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/28238
  • 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/28238
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.

ALPESH PATEL

Listed Specialty: Orthopaedic Surgery
675 N. ST. CLAIR, GALTER PAVILION 17-100, CHICAGO, IL, 60611

2018 Payments: At a Glance

64

payments

$39,515

payment total

9

companies paid this doctor

Types of Payments

Category Payments Payment Value
Consulting
 9 $26,503
Travel and Lodging
 31 $6,895
Accredited Training
 3 $4,750
Food and Beverage
 21 $1,367

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†
VIRAGE

device

 $19,070
MOBI-C

device

 $18,496
INVIZIA

device

 $18,096
MAXAN CERVICAL SYSTEM

device

 $18,096
VBR/S

device

 $18,096
EXPAREL

drug

 $10,234
Payments with no listed product

N/A

 $7,070
MULTIPLE PRODUCTS

device

 $1,194
ARSENAL, LLIF

device

 $596
ARSENAL, LLIF, ILLICO

device

 $425
BACS

device

 $169
TRITANIUM

device

 $143
OSTEOTOMY TRUSS SYSTEM

device

 $61
ARSENAL

device

 $34
OTHER - MISCELLANEOUS

device

 $32
SPINE PRODUCT PORTFOLIO

device

 $28
ALL CERVICAL PRODUCTS

drug

 $27
GENERAL K2M PRODUCT DISCUSSION

device

 $22
MAGEC

device

 $10
† 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
Jul 19, 2018 $5,400 INVIZIA VIRAGE MOBI-C MAXAN CERVICAL SYSTEM VBR/S Consulting ZIMMER BIOMET HOLDINGS, INC.
Jun 20, 2018 $4,252 EXPAREL Consulting MEDICAL DEVICE BUSINESS SERVICES, INC. PREMIER SURGICAL INSIGHTS LLC
Mar 28, 2018 $4,252 EXPAREL Consulting MEDICAL DEVICE BUSINESS SERVICES, INC.
Jul 19, 2018 $2,400 INVIZIA MAXAN CERVICAL SYSTEM VBR/S VIRAGE MOBI-C Consulting ZIMMER BIOMET HOLDINGS, INC.
Jul 19, 2018 $2,400 VIRAGE MOBI-C INVIZIA VBR/S MAXAN CERVICAL SYSTEM Consulting ZIMMER BIOMET HOLDINGS, INC.
Jul 19, 2018 $2,400 VIRAGE MOBI-C MAXAN CERVICAL SYSTEM VBR/S INVIZIA Consulting ZIMMER BIOMET HOLDINGS, INC.
Jul 19, 2018 $2,100 MOBI-C INVIZIA VIRAGE VBR/S MAXAN CERVICAL SYSTEM Consulting ZIMMER BIOMET HOLDINGS, INC.
Jul 19, 2018 $2,100 MAXAN CERVICAL SYSTEM MOBI-C VIRAGE INVIZIA VBR/S Consulting ZIMMER BIOMET HOLDINGS, INC.
Jul 27, 2018 $2,000 No Listed Product Accredited Training SYNTHES GMBH
Apr 13, 2018 $2,000 No Listed Product Accredited Training SYNTHES GMBH
Jul 19, 2018 $1,200 MOBI-C VBR/S MAXAN CERVICAL SYSTEM VIRAGE INVIZIA Consulting ZIMMER BIOMET HOLDINGS, INC.
Apr 13, 2018 $1,096 No Listed Product Travel and Lodging SYNTHES GMBH
Feb 16, 2018 $1,040 EXPAREL Travel and Lodging MEDICAL DEVICE BUSINESS SERVICES, INC.
Dec 12, 2018 $750 No Listed Product Accredited Training SYNTHES GMBH
Mar 15, 2018 $537 MULTIPLE PRODUCTS Travel and Lodging ALPHATEC SPINE, INC
May 16, 2018 $401 MOBI-C Travel and Lodging ZIMMER BIOMET HOLDINGS, INC.
Apr 12, 2018 $392 ARSENAL, LLIF Travel and Lodging ALPHATEC SPINE, INC
Apr 9, 2018 $387 No Listed Product Travel and Lodging NUVASIVE, INC.
Jul 27, 2018 $373 No Listed Product Travel and Lodging SYNTHES GMBH
Mar 15, 2018 $295 MULTIPLE PRODUCTS Travel and Lodging ALPHATEC SPINE, 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/28238

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.