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/273236
  • 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/273236
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.

LOWELL WEIL

Listed Specialty: Podiatrist, Sports Medicine
1455 E GOLF RD, SUITE 110, DES PLAINES, IL, 60016-1250

2018 Payments: At a Glance

20

payments

$81,131

payment total

6

companies paid this doctor

Types of Payments

Category Payments Payment Value
Royalty or License
 12 $73,697
Consulting
 5 $7,239
Food and Beverage
 3 $195

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†
ANCHORAGE

device

 $47,380
FRS SCREWS

device

 $24,382
NEX FIX

device

 $6,278
Payments with no listed product

N/A

 $2,750
HAMMERTOE

device

 $146
FIXOS

device

 $146
PHYSIO-STIM

drug

 $30
SPRIX

drug

 $19
† 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

All payments are displayed, the largest appearing on top.

When How Much Related To What For From Third Party Payee
Aug 7, 2018 $24,986 ANCHORAGE Royalty or License STRYKER CORPORATION
Nov 8, 2018 $22,394 ANCHORAGE Royalty or License STRYKER CORPORATION
Mar 9, 2018 $8,233 FRS SCREWS Royalty or License ZIMMER BIOMET HOLDINGS, INC.
May 16, 2018 $7,482 FRS SCREWS Royalty or License ZIMMER BIOMET HOLDINGS, INC.
Aug 13, 2018 $4,690 FRS SCREWS Royalty or License ZIMMER BIOMET HOLDINGS, INC.
Nov 12, 2018 $3,978 FRS SCREWS Royalty or License ZIMMER BIOMET HOLDINGS, INC.
Apr 10, 2018 $2,750 No Listed Product Consulting MERETE TECHNOLOGIES, INC
Jan 30, 2018 $2,223 NEX FIX Consulting WRIGHT MEDICAL TECHNOLOGY, INC.
Apr 27, 2018 $1,951 NEX FIX Consulting WRIGHT MEDICAL TECHNOLOGY, INC.
Jul 27, 2018 $1,668 NEX FIX Royalty or License WRIGHT MEDICAL TECHNOLOGY, INC.
Jan 30, 2018 $211 NEX FIX Consulting WRIGHT MEDICAL TECHNOLOGY, INC.
Feb 22, 2018 $146 FIXOS Food and Beverage STRYKER CORPORATION
Jul 27, 2018 $121 NEX FIX Royalty or License WRIGHT MEDICAL TECHNOLOGY, INC.
Apr 27, 2018 $105 NEX FIX Consulting WRIGHT MEDICAL TECHNOLOGY, INC.
Feb 20, 2018 $72 HAMMERTOE Royalty or License ZIMMER BIOMET HOLDINGS, INC.
May 15, 2018 $40 HAMMERTOE Royalty or License ZIMMER BIOMET HOLDINGS, INC.
Aug 28, 2018 $30 PHYSIO-STIM Food and Beverage ORTHOFIX MEDICAL, INC.
Nov 13, 2018 $22 HAMMERTOE Royalty or License ZIMMER BIOMET HOLDINGS, INC.
Jun 5, 2018 $19 SPRIX Food and Beverage EGALET US INC
Aug 13, 2018 $12 HAMMERTOE Royalty or License ZIMMER BIOMET HOLDINGS, INC.

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.