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/260060
  • 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/260060
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.

SAMMY SAAB

Listed Specialty: Transplant Surgery
200 MEDICAL PLAZA, #365,530,420,120, LOS ANGELES, CA, 90095

2018 Payments: At a Glance

414

payments

$429,657

payment total

13

companies paid this doctor

Types of Payments

Category Payments Payment Value
Promotional Speaking/Other
 67 $219K
Nonaccredited Training
 25 $110K
Travel and Lodging
 157 $45,107
Consulting
 8 $39,005
Food and Beverage
 152 $9,641
Honoraria
 4 $7,490
Education
 1 $4

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†
XIFAXAN

drug

 $82,447
MAVYRET

drug

 $77,846
EPCLUSA

drug

 $71,690
Payments with no listed product

N/A

 $56,774
OCALIVA

drug

 $51,174
STIVARGA

drug

 $33,798
DOPTELET

drug

 $20,108
NEXAVAR

drug

 $13,751
UCERIS

drug

 $12,399
LENVIMA

drug

 $11,970
VEMLIDY

drug

 $9,508
OPDIVO

drug

 $8,965
ZEPATIER

drug

 $3,627
WAKO HCC BIOMARKER(S) DCP AND AFP-L3

device

 $847
MULPLETA

drug

 $765
RIFAXIMIN

drug

 $72
ZORTRESS

drug

 $47
HARVONI

drug

 $20
† 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
Oct 19, 2018 $13,150 No Listed Product Consulting GILEAD SCIENCES INC
Feb 13, 2018 $11,200 UCERIS XIFAXAN Nonaccredited Training SALIX PHARMACEUTICALS, A DIVISION OF BAUSCH HEALTH US, LLC
Apr 28, 2018 $9,000 NEXAVAR STIVARGA Consulting BAYER HEALTHCARE PHARMACEUTICALS INC. Sammy Saab Md Inc.
Jun 12, 2018 $7,280 STIVARGA Promotional Speaking/Other BAYER HEALTHCARE PHARMACEUTICALS INC. Sammy Saab Md Inc.
Aug 6, 2018 $5,600 STIVARGA Promotional Speaking/Other BAYER HEALTHCARE PHARMACEUTICALS INC. Sammy Saab Md Inc.
Dec 26, 2018 $5,490 No Listed Product Consulting GILEAD SCIENCES INC Sammy Saab MD, Inc.
Jul 18, 2018 $5,200 No Listed Product Promotional Speaking/Other NOVARTIS PHARMACEUTICALS CORPORATION SAMMY SAAB MD INC
Oct 11, 2018 $5,000 XIFAXAN Nonaccredited Training SALIX PHARMACEUTICALS, A DIVISION OF BAUSCH HEALTH US, LLC SAMMY SAAB, MD, INC
Sep 26, 2018 $5,000 XIFAXAN Nonaccredited Training SALIX PHARMACEUTICALS, A DIVISION OF BAUSCH HEALTH US, LLC SAMMY SAAB, MD, INC
Oct 5, 2018 $5,000 XIFAXAN Nonaccredited Training SALIX PHARMACEUTICALS, A DIVISION OF BAUSCH HEALTH US, LLC SAMMY SAAB, MD, INC
Aug 24, 2018 $5,000 XIFAXAN Nonaccredited Training SALIX PHARMACEUTICALS, A DIVISION OF BAUSCH HEALTH US, LLC SAMMY SAAB, MD, Inc
Nov 1, 2018 $5,000 XIFAXAN Nonaccredited Training SALIX PHARMACEUTICALS, A DIVISION OF BAUSCH HEALTH US, LLC SAMMY SAAB, MD, INC
Sep 26, 2018 $5,000 XIFAXAN Nonaccredited Training SALIX PHARMACEUTICALS, A DIVISION OF BAUSCH HEALTH US, LLC SAMMY SAAB, MD, INC
Apr 11, 2018 $5,000 XIFAXAN Nonaccredited Training SALIX PHARMACEUTICALS, A DIVISION OF BAUSCH HEALTH US, LLC
Feb 5, 2018 $5,000 XIFAXAN Nonaccredited Training SALIX PHARMACEUTICALS, A DIVISION OF BAUSCH HEALTH US, LLC
May 18, 2018 $5,000 XIFAXAN Nonaccredited Training SALIX PHARMACEUTICALS, A DIVISION OF BAUSCH HEALTH US, LLC SAMMY SAAB, MD, INC
Jun 19, 2018 $5,000 XIFAXAN Nonaccredited Training SALIX PHARMACEUTICALS, A DIVISION OF BAUSCH HEALTH US, LLC SAMMY SAAB, MD, INC
Sep 6, 2018 $4,680 OCALIVA Honoraria INTERCEPT PHARMACEUTICALS, INC.
Oct 18, 2018 $4,500 OCALIVA Nonaccredited Training INTERCEPT PHARMACEUTICALS, INC.
Mar 7, 2018 $4,500 OCALIVA Nonaccredited Training INTERCEPT PHARMACEUTICALS, 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/260060

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.