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/320891
  • 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/320891
If you spot an error, please let us know at drugs@propublica.org.

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.

SONJA VOELKEL

Listed Specialty: Obstetrics & Gynecology
7120 CLEARVISTA DR, SUITE 4000, INDIANAPOLIS, IN, 46256-1774

2018 Payments: At a Glance

18

payments

$342

payment total

11

companies paid this doctor

Types of Payments

Category Payments Payment Value
Food and Beverage
 15 $306
Education
 3 $36

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†
POINT-OF-CARE PRODUCTS

device

 $114
MYOSURE

device

 $44
NOVASURE

device

 $44
INTRAROSA

drug

 $36
KYLEENA

drug

 $26
MIRENA

drug

 $26
DERMABOND PORTFOLIO

device

 $20
EVICEL

drug

 $20
STRATAFIX

device

 $20
SURGICEL FAMILY OF ABSORBABLE HEMOSTATS

device

 $20
GARDASIL

drug

 $20
NEXPLANON

drug

 $20
NUVARING

drug

 $20
SURGITRON

device

 $16
DA VINCI SURGICAL SYSTEM

device

 $15
MD COBAS INSTRUMENTS AND REAGENTS

device

 $14
OSPHENA

drug

 $14
PARAGARD

device

 $14
OFIRMEV

drug

 $13
SOLOSEC

drug

 $11
† 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/320891

Payment Details

All payments are displayed, the largest appearing on top.

When How Much Related To What For From Third Party Payee
Jun 8, 2018 $67 POINT-OF-CARE PRODUCTS Food and Beverage COOPERSURGICAL, INC.
Jun 19, 2018 $48 POINT-OF-CARE PRODUCTS Food and Beverage COOPERSURGICAL, INC.
Aug 16, 2018 $20 STRATAFIX DERMABOND PORTFOLIO EVICEL SURGICEL FAMILY OF ABSORBABLE HEMOSTATS Food and Beverage ETHICON US, LLC
Feb 1, 2018 $20 NUVARING NEXPLANON GARDASIL Food and Beverage MERCK SHARP & DOHME CORPORATION
Aug 21, 2018 $16 NOVASURE MYOSURE SURGITRON Food and Beverage HOLOGIC, LLC
Nov 13, 2018 $16 NOVASURE MYOSURE Food and Beverage HOLOGIC, LLC
Apr 5, 2018 $15 DA VINCI SURGICAL SYSTEM Food and Beverage INTUITIVE SURGICAL, INC.
May 31, 2018 $14 MD COBAS INSTRUMENTS AND REAGENTS Food and Beverage ROCHE DIAGNOSTICS CORPORATION
Oct 11, 2018 $14 OSPHENA Food and Beverage DUCHESNAY USA INCORPORATED
Sep 18, 2018 $14 PARAGARD Food and Beverage COOPERSURGICAL, INC.
Jun 12, 2018 $14 KYLEENA MIRENA Food and Beverage BAYER HEALTHCARE PHARMACEUTICALS INC.
May 24, 2018 $13 OFIRMEV Food and Beverage MALLINCKRODT LLC
May 1, 2018 $13 MYOSURE NOVASURE Food and Beverage HOLOGIC, LLC
Sep 25, 2018 $12 INTRAROSA Education AMAG PHARMACEUTICALS, INC.
Oct 23, 2018 $12 INTRAROSA Education AMAG PHARMACEUTICALS, INC.
Mar 8, 2018 $12 KYLEENA MIRENA Food and Beverage BAYER HEALTHCARE PHARMACEUTICALS INC.
Jul 10, 2018 $11 SUPRAX SOLOSEC Food and Beverage LUPIN INC.
Mar 16, 2018 $11 INTRAROSA Education AMAG PHARMACEUTICALS, INC.

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 drugs@propublica.org.

This site includes data published by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services on June 28, 2019.