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/357674
  • 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/357674
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.

SHABBAR DANISH

Listed Specialty: Neurological Surgery
125 PATERSON ST, SUITE 4100, NEW BRUNSWICK, NJ, 08901-1962

2018 Payments: At a Glance

69

payments

$46,776

payment total

8

companies paid this doctor

Types of Payments

Category Payments Payment Value
Promotional Speaking/Other
 8 $38,846
Travel and Lodging
 8 $3,749
Food and Beverage
 51 $2,478
Consulting
 2 $1,703

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†
VISUALASE

device

 $33,658
ACTIVA

device

 $10,366
MAZORX - RENAISSANCE

device

 $1,597
NEUROMODULATION DSPSBLS AND ACCS

device

 $463
INFINITY DBS PULSE GENERATORS

device

 $138
ICON

device

 $100
PERFECTION

device

 $100
Payments with no listed product

N/A

 $97
DEEP BRAIN STIMULATION

device

 $90
VERCISE

device

 $83
NEUROBLATE

device

 $69
LESSRAY

device

 $41
SERRATO

device

 $40
TRITANIUM

device

 $40
CASCADIA INTERBODY SYSTEM

device

 $34
† 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

= Disputed Payment

When How Much Related To What For From Third Party Payee
Dec 19, 2018 $13,632 VISUALASE Promotional Speaking/Other MEDTRONIC USA, INC. Skullcap Enterprises
Jan 10, 2018 $9,883 ACTIVA Promotional Speaking/Other MEDTRONIC USA, INC. Skullcap Enterprises
Oct 17, 2018 $6,470 VISUALASE Promotional Speaking/Other MEDTRONIC USA, INC. Skullcap Enterprises
Oct 3, 2018 $2,500 VISUALASE Promotional Speaking/Other MEDTRONIC USA, INC. Skullcap Enterprises
Apr 5, 2018 $2,500 VISUALASE Promotional Speaking/Other MEDTRONIC USA, INC. Skullcap Enterprises
Nov 1, 2018 $2,500 VISUALASE Promotional Speaking/Other MEDTRONIC USA, INC. Skullcap Enterprises
Sep 4, 2018 $1,022 VISUALASE Consulting MEDTRONIC USA, INC. Skullcap Enterprises
Nov 15, 2018 $1,008 VISUALASE Travel and Lodging MEDTRONIC USA, INC.
May 10, 2018 $931 MAZORX - RENAISSANCE Travel and Lodging MEDTRONIC USA, INC.
Jun 26, 2018 $681 VISUALASE Promotional Speaking/Other MEDTRONIC USA, INC. Skullcap Enterprises
Sep 4, 2018 $681 VISUALASE Promotional Speaking/Other MEDTRONIC USA, INC. Skullcap Enterprises
Jan 17, 2018 $681 VISUALASE Consulting MEDTRONIC USA, INC. Skullcap Enterprises
Sep 26, 2018 $608 VISUALASE Travel and Lodging MEDTRONIC USA, INC.
May 10, 2018 $499 MAZORX - RENAISSANCE Travel and Lodging MEDTRONIC USA, INC.
May 6, 2018 $255 VISUALASE Travel and Lodging MEDTRONIC USA, INC.
May 6, 2018 $191 VISUALASE Travel and Lodging MEDTRONIC USA, INC.
Nov 10, 2018 $173 ACTIVA Food and Beverage MEDTRONIC USA, INC.
May 7, 2018 $148 VISUALASE Travel and Lodging MEDTRONIC USA, INC.
Jul 12, 2018 $139 NEUROMODULATION DSPSBLS AND ACCS Food and Beverage ABBOTT LABORATORIES
Aug 13, 2018 $138 INFINITY DBS PULSE GENERATORS Food and Beverage ABBOTT LABORATORIES

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/357674

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.