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/362416
  • 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/362416
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.

ANTHONY CUCCHI

Listed Specialty: Orthopaedic Surgery
50505 SCHOENHERR RD, 120, SHELBY TWP, MI, 48315-3140

2018 Payments: At a Glance

45

payments

$50,902

payment total

10

companies paid this doctor

Types of Payments

Category Payments Payment Value
Royalty or License
 7 $36,971
Consulting
 3 $10,688
Travel and Lodging
 11 $1,854
Food and Beverage
 24 $1,390

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†
EVEREST SPINAL SYSTEM

device

 $27,580
GENERAL K2M PRODUCT DISCUSSION

device

 $10,749
EVEREST

device

 $8,495
CREO ADDITION

device

 $2,273
CURVE

device

 $425
EXCELSIUS - GPS

device

 $342
COFLEX

device

 $263
TRITANIUM

device

 $260
TRINITY

drug

 $224
AEQUALIS

device

 $125
IVS - IVAS

device

 $67
MOBI-C

device

 $37
HYALGAN

device

 $34
O-ARM-ST

device

 $26
HYMOVIS

device

 $24
† 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
Feb 16, 2018 $9,813 EVEREST SPINAL SYSTEM Royalty or License K2M, INC. Anthony Cucchi PLLC
Nov 14, 2018 $8,495 EVEREST Royalty or License STRYKER CORPORATION Anthony Cucchi PLLC
Aug 14, 2018 $8,420 EVEREST SPINAL SYSTEM Royalty or License K2M, INC. Anthony Cucchi PLLC
May 15, 2018 $7,970 EVEREST SPINAL SYSTEM Royalty or License K2M, INC. Anthony Cucchi PLLC
Nov 15, 2018 $4,813 GENERAL K2M PRODUCT DISCUSSION Consulting STRYKER CORPORATION Anthony Cucchi PLLC
May 22, 2018 $4,625 GENERAL K2M PRODUCT DISCUSSION Consulting K2M, INC.
May 15, 2018 $1,250 EVEREST SPINAL SYSTEM Consulting K2M, INC.
Sep 30, 2018 $1,077 CREO ADDITION Royalty or License GLOBUS MEDICAL, INC.
Dec 31, 2018 $990 CREO ADDITION Royalty or License GLOBUS MEDICAL, INC.
Sep 19, 2018 $399 GENERAL K2M PRODUCT DISCUSSION Travel and Lodging K2M, INC.
Apr 25, 2018 $364 GENERAL K2M PRODUCT DISCUSSION Travel and Lodging K2M, INC.
Dec 10, 2018 $342 EXCELSIUS - GPS Travel and Lodging GLOBUS MEDICAL, INC.
Apr 28, 2018 $269 CURVE Travel and Lodging BRAINLAB, INC.
Jun 30, 2018 $207 CREO ADDITION Royalty or License GLOBUS MEDICAL, INC.
Oct 26, 2018 $178 GENERAL K2M PRODUCT DISCUSSION Travel and Lodging K2M, INC.
Apr 27, 2018 $156 GENERAL K2M PRODUCT DISCUSSION Travel and Lodging K2M, INC.
Dec 17, 2018 $148 TRITANIUM Food and Beverage STRYKER CORPORATION
Dec 31, 2018 $125 AEQUALIS Food and Beverage WRIGHT MEDICAL TECHNOLOGY, INC.
Sep 13, 2018 $124 TRINITY Food and Beverage ORTHOFIX MEDICAL, INC.
Apr 11, 2018 $124 COFLEX Food and Beverage PARADIGM SPINE, LLC

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/362416

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.