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/266003
  • 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/266003
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.

POONAM VELAGAPUDI

Listed Specialty: Cardiovascular Disease
593 EDDY ST, PROVIDENCE, RI, 02903-4923

2018 Payments: At a Glance

22

payments

$1,248

payment total

10

companies paid this doctor

Types of Payments

Category Payments Payment Value
Food and Beverage
 22 $1,248

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†
RESOLUTE

device

 $291
COREVALVE EVOLUT

device

 $282
CORONARY ORBITAL ATHERECTOMY SYSTEM

device

 $191
Payments with no listed product

N/A

 $135
IMPELLA

device

 $114
WATCHMAN

device

 $108
BRILINTA

drug

 $58
ASAHI FIELDER CORONARY GUIDE WIRE

device

 $26
NC TREK CORONARY CATHETERS

device

 $26
XIENCE V CORONARY STENT SYSTEM

device

 $26
HI-TORQUE CORONARY GUIDE WIRE

device

 $26
REPATHA

drug

 $26
LIFEVEST

device

 $18
† 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
Jun 28, 2018 $134 RESOLUTE Food and Beverage MEDTRONIC VASCULAR, INC.
Apr 15, 2018 $122 COREVALVE EVOLUT Food and Beverage MEDTRONIC VASCULAR, INC.
Dec 5, 2018 $114 IMPELLA Food and Beverage ABIOMED
Apr 26, 2018 $108 WATCHMAN Food and Beverage BOSTON SCIENTIFIC CORPORATION
May 2, 2018 $106 CORONARY ORBITAL ATHERECTOMY SYSTEM Food and Beverage CARDIOVASCULAR SYSTEMS INC.
Jun 1, 2018 $100 COREVALVE EVOLUT Food and Beverage MEDTRONIC VASCULAR, INC.
Apr 12, 2018 $76 No Listed Product Food and Beverage ASTRAZENECA PHARMACEUTICALS LP
Apr 13, 2018 $74 RESOLUTE Food and Beverage MEDTRONIC VASCULAR, INC.
Apr 13, 2018 $63 RESOLUTE Food and Beverage MEDTRONIC VASCULAR, INC.
Apr 20, 2018 $61 CORONARY ORBITAL ATHERECTOMY SYSTEM Food and Beverage CARDIOVASCULAR SYSTEMS INC.
Mar 13, 2018 $37 No Listed Product Food and Beverage ANGIODYNAMICS, INC.
Apr 15, 2018 $35 COREVALVE EVOLUT Food and Beverage MEDTRONIC VASCULAR, INC.
Sep 23, 2018 $26 ASAHI FIELDER CORONARY GUIDE WIRE HI-TORQUE CORONARY GUIDE WIRE NC TREK CORONARY CATHETERS XIENCE V CORONARY STENT SYSTEM Food and Beverage ABBOTT LABORATORIES
Apr 4, 2018 $26 REPATHA Food and Beverage AMGEN INC.
May 29, 2018 $25 CORONARY ORBITAL ATHERECTOMY SYSTEM Food and Beverage CARDIOVASCULAR SYSTEMS INC.
Apr 15, 2018 $24 COREVALVE EVOLUT Food and Beverage MEDTRONIC VASCULAR, INC.
Mar 28, 2018 $22 No Listed Product Food and Beverage CARDINAL HEALTH 200, LLC
Mar 13, 2018 $21 BRILINTA Food and Beverage ASTRAZENECA PHARMACEUTICALS LP
Dec 19, 2018 $19 RESOLUTE Food and Beverage MEDTRONIC VASCULAR, INC.
Mar 29, 2018 $18 BRILINTA Food and Beverage ASTRAZENECA PHARMACEUTICALS LP

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/266003

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.