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/39868
  • 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/39868
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.

STEVEN NISSEN

Listed Specialty: Cardiovascular Disease
9500 EUCLID AVE, CLEVELAND, OH, 44195-0001

2018 Payments: At a Glance

61

payments

$111,968

payment total

9

companies paid this doctor

Types of Payments

Category Payments Payment Value
Consulting
 5 $77,745
Travel and Lodging
 32 $31,848
Food and Beverage
 24 $2,375

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†
CELEBREX

drug

 $51,443
EPANOVA

drug

 $21,353
Payments with no listed product

N/A

 $18,188
ACZ885M

drug

 $9,952
LCZ696

drug

 $9,952
RLX030A

drug

 $9,952
LIK066X

drug

 $9,952
NO PRODUCT DISCUSSED

drug

 $9,494
REPATHA

drug

 $1,522
TRULICITY

drug

 $10
SOMAVERT

drug

 $6
† 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
Jul 30, 2018 $48,480 CELEBREX Consulting PFIZER INTERNATIONAL LLC CLEVELAND CLINIC FND
Apr 29, 2018 $8,576 NO PRODUCT DISCUSSED Travel and Lodging SANOFI US SERVICES INC.
Feb 20, 2018 $8,400 No Listed Product Consulting ELI LILLY AND COMPANY CLEVELAND CLINIC HOSPITAL
Jan 31, 2018 $7,490 EPANOVA Consulting ASTRAZENECA PHARMACEUTICALS LP
Apr 15, 2018 $7,047 LCZ696 RLX030A ACZ885M LIK066X Travel and Lodging NOVARTIS PHARMA AG
Dec 5, 2018 $6,826 No Listed Product Travel and Lodging AMGEN INC.
Oct 15, 2018 $6,688 EPANOVA Consulting ASTRAZENECA PHARMACEUTICALS LP
Apr 26, 2018 $6,688 EPANOVA Consulting ASTRAZENECA PHARMACEUTICALS LP
Mar 1, 2018 $888 CELEBREX Travel and Lodging PFIZER INC.
Apr 29, 2018 $716 NO PRODUCT DISCUSSED Travel and Lodging SANOFI US SERVICES INC.
Dec 5, 2018 $656 No Listed Product Travel and Lodging AMGEN INC.
Oct 13, 2018 $639 LCZ696 RLX030A ACZ885M LIK066X Travel and Lodging NOVARTIS PHARMA AG
May 17, 2018 $630 No Listed Product Travel and Lodging ASTRAZENECA PHARMACEUTICALS LP
Oct 13, 2018 $625 LCZ696 ACZ885M RLX030A LIK066X Travel and Lodging NOVARTIS PHARMA AG
Apr 14, 2018 $507 LCZ696 RLX030A ACZ885M LIK066X Travel and Lodging NOVARTIS PHARMA AG
Apr 26, 2018 $473 CELEBREX Travel and Lodging PFIZER INC.
Aug 25, 2018 $436 EPANOVA Travel and Lodging ASTRAZENECA UK LIMITED
Apr 4, 2018 $433 CELEBREX Food and Beverage PFIZER INC.
Feb 21, 2018 $390 REPATHA Travel and Lodging AMGEN INC.
Feb 21, 2018 $373 REPATHA Travel and Lodging AMGEN 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/39868

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.