH & NEPHEW, INC.
Jun 15, 2018 $103 ACUFEX Food and Beverage SMITH & NEPHEW, INC.
Jun 13, 2018 $99 BIOSURE REGENESORB TRUNAV Travel and Lodging SMITH & NEPHEW, INC.
Jun 21, 2018 $97 DJO SURGICAL ALTIVATE REVERSE Food and Beverage DJO, LLC
Oct 13, 2018 $94 CHECKPOINT STIMULATORS Food and Beverage CHECKPOINT SURGICAL, 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/246440

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.