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/29591
  • 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/29591
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.

MATTHEW BERLET

Listed Specialty: Diagnostic Radiology
4516 N ARMENIA AVE, TAMPA, FL, 33603-2732

2018 Payments: At a Glance

176

payments

$16,139

payment total

17

companies paid this doctor

Types of Payments

Category Payments Payment Value
Promotional Speaking/Other
 3 $9,040
Food and Beverage
 165 $4,861
Travel and Lodging
 8 $2,238

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†
PIPELINE

device

 $7,458
PENUMBRA SMART COIL

device

 $2,283
PENUMBRA SYSTEM

device

 $2,266
IVS - VERTEBRAL AUGMENTATION PRODUCTS

device

 $589
HYDROFRAME COIL

device

 $498
HYDROSOFT 3D COIL

device

 $467
MICRUSFRAME

device

 $453
SOFIA

device

 $378
KYPHON BALLOON KYPHOPLASTY

device

 $291
LVIS

device

 $269
PENUMBRA RUBY COIL

device

 $259
3D REVASCULARIZATION

device

 $251
OPTION

device

 $233
MVP

device

 $185
INDIGO

device

 $180
ACE

device

 $168
PULSERIDER

device

 $125
HEADWAY MICROCATHETER

device

 $124
IVS - CORTOSS

device

 $117
Payments with no listed product

N/A

 $116
† 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/29591

Payment Details

When How Much Related To What For From Third Party Payee
Oct 23, 2018 $4,600 PIPELINE Promotional Speaking/Other MEDTRONIC USA, INC.
Dec 18, 2018 $2,440 PIPELINE Promotional Speaking/Other MEDTRONIC USA, INC.
Jan 25, 2018 $2,000 PENUMBRA SMART COIL Promotional Speaking/Other PENUMBRA, INC.
Aug 29, 2018 $792 PENUMBRA SYSTEM Travel and Lodging PENUMBRA, INC.
Sep 15, 2018 $316 PENUMBRA SYSTEM Travel and Lodging PENUMBRA, INC.
Sep 28, 2018 $316 PENUMBRA SYSTEM Travel and Lodging PENUMBRA, INC.
Jun 12, 2018 $236 PENUMBRA SYSTEM Food and Beverage PENUMBRA, INC.
Nov 7, 2018 $233 IVS - VERTEBRAL AUGMENTATION PRODUCTS Travel and Lodging STRYKER CORPORATION
Nov 7, 2018 $210 IVS - VERTEBRAL AUGMENTATION PRODUCTS Travel and Lodging STRYKER CORPORATION
Oct 16, 2018 $189 PIPELINE Travel and Lodging MEDTRONIC USA, INC.
Nov 14, 2018 $145 IVS - VERTEBRAL AUGMENTATION PRODUCTS Travel and Lodging STRYKER CORPORATION
Apr 9, 2018 $134 PENUMBRA SMART COIL Food and Beverage PENUMBRA, INC.
Mar 8, 2018 $125 PULSERIDER Food and Beverage MEDICAL DEVICE BUSINESS SERVICES, INC.
Aug 6, 2018 $124 PENUMBRA SYSTEM Food and Beverage PENUMBRA, INC.
Nov 13, 2018 $124 PENUMBRA SYSTEM Food and Beverage PENUMBRA, INC.
May 29, 2018 $117 IVS - CORTOSS Food and Beverage STRYKER CORPORATION
Mar 6, 2018 $115 OPTION Food and Beverage ARGON MEDICAL DEVICES, INC.
Oct 15, 2018 $114 PIPELINE Food and Beverage MEDTRONIC USA, INC.
Apr 3, 2018 $112 3D REVASCULARIZATION Food and Beverage PENUMBRA, INC.
Aug 25, 2018 $111 PENUMBRA SYSTEM Food and Beverage PENUMBRA, 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/29591

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.