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/310307
  • 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/310307
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.

AVERY BUCHHOLZ

Listed Specialty: Neurological Surgery
169 ASHLEY AVE, ROOM 202 MAIN HOSPITAL MSC 333, CHARLESTON, SC, 29425-8905

2018 Payments: At a Glance

92

payments

$18,735

payment total

8

companies paid this doctor

Types of Payments

Category Payments Payment Value
Travel and Lodging
 26 $6,586
Consulting
 1 $6,410
Food and Beverage
 62 $4,126
Promotional Speaking/Other
 1 $1,500
Entertainment
 1 $101
Education
 1 $12

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

 $9,463
XLIF

device

 $4,795
ALIF

device

 $2,074
ARTIS PHENO

device

 $968
NONE

device

 $625
MATRIXNEURO

device

 $455
SPINE TRUSS SYSTEM

device

 $341
RELINE

device

 $291
CD HORIZON

device

 $191
S3000 HELX WITH TOUCH CONTROL

device

 $179
TLIF

device

 $167
TYMLOS

drug

 $166
O-ARM-SPINE

device

 $162
MAZORX - RENAISSANCE

device

 $149
DIVERGENCE-L

device

 $145
BLACKBIRD

device

 $130
BLACKHAWK

device

 $130
TIGER SHARK

device

 $130
TOMCAT

device

 $130
VEO

device

 $130
† 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/310307

Payment Details

When How Much Related To What For From Third Party Payee
May 17, 2018 $6,410 No Listed Product Consulting MEDTRONIC USA, INC.
Dec 18, 2018 $1,500 No Listed Product Promotional Speaking/Other SIEMENS MEDICAL SOLUTIONS USA, INC.
Oct 9, 2018 $1,103 ALIF XLIF Travel and Lodging NUVASIVE, INC.
Jun 11, 2018 $908 XLIF Travel and Lodging NUVASIVE, INC.
Feb 22, 2018 $710 ARTIS PHENO Travel and Lodging SIEMENS MEDICAL SOLUTIONS USA, INC.
Aug 31, 2018 $692 ALIF XLIF Travel and Lodging NUVASIVE, INC.
Apr 23, 2018 $684 No Listed Product Travel and Lodging MEDTRONIC USA, INC.
Jul 13, 2018 $438 NONE Travel and Lodging STRYKER CORPORATION
Jun 11, 2018 $325 XLIF Travel and Lodging NUVASIVE, INC.
May 18, 2018 $253 XLIF Travel and Lodging NUVASIVE, INC.
Apr 23, 2018 $226 No Listed Product Travel and Lodging MEDTRONIC USA, INC.
Apr 23, 2018 $213 No Listed Product Travel and Lodging MEDTRONIC USA, INC.
May 18, 2018 $207 XLIF Travel and Lodging NUVASIVE, INC.
Feb 27, 2018 $202 ARTIS PHENO Travel and Lodging SIEMENS MEDICAL SOLUTIONS USA, INC.
Jan 10, 2018 $179 S3000 HELX WITH TOUCH CONTROL Food and Beverage SIEMENS MEDICAL SOLUTIONS USA, INC.
Oct 23, 2018 $179 No Listed Product Food and Beverage NUVASIVE, INC.
Jan 24, 2018 $162 O-ARM-SPINE Food and Beverage MEDTRONIC USA, INC.
Jul 13, 2018 $157 NONE Travel and Lodging STRYKER CORPORATION
Jun 14, 2018 $149 MAZORX - RENAISSANCE Food and Beverage MEDTRONIC USA, INC.
Nov 30, 2018 $148 CD HORIZON Food and Beverage MEDTRONIC USA, 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/310307

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.