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/327515
  • 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/327515
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.


BRUCE LEVY

Listed Specialty: Orthopaedic Surgery
200 1ST ST SW, ROCHESTER, MN, 55905-0001

2018 Payments: At a Glance

39

payments

$59,826

payment total

3

companies paid this doctor

Types of Payments

Category Payments Payment Value
Promotional Speaking/Other
7 $40,524
Travel and Lodging
10 $9,807
Nonaccredited Training
1 $3,750
Royalty or License
4 $2,598
Consulting
3 $2,100
Food and Beverage
14 $1,048

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

$34,365
BIOSURE REGENESORB

device

$16,990
TRUNAV

device

$16,990
LINVATEC SHOULDER ARTHROSCOPY

device

$4,706
ARTHROPLASTY IMPLANTS KNEE & HIP ARTHROPLASTY TOTAL KNEE

device

$2,598
DISTAL EXTREMITIES IMPLANTS HAND & WRIST DISTAL RADIUS

device

$2,598
KNEE & HIP INSTRUMENTS REUSABLE INSTRUMENTS PCL

device

$2,598
KNEE & HIP INSTRUMENTS MENISCAL REPAIR MENISCAL ROOT REPAIR

device

$1,382
ARTHROPLASTY INSTRUMENTS KNEE & HIP ARTHROPLASTY TOTAL KNEE

device

$1,335
ARTHROPLASTY INSTRUMENTS KNEE & HIP ARTHROPLASTY PATELLO FEMORAL

device

$1,263
KNEE & HIP INSTRUMENTS OTHER INSTRUMENTS MENISCAL REPAIR

device

$1,216
KNEE & HIP INSTRUMENTS ACLPCL DISPOSABLES OTHER

device

$600
MENISCAL ROOT REPAIR SYSTEM

device

$533
PINPOINT SYSTEM

device

$533
ULTRA FAST-FIX

device

$533
ACCU-PASS

device

$20
500 INSUFFLATOR

device

$14
† 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.

Payment Details

When How Much Related To What For From Third Party Payee
Sep 20, 2018 $17,475 No Listed Product Promotional Speaking/Other ARTHREX, INC. MAYO FOUNDATION FOR MEDICAL
Aug 20, 2018 $15,125 BIOSURE REGENESORB TRUNAV Promotional Speaking/Other SMITH & NEPHEW, INC.
Sep 20, 2018 $6,300 No Listed Product Promotional Speaking/Other ARTHREX, INC. MAYO FOUNDATION FOR MEDICAL
Jul 3, 2018 $6,073 No Listed Product Travel and Lodging ARTHREX, INC.
Jan 17, 2018 $3,750 LINVATEC SHOULDER ARTHROSCOPY Nonaccredited Training LINVATEC CORPORATION
Sep 20, 2018 $900 No Listed Product Promotional Speaking/Other ARTHREX, INC. MAYO FOUNDATION FOR MEDICAL
Nov 15, 2018 $766 ARTHROPLASTY IMPLANTS KNEE & HIP ARTHROPLASTY TOTAL KNEE KNEE & HIP INSTRUMENTS MENISCAL REPAIR MENISCAL ROOT REPAIR ARTHROPLASTY INSTRUMENTS KNEE & HIP ARTHROPLASTY TOTAL KNEE KNEE & HIP INSTRUMENTS REUSABLE INSTRUMENTS PCL DISTAL EXTREMITIES IMPLANTS HAND & WRIST DISTAL RADIUS Royalty or License ARTHREX, INC. MAYO FOUNDATION FOR MEDICAL
Aug 20, 2018 $750 No Listed Product Consulting SMITH & NEPHEW, INC.
Oct 25, 2018 $750 No Listed Product Consulting ARTHREX, INC. MAYO FOUNDATION FOR MEDICAL
Jan 17, 2018 $728 LINVATEC SHOULDER ARTHROSCOPY Travel and Lodging LINVATEC CORPORATION
Jun 13, 2018 $659 BIOSURE REGENESORB TRUNAV Travel and Lodging SMITH & NEPHEW, INC.
Feb 15, 2018 $648 ARTHROPLASTY IMPLANTS KNEE & HIP ARTHROPLASTY TOTAL KNEE KNEE & HIP INSTRUMENTS OTHER INSTRUMENTS MENISCAL REPAIR ARTHROPLASTY INSTRUMENTS KNEE & HIP ARTHROPLASTY PATELLO FEMORAL KNEE & HIP INSTRUMENTS REUSABLE INSTRUMENTS PCL DISTAL EXTREMITIES IMPLANTS HAND & WRIST DISTAL RADIUS Royalty or License ARTHREX, INC. MAYO FOUNDATION FOR MEDICAL
Aug 15, 2018 $615 ARTHROPLASTY IMPLANTS KNEE & HIP ARTHROPLASTY TOTAL KNEE KNEE & HIP INSTRUMENTS MENISCAL REPAIR MENISCAL ROOT REPAIR ARTHROPLASTY INSTRUMENTS KNEE & HIP ARTHROPLASTY PATELLO FEMORAL KNEE & HIP INSTRUMENTS REUSABLE INSTRUMENTS PCL DISTAL EXTREMITIES IMPLANTS HAND & WRIST DISTAL RADIUS Royalty or License ARTHREX, INC. MAYO FOUNDATION FOR MEDICAL
Jan 25, 2018 $600 KNEE & HIP INSTRUMENTS ACLPCL DISPOSABLES OTHER Consulting ARTHREX, INC. MAYO FOUNDATION FOR MEDICAL
Jan 25, 2018 $600 No Listed Product Promotional Speaking/Other ARTHREX, INC. MAYO FOUNDATION FOR MEDICAL
Jun 13, 2018 $599 BIOSURE REGENESORB TRUNAV Travel and Lodging SMITH & NEPHEW, INC.
May 15, 2018 $569 ARTHROPLASTY IMPLANTS KNEE & HIP ARTHROPLASTY TOTAL KNEE KNEE & HIP INSTRUMENTS OTHER INSTRUMENTS MENISCAL REPAIR ARTHROPLASTY INSTRUMENTS KNEE & HIP ARTHROPLASTY TOTAL KNEE KNEE & HIP INSTRUMENTS REUSABLE INSTRUMENTS PCL DISTAL EXTREMITIES IMPLANTS HAND & WRIST DISTAL RADIUS Royalty or License ARTHREX, INC. MAYO FOUNDATION FOR MEDICAL
Dec 26, 2018 $559 No Listed Product Travel and Lodging ARTHREX, INC.
Jun 13, 2018 $533 PINPOINT SYSTEM ULTRA FAST-FIX MENISCAL ROOT REPAIR SYSTEM Travel and Lodging SMITH & NEPHEW, INC.
Feb 26, 2018 $331 No Listed Product Travel and Lodging ARTHREX, 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/327515

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.