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/311645
  • 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/311645
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.

ORLANDO DIAZ

Listed Specialty: Diagnostic Radiology
12951 SOUTH FWY, HOUSTON, TX, 77047-1923

2018 Payments: At a Glance

171

payments

$68,630

payment total

9

companies paid this doctor

Types of Payments

Category Payments Payment Value
Promotional Speaking/Other
 11 $34,615
Consulting
 4 $16,216
Travel and Lodging
 45 $14,534
Food and Beverage
 111 $3,265

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

 $39,474
Payments with no listed product

N/A

 $13,410
PHIL

device

 $7,494
PULSERIDER

device

 $5,996
TRUFILL

device

 $5,985
SOLITAIRE

device

 $542
LVIS

device

 $452
SOFIA

device

 $368
SCEPTER XC BALLOON CATHETER

device

 $304
AXIUM

device

 $297
LVIS JR.

device

 $264
WEB

device

 $232
SCEPTER C BALLOON CATHETER

device

 $230
PENUMBRA SYSTEM

device

 $230
TREVO

device

 $146
ACE

device

 $145
ATLAS

device

 $130
FRED JR

device

 $116
ARTIS Q

device

 $96
HYPERSOFT 3D COIL

device

 $74
† 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/311645

Payment Details

When How Much Related To What For From Third Party Payee
Sep 24, 2018 $5,940 PIPELINE Promotional Speaking/Other MEDTRONIC USA, INC.
Jul 26, 2018 $5,465 No Listed Product Consulting MEDTRONIC USA, INC.
Mar 22, 2018 $5,463 PIPELINE Promotional Speaking/Other MEDTRONIC USA, INC.
Feb 13, 2018 $5,463 PIPELINE Promotional Speaking/Other MEDTRONIC USA, INC.
Mar 22, 2018 $5,463 PIPELINE Promotional Speaking/Other MEDTRONIC USA, INC.
Dec 3, 2018 $5,132 PIPELINE Promotional Speaking/Other MEDTRONIC USA, INC.
Apr 9, 2018 $5,130 PIPELINE Promotional Speaking/Other MEDTRONIC USA, INC.
Oct 1, 2018 $4,941 No Listed Product Consulting MEDTRONIC USA, INC.
Jun 7, 2018 $4,629 PHIL Travel and Lodging MICROVENTION, INC.
May 1, 2018 $3,560 TRUFILL PULSERIDER Consulting MEDICAL DEVICE BUSINESS SERVICES, INC.
Sep 28, 2018 $2,250 TRUFILL PULSERIDER Consulting MEDICAL DEVICE BUSINESS SERVICES, INC.
Aug 16, 2018 $1,425 PIPELINE Promotional Speaking/Other MEDTRONIC USA, INC.
Jun 26, 2018 $792 PHIL Travel and Lodging MICROVENTION, INC.
May 10, 2018 $684 No Listed Product Travel and Lodging MEDTRONIC USA, INC.
Sep 14, 2018 $654 PIPELINE Travel and Lodging MEDTRONIC USA, INC.
Dec 13, 2018 $615 No Listed Product Travel and Lodging MEDTRONIC USA, INC.
Jan 30, 2018 $466 PIPELINE Travel and Lodging MEDTRONIC USA, INC.
Jun 2, 2018 $461 PHIL Travel and Lodging MICROVENTION, INC.
Feb 7, 2018 $418 PIPELINE Travel and Lodging MEDTRONIC USA, INC.
Nov 27, 2018 $403 PIPELINE Travel and Lodging 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/311645

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.