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/295709
  • 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/295709
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.

CHRISTOPHER GRIGGS

Listed Specialty: Vascular Surgery
1899 TATE BLVD SE, SUITE 2106, HICKORY, NC, 28602-4200

2018 Payments: At a Glance

50

payments

$1,016

payment total

16

companies paid this doctor

Types of Payments

Category Payments Payment Value
Food and Beverage
 50 $1,016

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†
SANTYL

drug

 $214
LIFESTENT

device

 $141
LUTONIX

device

 $132
REGRANEX

drug

 $123
CROSSER

device

 $117
HAWKONE

device

 $94
MYNXGRIP VASCULAR CLOSURE DEVICE

device

 $90
OASIS

device

 $89
PERCLOSE PROGLIDE SUTURE MEDIATED CLOSURE SYSTEM

device

 $80
PROSTAR XL SURGICAL SYSTEM

device

 $80
STARCLOSE SE VASCULAR CLOSURE SYSTEM

device

 $80
GRAFIX & STRAVIX

drug

 $46
APLIGRAF

drug

 $39
VASCUTRAK

device

 $39
VIABAHN ENDOPROSTHESIS WITH PROPATEN BIOACTIVE SURFACE

device

 $26
DALVANCE

drug

 $24
EXCLUDER ILIAC BRANCH ENDOPROSTHESIS

device

 $18
COOK MEDICAL LEAD MANAGEMENT

device

 $16
VARITHENA

drug

 $15
GLIDESHEATH

device

 $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/295709

Payment Details

When How Much Related To What For From Third Party Payee
Nov 6, 2018 $94 HAWKONE Food and Beverage MEDTRONIC VASCULAR, INC.
Dec 19, 2018 $90 MYNXGRIP VASCULAR CLOSURE DEVICE Food and Beverage CARDINAL HEALTH 200, LLC
Oct 28, 2018 $80 PERCLOSE PROGLIDE SUTURE MEDIATED CLOSURE SYSTEM PROSTAR XL SURGICAL SYSTEM STARCLOSE SE VASCULAR CLOSURE SYSTEM Food and Beverage ABBOTT LABORATORIES
Jul 10, 2018 $45 LUTONIX Food and Beverage BARD PERIPHERAL VASCULAR, INC.
Aug 31, 2018 $39 LIFESTENT VASCUTRAK Food and Beverage BARD PERIPHERAL VASCULAR, INC.
Apr 12, 2018 $37 LIFESTENT CROSSER Food and Beverage BARD PERIPHERAL VASCULAR, INC.
Feb 21, 2018 $33 LIFESTENT CROSSER Food and Beverage BARD PERIPHERAL VASCULAR, INC.
Jun 7, 2018 $26 VIABAHN ENDOPROSTHESIS WITH PROPATEN BIOACTIVE SURFACE Food and Beverage W. L. GORE & ASSOCIATES, INC.
Oct 24, 2018 $26 LUTONIX Food and Beverage BARD PERIPHERAL VASCULAR, INC.
Jan 2, 2018 $24 DALVANCE Food and Beverage ALLERGAN INC.
Jan 16, 2018 $23 GRAFIX & STRAVIX Food and Beverage OSIRIS THERAPEUTICS INC.
May 3, 2018 $23 GRAFIX & STRAVIX Food and Beverage OSIRIS THERAPEUTICS INC.
Oct 22, 2018 $21 APLIGRAF Food and Beverage ORGANOGENESIS INC.
Jul 25, 2018 $19 CROSSER Food and Beverage BARD PERIPHERAL VASCULAR, INC.
Apr 26, 2018 $19 SANTYL OASIS Food and Beverage SMITH & NEPHEW, INC.
Apr 21, 2018 $19 SANTYL OASIS Food and Beverage SMITH & NEPHEW, INC.
Jan 25, 2018 $18 EXCLUDER ILIAC BRANCH ENDOPROSTHESIS Food and Beverage W. L. GORE & ASSOCIATES, INC.
Apr 24, 2018 $18 APLIGRAF Food and Beverage ORGANOGENESIS INC.
Jan 23, 2018 $18 SANTYL REGRANEX Food and Beverage SMITH & NEPHEW, INC.
May 31, 2018 $18 SANTYL REGRANEX Food and Beverage SMITH & NEPHEW, 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/295709

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.