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/253547
  • 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/253547
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.

ZACHARY RITTER

Listed Specialty: Podiatrist, Foot & Ankle Surgery
699 RURAL AVE, SUITE 103, WILLIAMSPORT, PA, 17701-3251

2018 Payments: At a Glance

90

payments

$49,888

payment total

8

companies paid this doctor

Types of Payments

Category Payments Payment Value
Consulting
 12 $30,857
Travel and Lodging
 34 $12,880
Promotional Speaking/Other
 2 $4,250
Food and Beverage
 42 $1,900

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

 $32,676
EXPAREL

drug

 $6,328
BME NITINOL CONTINUOUS COMPRESSION IMPLANTS

device

 $5,234
VA-LCP PLATES & SCREWS

device

 $2,610
ATTUNE

device

 $2,468
CORAIL

device

 $2,468
CENTRONAIL TITANIUM TIBIAL NAIL

device

 $1,196
CALCANEAL MINIFIXATOR

device

 $1,052
CENTRONAIL TITANIUM FEMORAL NAIL

device

 $1,052
CENTRONAIL TITANIUM HUMERAL NAIL

device

 $1,052
CENTRONAIL TITANIUM SUPRACONDYLAR AND RETROGRADE NAIL

device

 $1,052
TRUELOK

drug

 $762
TRUELOK RING FIXATION SYSTEM

device

 $582
XCALIBER META-DIAPHYSEAL FIXATOR

device

 $512
RING - TRUELOK

drug

 $363
STAINLESS STEEL ANTEGRADE NAILS

device

 $334
VERONAIL TITANIUM TROCHANTERIC NAIL

device

 $334
FLEXIBLE REAMERS

device

 $264
FRAGMENT FIXATION SYSTEM (FFS)

device

 $264
GOTFRIED PC.C.P.

device

 $264
† 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/253547

Payment Details

When How Much Related To What For From Third Party Payee
May 15, 2018 $6,458 No Listed Product Consulting MEDICAL DEVICE BUSINESS SERVICES, INC.
Feb 23, 2018 $6,117 No Listed Product Consulting MEDICAL DEVICE BUSINESS SERVICES, INC.
Mar 12, 2018 $3,061 No Listed Product Consulting MEDICAL DEVICE BUSINESS SERVICES, INC.
Feb 21, 2018 $3,061 No Listed Product Consulting MEDICAL DEVICE BUSINESS SERVICES, INC.
Sep 7, 2018 $3,058 No Listed Product Consulting MEDICAL DEVICE BUSINESS SERVICES, INC.
Jun 20, 2018 $2,720 No Listed Product Consulting MEDICAL DEVICE BUSINESS SERVICES, INC.
Oct 18, 2018 $2,386 ATTUNE CORAIL Travel and Lodging MEDICAL DEVICE BUSINESS SERVICES, INC.
Nov 7, 2018 $2,125 EXPAREL Promotional Speaking/Other PACIRA PHARMACEUTICALS INCORPORATED
Oct 24, 2018 $2,125 EXPAREL Promotional Speaking/Other PACIRA PHARMACEUTICALS INCORPORATED
Mar 28, 2018 $2,040 No Listed Product Consulting MEDICAL DEVICE BUSINESS SERVICES, INC.
Mar 16, 2018 $1,531 No Listed Product Consulting MEDICAL DEVICE BUSINESS SERVICES, INC.
Mar 16, 2018 $1,020 No Listed Product Consulting MEDICAL DEVICE BUSINESS SERVICES, INC.
Feb 27, 2018 $795 VA-LCP PLATES & SCREWS BME NITINOL CONTINUOUS COMPRESSION IMPLANTS Travel and Lodging MEDICAL DEVICE BUSINESS SERVICES, INC.
Nov 1, 2018 $764 EXPAREL Travel and Lodging PACIRA PHARMACEUTICALS INCORPORATED
Aug 29, 2018 $692 BME NITINOL CONTINUOUS COMPRESSION IMPLANTS Travel and Lodging MEDICAL DEVICE BUSINESS SERVICES, INC.
Mar 28, 2018 $680 No Listed Product Consulting MEDICAL DEVICE BUSINESS SERVICES, INC.
May 30, 2018 $627 CENTRONAIL TITANIUM TIBIAL NAIL CENTRONAIL TITANIUM SUPRACONDYLAR AND RETROGRADE NAIL CENTRONAIL TITANIUM HUMERAL NAIL CENTRONAIL TITANIUM FEMORAL NAIL CALCANEAL MINIFIXATOR Travel and Lodging ORTHOFIX MEDICAL, INC.
Apr 1, 2018 $600 No Listed Product Consulting MEDSHAPE, INC.
Mar 16, 2018 $589 No Listed Product Travel and Lodging MEDICAL DEVICE BUSINESS SERVICES, INC.
Feb 28, 2018 $533 BME NITINOL CONTINUOUS COMPRESSION IMPLANTS Travel and Lodging MEDICAL DEVICE BUSINESS SERVICES, 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/253547

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.