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/290073
  • 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/290073
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.

EDWARD TANGCHITNOB

Listed Specialty: Obstetrics & Gynecology
1135 S SUNSET AVE STE 102, WEST COVINA, CA, 91790-3937

2018 Payments: At a Glance

192

payments

$86,980

payment total

15

companies paid this doctor

Types of Payments

Category Payments Payment Value
Promotional Speaking/Other
 26 $59,303
Travel and Lodging
 80 $16,471
Food and Beverage
 80 $5,463
Consulting
 2 $4,950
Education
 4 $793

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†
LUPRON

drug

 $69,931
Payments with no listed product

N/A

 $6,912
ORILISSA

drug

 $4,459
DA VINCI SURGICAL SYSTEM

device

 $4,341
TRUCLEAR

device

 $487
VITAGEL

device

 $143
ARISTA AH

device

 $142
LIGASURE

device

 $132
ENSEAL PRODUCT FAMILY

device

 $130
HARMONIC PRODUCT FAMILY

device

 $130
ENDOSEE

device

 $107
OLYMPUS HYSTEROSCOPES DEVICES

device

 $79
LO LOESTRIN FE

drug

 $49
INTRAROSA

drug

 $25
SYMPHION

device

 $23
BALCOLTRA

drug

 $14
UTERINE MANIPULATORS & INJECTORS

device

 $7
† 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
Oct 25, 2018 $4,500 No Listed Product Consulting ABBVIE, INC. Edward Tangchitnob, Md., Inc.
Aug 16, 2018 $3,150 ORILISSA Promotional Speaking/Other ABBVIE, INC. Edward Tangchitnob, Md., Inc.
Nov 12, 2018 $3,150 LUPRON Promotional Speaking/Other ABBVIE, INC. Edward Tangchitnob, Md., Inc.
Dec 21, 2018 $3,150 LUPRON Promotional Speaking/Other ABBVIE, INC. Edward Tangchitnob, Md., Inc.
Dec 5, 2018 $3,150 LUPRON Promotional Speaking/Other ABBVIE, INC. Edward Tangchitnob, Md., Inc.
Nov 12, 2018 $3,150 LUPRON Promotional Speaking/Other ABBVIE, INC. Edward Tangchitnob, Md., Inc.
Oct 10, 2018 $3,150 LUPRON Promotional Speaking/Other ABBVIE, INC. Edward Tangchitnob, Md., Inc.
Nov 12, 2018 $3,150 LUPRON Promotional Speaking/Other ABBVIE, INC. Edward Tangchitnob, Md., Inc.
Nov 12, 2018 $3,150 LUPRON Promotional Speaking/Other ABBVIE, INC. Edward Tangchitnob, Md., Inc.
Dec 5, 2018 $3,150 LUPRON Promotional Speaking/Other ABBVIE, INC. Edward Tangchitnob, Md., Inc.
Oct 23, 2018 $2,250 LUPRON Promotional Speaking/Other ABBVIE, INC. Edward Tangchitnob, Md., Inc.
Sep 18, 2018 $2,250 LUPRON Promotional Speaking/Other ABBVIE, INC. Edward Tangchitnob, Md., Inc.
Nov 26, 2018 $2,250 LUPRON Promotional Speaking/Other ABBVIE, INC. Edward Tangchitnob, Md., Inc.
Dec 18, 2018 $2,250 LUPRON Promotional Speaking/Other ABBVIE, INC. Edward Tangchitnob, Md., Inc.
Dec 10, 2018 $2,250 LUPRON Promotional Speaking/Other ABBVIE, INC. Edward Tangchitnob, Md., Inc.
Oct 29, 2018 $2,250 LUPRON Promotional Speaking/Other ABBVIE, INC. Edward Tangchitnob, Md., Inc.
Oct 9, 2018 $2,250 LUPRON Promotional Speaking/Other ABBVIE, INC. Edward Tangchitnob, Md., Inc.
Sep 11, 2018 $2,250 LUPRON Promotional Speaking/Other ABBVIE, INC. Edward Tangchitnob, Md., Inc.
Dec 3, 2018 $2,250 LUPRON Promotional Speaking/Other ABBVIE, INC. Edward Tangchitnob, Md., Inc.
Oct 16, 2018 $2,250 LUPRON Promotional Speaking/Other ABBVIE, INC. Edward Tangchitnob, Md., 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/290073

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.