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/305330
  • 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/305330
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.


WAIL ASFOUR

Listed Specialty: Cardiovascular Disease
10010 DONALD POWERS DRIVE, MUNSTER, IN, 46321

2018 Payments: At a Glance

178

payments

$30,960

payment total

22

companies paid this doctor

Types of Payments

Category Payments Payment Value
Travel and Lodging
33 $13,122
Consulting
1 $5,434
Food and Beverage
140 $4,787
Education
3 $4,617
Promotional Speaking/Other
1 $3,000

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
Payments with no listed product

N/A

$11,756
IN.PACT ADMIRAL

device

$5,251
HAWKONE

device

$4,806
IVUS SYSTEMS

device

$1,351
TR BAND

device

$1,351
GLIDESHEATH

device

$1,327
HEARTRAIL

device

$1,327
OPTITORQUE

device

$1,327
VALIANT CAPTIVIA

device

$1,184
IMPELLA

device

$1,181
ROTABLATOR

device

$794
GENERAL VASCULAR ACCESS

device

$661
IGT_D PERIPHERAL

device

$444
ENTRESTO

drug

$365
LIFEVEST

device

$267
RESOLUTE

device

$183
ENDURANT

device

$167
LUTONIX

device

$132
LIFESTENT

device

$125
COOK MEDICAL ZILVER PTX

device

$117
† 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/305330

Payment Details

When How Much Related To What For From Third Party Payee
Oct 16, 2018 $5,434 No Listed Product Consulting BARD PERIPHERAL VASCULAR, INC.
Jun 26, 2018 $4,487 No Listed Product Education BARD PERIPHERAL VASCULAR, INC.
Mar 3, 2018 $3,916 IN.PACT ADMIRAL Travel and Lodging MEDTRONIC VASCULAR, INC.
Oct 22, 2018 $3,000 HAWKONE Promotional Speaking/Other MEDTRONIC VASCULAR, INC. American Family Medical Center Llc
Oct 12, 2018 $1,054 HAWKONE Travel and Lodging MEDTRONIC VASCULAR, INC.
Oct 2, 2018 $762 IVUS SYSTEMS Travel and Lodging PHILIPS ELECTRONICS NORTH AMERICA CORPORATION
Oct 12, 2018 $722 No Listed Product Travel and Lodging BARD PERIPHERAL VASCULAR, INC.
Dec 3, 2018 $552 ROTABLATOR Travel and Lodging BOSTON SCIENTIFIC CORPORATION
Jun 15, 2018 $513 No Listed Product Travel and Lodging BARD PERIPHERAL VASCULAR, INC.
Sep 4, 2018 $465 OPTITORQUE HEARTRAIL TR BAND GLIDESHEATH Travel and Lodging TERUMO MEDICAL CORPORATION
Jul 24, 2018 $444 IVUS SYSTEMS Travel and Lodging PHILIPS ELECTRONICS NORTH AMERICA CORPORATION
Mar 23, 2018 $427 IMPELLA Travel and Lodging ABIOMED
Mar 4, 2018 $421 IN.PACT ADMIRAL Travel and Lodging MEDTRONIC VASCULAR, INC.
May 18, 2018 $414 VALIANT CAPTIVIA Travel and Lodging MEDTRONIC VASCULAR, INC.
Oct 10, 2018 $341 No Listed Product Travel and Lodging BARD PERIPHERAL VASCULAR, INC.
Mar 23, 2018 $334 IMPELLA Travel and Lodging ABIOMED
Oct 12, 2018 $292 HAWKONE Travel and Lodging MEDTRONIC VASCULAR, INC.
Oct 7, 2018 $284 GENERAL VASCULAR ACCESS Travel and Lodging BOSTON SCIENTIFIC CORPORATION
May 19, 2018 $265 VALIANT CAPTIVIA Travel and Lodging MEDTRONIC VASCULAR, INC.
Mar 23, 2018 $246 IMPELLA Travel and Lodging ABIOMED

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/305330

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.