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/256453
  • 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/256453
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.

BARRY KATZMAN

Listed Specialty: Hand Surgery
2318 31ST ST, ASTORIA, NY, 11105-2892

2018 Payments: At a Glance

29

payments

$4,097

payment total

3

companies paid this doctor

Types of Payments

Category Payments Payment Value
Travel and Lodging
 6 $1,754
Food and Beverage
 22 $1,398
Education
 1 $945

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†
REGENETEN

device

 $1,057
Payments with no listed product

N/A

 $988
BIORAPTOR

device

 $937
ACCU-PASS

device

 $780
HEMICAP WRIST

device

 $384
LENS SURGICAL IMAGING SYSTEM

device

 $142
FIRSTPASS

device

 $133
MULTIFIX S

device

 $133
ACUFEX

device

 $126
ACCUPASS DIRECT CRESCENT XL

device

 $97
Q-FIX

device

 $62
AMBIENT MEGAVAC 90

device

 $42
BIORAPTOR KNOTLESS

device

 $37
HEALICOIL

device

 $37
REGENESORB

device

 $36
ARTHRO-PIERCE

device

 $31
AUTOCUFF MAGNUM PI

device

 $11
† 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
Nov 1, 2018 $945 No Listed Product Education GOTHAM SURGICAL SOLUTIONS & DEVICES, INC.
Sep 27, 2018 $765 ACCU-PASS BIORAPTOR Travel and Lodging SMITH & NEPHEW, INC.
Sep 25, 2018 $439 REGENETEN Travel and Lodging SMITH & NEPHEW, INC.
Apr 28, 2018 $329 HEMICAP WRIST Travel and Lodging ARTHROSURFACE INCORPORATED
Jul 18, 2018 $192 REGENETEN Travel and Lodging SMITH & NEPHEW, INC.
Sep 28, 2018 $183 REGENETEN Food and Beverage SMITH & NEPHEW, INC.
Sep 27, 2018 $157 REGENETEN Food and Beverage SMITH & NEPHEW, INC.
Jun 13, 2018 $142 LENS SURGICAL IMAGING SYSTEM Food and Beverage SMITH & NEPHEW, INC.
Nov 30, 2018 $138 BIORAPTOR Food and Beverage SMITH & NEPHEW, INC.
Apr 11, 2018 $133 FIRSTPASS MULTIFIX S Food and Beverage SMITH & NEPHEW, INC.
Feb 12, 2018 $97 ACCUPASS DIRECT CRESCENT XL Food and Beverage SMITH & NEPHEW, INC.
Jan 16, 2018 $91 ACUFEX Food and Beverage SMITH & NEPHEW, INC.
Mar 30, 2018 $62 Q-FIX Food and Beverage SMITH & NEPHEW, INC.
Sep 26, 2018 $58 REGENETEN Food and Beverage SMITH & NEPHEW, INC.
Apr 28, 2018 $55 HEMICAP WRIST Food and Beverage ARTHROSURFACE INCORPORATED
Sep 29, 2018 $42 AMBIENT MEGAVAC 90 Food and Beverage SMITH & NEPHEW, INC.
Mar 23, 2018 $37 BIORAPTOR KNOTLESS HEALICOIL Food and Beverage SMITH & NEPHEW, INC.
Jun 29, 2018 $36 REGENESORB Food and Beverage SMITH & NEPHEW, INC.
Oct 5, 2018 $33 BIORAPTOR Food and Beverage SMITH & NEPHEW, INC.
Oct 3, 2018 $31 ARTHRO-PIERCE Food and Beverage SMITH & NEPHEW, 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/256453

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.