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/270407
  • 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/270407
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.


JOHN KIRCHNER

Listed Specialty: Orthopaedic Surgery
4517 SOUTHLAKE PKWY, HOOVER, AL, 35244-3280

2018 Payments: At a Glance

39

payments

$18,998

payment total

12

companies paid this doctor

Types of Payments

Category Payments Payment Value
Promotional Speaking/Other
5 $7,515
Consulting
3 $5,018
Travel and Lodging
11 $4,723
Food and Beverage
14 $1,021
Royalty or License
4 $677
Entertainment
1 $30
Gift
1 $14

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
CADENCE ANKLE REPLACEMENT SYSTEM

device

$8,634
SALTO TALARIS TOTAL ANKLE PROSTHESIS

device

$8,634
PANTA NAIL

device

$8,473
EXTERNAL FIXATION SYSTEM

device

$7,515
Payments with no listed product

N/A

$6,193
EXT-OTHER

device

$3,327
HALLU-LOCK

device

$958
TOTAL FOOT SYSTEM

device

$958
TRABECULAR METAL (TM) ANKLE

device

$677
EBI BONE HEALING SYSTEM

device

$50
EXTERNAL FIXATION

device

$33
EVOS

device

$27
TAYLOR SPATIAL FRAME

device

$27
TRIGEN INTERTAN

device

$27
EXOGEN

device

$18
PROPHECY

device

$14
PHYSIO-STIM

drug

$13
SPRIX

drug

$13
† 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 1, 2018 $3,125 CADENCE ANKLE REPLACEMENT SYSTEM PANTA NAIL SALTO TALARIS TOTAL ANKLE PROSTHESIS EXTERNAL FIXATION SYSTEM Promotional Speaking/Other ASCENSION ORTHOPEDICS, INC.
May 30, 2018 $2,518 EXT-OTHER Consulting OSTEOMED LLC
Jun 1, 2018 $2,250 CADENCE ANKLE REPLACEMENT SYSTEM PANTA NAIL SALTO TALARIS TOTAL ANKLE PROSTHESIS EXTERNAL FIXATION SYSTEM Promotional Speaking/Other ASCENSION ORTHOPEDICS, INC.
May 12, 2018 $2,000 No Listed Product Consulting TRIMED, INC.
Jun 1, 2018 $2,000 CADENCE ANKLE REPLACEMENT SYSTEM PANTA NAIL SALTO TALARIS TOTAL ANKLE PROSTHESIS EXTERNAL FIXATION SYSTEM Promotional Speaking/Other ASCENSION ORTHOPEDICS, INC.
Oct 13, 2018 $788 No Listed Product Travel and Lodging TRIMED, INC.
Aug 31, 2018 $788 No Listed Product Travel and Lodging TRIMED, INC.
Mar 30, 2018 $708 No Listed Product Travel and Lodging TRIMED, INC.
Oct 13, 2018 $661 No Listed Product Food and Beverage TRIMED, INC.
May 15, 2018 $656 EXT-OTHER Travel and Lodging OSTEOMED LLC
Oct 13, 2018 $584 No Listed Product Travel and Lodging TRIMED, INC.
Nov 21, 2018 $508 SALTO TALARIS TOTAL ANKLE PROSTHESIS CADENCE ANKLE REPLACEMENT SYSTEM HALLU-LOCK PANTA NAIL TOTAL FOOT SYSTEM Travel and Lodging INTEGRA LIFESCIENCES CORPORATION
Oct 19, 2018 $500 No Listed Product Consulting TRIMED, INC.
Dec 7, 2018 $317 SALTO TALARIS TOTAL ANKLE PROSTHESIS CADENCE ANKLE REPLACEMENT SYSTEM HALLU-LOCK PANTA NAIL TOTAL FOOT SYSTEM Travel and Lodging INTEGRA LIFESCIENCES CORPORATION
Jul 3, 2018 $230 TRABECULAR METAL (TM) ANKLE Royalty or License ZIMMER BIOMET HOLDINGS, INC.
Apr 9, 2018 $194 TRABECULAR METAL (TM) ANKLE Royalty or License ZIMMER BIOMET HOLDINGS, INC.
Nov 27, 2018 $161 SALTO TALARIS TOTAL ANKLE PROSTHESIS CADENCE ANKLE REPLACEMENT SYSTEM Travel and Lodging INTEGRA LIFESCIENCES CORPORATION
Oct 3, 2018 $145 TRABECULAR METAL (TM) ANKLE Royalty or License ZIMMER BIOMET HOLDINGS, INC.
May 21, 2018 $136 EXT-OTHER Travel and Lodging OSTEOMED LLC
Jan 3, 2018 $108 TRABECULAR METAL (TM) ANKLE Royalty or License ZIMMER BIOMET HOLDINGS, 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/270407

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.