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/262
  • 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/262
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.


RANDALL VIOLA

Listed Specialty: Sports Medicine
181 W MEADOW DR, SUITE 400, VAIL, CO, 81657-5242

2018 Payments: At a Glance

39

payments

$39,320

payment total

3

companies paid this doctor

Types of Payments

Category Payments Payment Value
Consulting
6 $15,275
Royalty or License
10 $13,135
Travel and Lodging
13 $10,557
Food and Beverage
10 $353

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
EXT-HAND FUSION

device

$14,746
EXT-OTHER

device

$11,102
LINVATEC EXTREMITIES

device

$7,396
LINVATEC BURS & BLADES

device

$6,016
EXT-HPS

device

$4,812
EXT-WRIST

device

$4,750
† 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 24, 2018 $7,525 EXT-OTHER Consulting OSTEOMED LLC
Jun 2, 2018 $6,644 LINVATEC EXTREMITIES Travel and Lodging LINVATEC CORPORATION
Mar 22, 2018 $4,750 EXT-HPS EXT-HAND FUSION EXT-WRIST Consulting OSTEOMED LLC
Apr 9, 2018 $3,222 EXT-HAND FUSION Royalty or License OSTEOMED LLC
Jan 10, 2018 $2,710 EXT-HAND FUSION Royalty or License OSTEOMED LLC
Jul 18, 2018 $2,112 EXT-HAND FUSION Royalty or License OSTEOMED LLC
Oct 18, 2018 $1,952 EXT-HAND FUSION Royalty or License OSTEOMED LLC
May 16, 2018 $1,000 LINVATEC BURS & BLADES Consulting LINVATEC CORPORATION
Aug 22, 2018 $1,000 LINVATEC BURS & BLADES Consulting LINVATEC CORPORATION
Sep 16, 2018 $795 LINVATEC BURS & BLADES Travel and Lodging LINVATEC CORPORATION
Jul 18, 2018 $631 EXT-OTHER Royalty or License OSTEOMED LLC
Feb 3, 2018 $585 LINVATEC EXTREMITIES Travel and Lodging LINVATEC CORPORATION
Oct 18, 2018 $580 EXT-OTHER Royalty or License OSTEOMED LLC
Apr 23, 2018 $548 EXT-OTHER Royalty or License OSTEOMED LLC
Jun 26, 2018 $547 LINVATEC BURS & BLADES Travel and Lodging LINVATEC CORPORATION
Jan 4, 2018 $500 LINVATEC BURS & BLADES Consulting LINVATEC CORPORATION
Oct 3, 2018 $500 LINVATEC BURS & BLADES Consulting LINVATEC CORPORATION
Oct 18, 2018 $492 EXT-OTHER Royalty or License OSTEOMED LLC
Jul 18, 2018 $475 EXT-OTHER Royalty or License OSTEOMED LLC
Apr 23, 2018 $412 EXT-OTHER Royalty or License OSTEOMED LLC

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/262

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.