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/263359
  • 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/263359
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.

HAL GERSTEIN

Listed Specialty: Hematology & Oncology
225 COMMUNITY DR, SUITE 160, GREAT NECK, NY, 11021-5506

2018 Payments: At a Glance

123

payments

$18,676

payment total

24

companies paid this doctor

Types of Payments

Category Payments Payment Value
Promotional Speaking/Other
 11 $13,620
Food and Beverage
 104 $2,493
Travel and Lodging
 5 $2,093
Consulting
 1 $335
Education
 2 $135

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†
IMFINZI

drug

 $9,471
XERMELO

drug

 $6,795
Payments with no listed product

N/A

 $348
TAGRISSO

drug

 $322
IMBRUVICA

drug

 $233
AFINITOR

drug

 $232
SANDOSTATIN LAR

drug

 $232
BENDEKA

drug

 $175
OPDIVO

drug

 $128
VERZENIO

drug

 $82
IBRANCE

drug

 $62
REVLIMID

drug

 $60
JADENU

drug

 $57
PROMACTA

drug

 $57
VENCLEXTA

drug

 $52
TECENTRIQ

drug

 $51
QUADRAMET

drug

 $49
AKYNZEO

drug

 $40
ZYKADIA

drug

 $40
GAZYVA

drug

 $38
† 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/263359

Payment Details

When How Much Related To What For From Third Party Payee
May 16, 2018 $3,700 IMFINZI Promotional Speaking/Other ASTRAZENECA PHARMACEUTICALS LP
Oct 30, 2018 $1,850 IMFINZI Promotional Speaking/Other ASTRAZENECA PHARMACEUTICALS LP
Dec 11, 2018 $1,850 IMFINZI Promotional Speaking/Other ASTRAZENECA PHARMACEUTICALS LP
Nov 27, 2018 $1,570 XERMELO Promotional Speaking/Other LEXICON PHARMACEUTICALS, INC.
Oct 18, 2018 $900 XERMELO Promotional Speaking/Other LEXICON PHARMACEUTICALS, INC.
Jan 12, 2018 $900 XERMELO Promotional Speaking/Other LEXICON PHARMACEUTICALS, INC.
Aug 31, 2018 $900 XERMELO Promotional Speaking/Other LEXICON PHARMACEUTICALS, INC.
Aug 31, 2018 $900 XERMELO Promotional Speaking/Other LEXICON PHARMACEUTICALS, INC.
Jan 12, 2018 $682 XERMELO Travel and Lodging LEXICON PHARMACEUTICALS, INC.
Nov 27, 2018 $526 XERMELO Travel and Lodging LEXICON PHARMACEUTICALS, INC.
May 8, 2018 $467 IMFINZI Travel and Lodging ASTRAZENECA PHARMACEUTICALS LP
Sep 17, 2018 $450 IMFINZI Promotional Speaking/Other ASTRAZENECA PHARMACEUTICALS LP
May 8, 2018 $338 IMFINZI Travel and Lodging ASTRAZENECA PHARMACEUTICALS LP
Nov 28, 2018 $335 No Listed Product Consulting INCYTE CORPORATION
Oct 11, 2018 $300 IMFINZI Promotional Speaking/Other ASTRAZENECA PHARMACEUTICALS LP
Nov 14, 2018 $300 TAGRISSO Promotional Speaking/Other ASTRAZENECA PHARMACEUTICALS LP
Oct 17, 2018 $125 IMFINZI Food and Beverage ASTRAZENECA PHARMACEUTICALS LP
Nov 28, 2018 $125 IMFINZI Food and Beverage ASTRAZENECA PHARMACEUTICALS LP
May 8, 2018 $125 IMFINZI Food and Beverage ASTRAZENECA PHARMACEUTICALS LP
Nov 27, 2018 $125 XERMELO Food and Beverage LEXICON 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/263359

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.