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/275117
  • 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/275117
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.


MINSIG CHOI

Listed Specialty: Hematology & Oncology
STONY BROOK INTERNIST, UFPC SBUMC HSC 15-040, STONY BROOK, NY, 11794-8174

2018 Payments: At a Glance

210

payments

$200,048

payment total

16

companies paid this doctor

Types of Payments

Category Payments Payment Value
Promotional Speaking/Other
47 $148K
Travel and Lodging
95 $36,448
Nonaccredited Training
1 $5,930
Food and Beverage
62 $5,010
Consulting
4 $4,557
Education
1 $65

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
ONIVYDE

drug

$56,294
STIVARGA

drug

$55,142
LENVIMA

drug

$23,760
AFINITOR

drug

$14,998
OPDIVO

drug

$9,716
ABRAXANE

drug

$8,593
VECTIBIX

drug

$8,307
KEYTRUDA

drug

$7,993
Payments with no listed product

N/A

$7,570
CABOMETYX

drug

$5,170
CYRAMZA

drug

$1,950
AVASTIN

drug

$279
AKYNZEO

drug

$125
SIR-SPHERES MICROSPHERES

device

$98
LONSURF

drug

$36
NEXAVAR

drug

$23
FOUNDATIONACT

device

$17
FOUNDATIONONE

device

$17
FOUNDATIONFOCUS

device

$17
FOUNDATIONONE HEME

device

$17
† 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/275117

Payment Details

When How Much Related To What For From Third Party Payee
Sep 20, 2018 $6,335 ONIVYDE Promotional Speaking/Other IPSEN BIOPHARMACEUTICALS, INC
Jan 5, 2018 $6,240 STIVARGA Promotional Speaking/Other BAYER HEALTHCARE PHARMACEUTICALS INC.
May 21, 2018 $6,240 STIVARGA Promotional Speaking/Other BAYER HEALTHCARE PHARMACEUTICALS INC.
Oct 17, 2018 $6,140 STIVARGA Travel and Lodging BAYER HEALTHCARE PHARMACEUTICALS INC.
Jan 18, 2018 $5,930 No Listed Product Nonaccredited Training NOVARTIS PHARMACEUTICALS CORPORATION
May 21, 2018 $5,760 STIVARGA Promotional Speaking/Other BAYER HEALTHCARE PHARMACEUTICALS INC.
Jun 18, 2018 $5,760 STIVARGA Promotional Speaking/Other BAYER HEALTHCARE PHARMACEUTICALS INC.
Jun 25, 2018 $4,800 STIVARGA Promotional Speaking/Other BAYER HEALTHCARE PHARMACEUTICALS INC.
Nov 2, 2018 $4,625 LENVIMA Promotional Speaking/Other EISAI INC.
Sep 22, 2018 $4,525 ONIVYDE Promotional Speaking/Other IPSEN BIOPHARMACEUTICALS, INC
May 3, 2018 $4,125 OPDIVO Promotional Speaking/Other E.R. SQUIBB & SONS, L.L.C.
Feb 28, 2018 $4,125 OPDIVO Promotional Speaking/Other E.R. SQUIBB & SONS, L.L.C.
Mar 1, 2018 $3,785 ONIVYDE Promotional Speaking/Other IPSEN BIOPHARMACEUTICALS, INC
Mar 22, 2018 $3,785 ONIVYDE Promotional Speaking/Other IPSEN BIOPHARMACEUTICALS, INC
Dec 6, 2018 $3,625 LENVIMA Promotional Speaking/Other EISAI INC.
Nov 1, 2018 $3,625 LENVIMA Promotional Speaking/Other EISAI INC.
Sep 10, 2018 $3,620 ONIVYDE Promotional Speaking/Other IPSEN BIOPHARMACEUTICALS, INC
Dec 10, 2018 $3,500 KEYTRUDA Promotional Speaking/Other MERCK SHARP & DOHME CORPORATION
Apr 16, 2018 $3,500 KEYTRUDA Promotional Speaking/Other MERCK SHARP & DOHME CORPORATION
May 21, 2018 $3,360 STIVARGA Promotional Speaking/Other BAYER HEALTHCARE 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/275117

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.