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/39981
  • 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/39981
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.

RAUL LOPEZ

Listed Specialty: Pain Medicine
9787 N 91ST ST, SUITE 101, SCOTTSDALE, AZ, 85258-5088

2018 Payments: At a Glance

119

payments

$3,636

payment total

11

companies paid this doctor

Types of Payments

Category Payments Payment Value
Food and Beverage
 117 $3,038
Travel and Lodging
 2 $597

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†
PROCLAIM FAMILY OF SCS IPGS

device

 $781
RESTORE

device

 $458
ADAPTIVESTIM

device

 $389
SCS IPGS

device

 $252
PROTEGE FAMILY OF SCS IPGS

device

 $213
PRODIGY FAMILY OF SCS IPGS

device

 $194
OCTRODE SCS LEADS

device

 $185
SCS LEADS

device

 $181
SENZA SPINAL CORD STIMULATION SYSTEM

device

 $166
NT1100 NT2000IX SIMPLICITY

device

 $149
DRG IPGS

device

 $148
LYRICA

drug

 $132
AXIUM INS DRG IPG

device

 $84
ALGOVITA

device

 $72
MORPHABOND ER

drug

 $50
SYMPROIC

drug

 $29
KYPHON BALLOON KYPHOPLASTY

device

 $28
SYNCHROMED

device

 $21
TARGETSTIM

device

 $21
NEUROMODULATION DSPSBLS AND ACCS

device

 $19
† 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/39981

Payment Details

When How Much Related To What For From Third Party Payee
Oct 16, 2018 $389 ADAPTIVESTIM Travel and Lodging MEDTRONIC USA, INC.
Oct 16, 2018 $209 RESTORE Travel and Lodging MEDTRONIC USA, INC.
Nov 15, 2018 $161 PROTEGE FAMILY OF SCS IPGS Food and Beverage ABBOTT LABORATORIES
Mar 27, 2018 $156 PRODIGY FAMILY OF SCS IPGS Food and Beverage ABBOTT LABORATORIES
Feb 8, 2018 $155 SCS IPGS Food and Beverage ABBOTT LABORATORIES
Sep 25, 2018 $154 PROCLAIM FAMILY OF SCS IPGS Food and Beverage ABBOTT LABORATORIES
Sep 6, 2018 $153 PROCLAIM FAMILY OF SCS IPGS Food and Beverage ABBOTT LABORATORIES
Jan 22, 2018 $143 SCS LEADS Food and Beverage ABBOTT LABORATORIES
Aug 28, 2018 $137 PROCLAIM FAMILY OF SCS IPGS Food and Beverage ABBOTT LABORATORIES
Sep 6, 2018 $128 RESTORE Food and Beverage MEDTRONIC USA, INC.
Dec 6, 2018 $113 SENZA SPINAL CORD STIMULATION SYSTEM Food and Beverage NEVRO CORP.
Jan 16, 2018 $106 DRG IPGS Food and Beverage ABBOTT LABORATORIES
Oct 16, 2018 $105 RESTORE Food and Beverage MEDTRONIC USA, INC.
May 14, 2018 $100 PROCLAIM FAMILY OF SCS IPGS Food and Beverage ABBOTT LABORATORIES
Aug 3, 2018 $87 NT1100 NT2000IX SIMPLICITY Food and Beverage ABBOTT LABORATORIES
Dec 13, 2018 $56 ALGOVITA Food and Beverage NUVECTRA CORPORATION
Apr 25, 2018 $52 PROTEGE FAMILY OF SCS IPGS Food and Beverage ABBOTT LABORATORIES
Aug 13, 2018 $46 PROCLAIM FAMILY OF SCS IPGS Food and Beverage ABBOTT LABORATORIES
May 1, 2018 $44 AXIUM INS DRG IPG Food and Beverage ABBOTT LABORATORIES
Jul 23, 2018 $42 PROCLAIM FAMILY OF SCS IPGS 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/39981

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.