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/306564
  • 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/306564
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.

MICHAEL LAI

Listed Specialty: Endocrinology, Diabetes & Metabolism
1510 E MAIN ST, SUITE #104, SANTA MARIA, CA, 93454-4825

2018 Payments: At a Glance

182

payments

$34,886

payment total

21

companies paid this doctor

Types of Payments

Category Payments Payment Value
Promotional Speaking/Other
 17 $28,081
Food and Beverage
 144 $4,693
Travel and Lodging
 15 $1,993
Education
 6 $119

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†
FARXIGA

drug

 $11,477
SOLIQUA

drug

 $7,971
BYDUREON

drug

 $6,841
TOUJEO

drug

 $5,762
DEXCOM CGM

device

 $496
Payments with no listed product

N/A

 $236
DIABETES - DISEASE

drug

 $206
SOMATULINE DEPOT

drug

 $185
PROLIA

drug

 $182
FORTEO

drug

 $175
SYNTHROID

drug

 $153
SAXENDA

drug

 $144
REPATHA

drug

 $140
JARDIANCE

drug

 $139
TRULICITY

drug

 $119
VICTOZA

drug

 $113
AVEED

drug

 $112
TESTOPEL

drug

 $112
OZEMPIC

drug

 $95
XIAFLEX

drug

 $90
† 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/306564

Payment Details

When How Much Related To What For From Third Party Payee
Mar 9, 2018 $2,934 SOLIQUA Promotional Speaking/Other SANOFI-AVENTIS U.S. LLC
Jun 25, 2018 $2,550 FARXIGA Promotional Speaking/Other ASTRAZENECA PHARMACEUTICALS LP
Aug 22, 2018 $2,550 FARXIGA Promotional Speaking/Other ASTRAZENECA PHARMACEUTICALS LP
Jun 4, 2018 $2,550 FARXIGA Promotional Speaking/Other ASTRAZENECA PHARMACEUTICALS LP
Feb 11, 2018 $2,000 BYDUREON Promotional Speaking/Other ASTRAZENECA PHARMACEUTICALS LP
Aug 9, 2018 $1,712 SOLIQUA Promotional Speaking/Other SANOFI-AVENTIS U.S. LLC Michael Lai [MICHAEL LAI, MD, INC]
Sep 20, 2018 $1,712 TOUJEO Promotional Speaking/Other SANOFI-AVENTIS U.S. LLC Michael Lai [MICHAEL LAI, MD, INC]
Apr 3, 2018 $1,712 TOUJEO Promotional Speaking/Other SANOFI-AVENTIS U.S. LLC Michael Lai [MICHAEL LAI, MD, INC]
Aug 16, 2018 $1,712 SOLIQUA Promotional Speaking/Other SANOFI-AVENTIS U.S. LLC Michael Lai [MICHAEL LAI, MD, INC]
Oct 16, 2018 $1,712 TOUJEO Promotional Speaking/Other SANOFI-AVENTIS U.S. LLC Michael Lai [MICHAEL LAI, MD, INC]
Dec 2, 2018 $1,700 FARXIGA Promotional Speaking/Other ASTRAZENECA PHARMACEUTICALS LP
Feb 1, 2018 $1,700 BYDUREON Promotional Speaking/Other ASTRAZENECA PHARMACEUTICALS LP
Mar 15, 2018 $1,700 BYDUREON Promotional Speaking/Other ASTRAZENECA PHARMACEUTICALS LP
May 6, 2018 $1,250 FARXIGA Promotional Speaking/Other ASTRAZENECA PHARMACEUTICALS LP
Jan 20, 2018 $663 BYDUREON Travel and Lodging ASTRAZENECA PHARMACEUTICALS LP
Mar 9, 2018 $608 SOLIQUA Travel and Lodging SANOFI-AVENTIS U.S. LLC
Mar 9, 2018 $338 SOLIQUA Food and Beverage SANOFI-AVENTIS U.S. LLC
Jul 13, 2018 $326 TOUJEO Promotional Speaking/Other SANOFI-AVENTIS U.S. LLC
Mar 9, 2018 $184 SOLIQUA Travel and Lodging SANOFI-AVENTIS U.S. LLC
Jan 20, 2018 $175 BYDUREON Travel and Lodging ASTRAZENECA PHARMACEUTICALS LP

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/306564

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.