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/278005
  • 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/278005
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.

ALAN DIETZEK

Listed Specialty: Vascular Surgery
67 SAND PIT RD, DANBURY, CT, 06810-4032

2018 Payments: At a Glance

47

payments

$14,027

payment total

12

companies paid this doctor

Types of Payments

Category Payments Payment Value
Promotional Speaking/Other
 6 $9,170
Food and Beverage
 38 $3,380
Travel and Lodging
 3 $1,477

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†
PENUMBRA RUBY COIL

device

 $5,896
XARELTO

drug

 $4,906
EXCLUDER AAA ENDOPROSTHESIS

device

 $863
RELAY PLUS

device

 $558
GENERAL VASCULAR INTERVENTION

device

 $176
PENUMBRA SYSTEM

device

 $156
INDIGO

device

 $150
ENDURANT

device

 $148
LUTONIX

device

 $146
VENASEAL

device

 $142
ANGIOJET

device

 $135
ICAST

device

 $128
SURGICAL TABLES

device

 $127
VASCULAR GRAFT

device

 $118
VIABAHN VBX BALLOON EXPANDABLE ENDOPROSTHESIS

device

 $118
LIFESTENT

device

 $83
FLEXITOUCH

device

 $53
ACTITOUCH

device

 $53
ENTRE

device

 $53
CLOSUREFAST

device

 $33
† 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/278005

Payment Details

When How Much Related To What For From Third Party Payee
Dec 20, 2018 $3,770 XARELTO Promotional Speaking/Other JANSSEN PHARMACEUTICALS, INC
Jul 24, 2018 $2,400 PENUMBRA RUBY COIL Promotional Speaking/Other PENUMBRA, INC.
Sep 24, 2018 $2,400 PENUMBRA RUBY COIL Promotional Speaking/Other PENUMBRA, INC.
Jun 19, 2018 $603 PENUMBRA RUBY COIL Travel and Lodging PENUMBRA, INC.
Jun 19, 2018 $463 PENUMBRA RUBY COIL Travel and Lodging PENUMBRA, INC.
Dec 12, 2018 $411 XARELTO Travel and Lodging JANSSEN PHARMACEUTICALS, INC
Mar 19, 2018 $375 EXCLUDER AAA ENDOPROSTHESIS Food and Beverage W. L. GORE & ASSOCIATES, INC.
Mar 19, 2018 $359 EXCLUDER AAA ENDOPROSTHESIS Food and Beverage W. L. GORE & ASSOCIATES, INC.
Jun 27, 2018 $300 XARELTO Promotional Speaking/Other JANSSEN PHARMACEUTICALS, INC
Sep 6, 2018 $156 PENUMBRA SYSTEM Food and Beverage PENUMBRA, INC.
Oct 24, 2018 $150 XARELTO Promotional Speaking/Other JANSSEN PHARMACEUTICALS, INC
Oct 24, 2018 $150 XARELTO Promotional Speaking/Other JANSSEN PHARMACEUTICALS, INC
Jun 22, 2018 $146 LUTONIX Food and Beverage BARD PERIPHERAL VASCULAR, INC.
Sep 7, 2018 $143 INDIGO Food and Beverage PENUMBRA, INC.
Nov 12, 2018 $142 VENASEAL Food and Beverage MEDTRONIC VASCULAR, INC.
Nov 13, 2018 $139 GENERAL VASCULAR INTERVENTION Food and Beverage BOSTON SCIENTIFIC CORPORATION
Apr 12, 2018 $135 ANGIOJET Food and Beverage BOSTON SCIENTIFIC CORPORATION
Nov 18, 2018 $131 RELAY PLUS Food and Beverage BOLTON MEDICAL INC
Apr 12, 2018 $129 EXCLUDER AAA ENDOPROSTHESIS Food and Beverage W. L. GORE & ASSOCIATES, INC.
Apr 13, 2018 $128 ICAST Food and Beverage MAQUET CARDIOVASCULAR U.S. SALES, L.L.C.

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/278005

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.