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/295558
  • 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/295558
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.

SAMER BALLOUZ

Listed Specialty: Hematology & Oncology
3577 W 13 MILE RD, SUITE 204, ROYAL OAK, MI, 48073-6710

2018 Payments: At a Glance

52

payments

$18,304

payment total

16

companies paid this doctor

Types of Payments

Category Payments Payment Value
Consulting
 4 $12,150
Travel and Lodging
 14 $4,695
Food and Beverage
 30 $849
Promotional Speaking/Other
 3 $495
Education
 1 $115

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†
IMBRUVICA

drug

 $9,901
ONIVYDE

drug

 $4,725
CINVANTI

drug

 $2,665
SUSTOL

drug

 $2,665
ELITEK

drug

 $419
INVOKANA

drug

 $124
CYRAMZA

drug

 $115
VERZENIO

drug

 $115
UNITUXIN

drug

 $100
XTANDI

drug

 $61
TAGRISSO

drug

 $51
IMFINZI

drug

 $28
TUMOR LYSIS SYNDROME - DISEASE

drug

 $24
GAMUNEX-C

drug

 $19
KYPROLIS

drug

 $17
XGEVA

drug

 $17
AFINITOR

drug

 $16
LYNPARZA

drug

 $15
ALIMTA

drug

 $15
ERBITUX

drug

 $15
† 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/295558

Payment Details

When How Much Related To What For From Third Party Payee
Oct 29, 2018 $3,675 IMBRUVICA Consulting PHARMACYCLICS LLC, AN ABBVIE COMPANY
Mar 27, 2018 $3,675 IMBRUVICA Consulting PHARMACYCLICS LLC, AN ABBVIE COMPANY
Oct 5, 2018 $2,800 ONIVYDE Consulting IPSEN BIOPHARMACEUTICALS, INC
May 31, 2018 $2,000 SUSTOL CINVANTI Consulting HERON THERAPEUTICS, INC.
Oct 5, 2018 $1,786 ONIVYDE Travel and Lodging IPSEN BIOPHARMACEUTICALS, INC
Mar 7, 2018 $784 IMBRUVICA Travel and Lodging PHARMACYCLICS LLC, AN ABBVIE COMPANY
Oct 3, 2018 $624 IMBRUVICA Travel and Lodging PHARMACYCLICS LLC, AN ABBVIE COMPANY
May 31, 2018 $580 SUSTOL CINVANTI Travel and Lodging HERON THERAPEUTICS, INC.
Mar 7, 2018 $275 ELITEK Promotional Speaking/Other GENZYME CORPORATION
Mar 7, 2018 $236 IMBRUVICA Travel and Lodging PHARMACYCLICS LLC, AN ABBVIE COMPANY
Oct 3, 2018 $173 IMBRUVICA Travel and Lodging PHARMACYCLICS LLC, AN ABBVIE COMPANY
Oct 5, 2018 $139 ONIVYDE Food and Beverage IPSEN BIOPHARMACEUTICALS, INC
Jan 31, 2018 $124 INVOKANA Food and Beverage JANSSEN PHARMACEUTICALS, INC
Aug 27, 2018 $120 ELITEK Promotional Speaking/Other GENZYME CORPORATION
Jul 23, 2018 $115 CYRAMZA VERZENIO Education LILLY USA, LLC
Oct 3, 2018 $110 IMBRUVICA Travel and Lodging PHARMACYCLICS LLC, AN ABBVIE COMPANY
Nov 12, 2018 $100 UNITUXIN Promotional Speaking/Other UNITED THERAPEUTICS CORPORATION
Mar 7, 2018 $95 IMBRUVICA Travel and Lodging PHARMACYCLICS LLC, AN ABBVIE COMPANY
May 31, 2018 $85 SUSTOL CINVANTI Food and Beverage HERON THERAPEUTICS, INC.
Mar 8, 2018 $75 IMBRUVICA Travel and Lodging PHARMACYCLICS LLC, AN ABBVIE COMPANY

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/295558

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.