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/56332
  • 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/56332
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.

SHERRY SUSSMAN

Listed Specialty: Endocrinology, Diabetes & Metabolism
285 MIDDLE COUNTRY RD, SUITE 105, SMITHTOWN, NY, 11787-2978

2018 Payments: At a Glance

264

payments

$20,644

payment total

31

companies paid this doctor

Types of Payments

Category Payments Payment Value
Promotional Speaking/Other
 6 $12,630
Food and Beverage
 241 $5,594
Travel and Lodging
 11 $2,322
Gift
 1 $59
Education
 5 $38

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†
VASCEPA

drug

 $11,085
INVOKANA

drug

 $5,161
FARXIGA

drug

 $477
JARDIANCE

drug

 $414
PRALUENT

drug

 $377
AFREZZA

drug

 $290
REPATHA

drug

 $242
V-GO

device

 $218
EVERSENSE

device

 $187
BASAGLAR

drug

 $184
TOUJEO

drug

 $171
TRESIBA

drug

 $162
MINIMED 670G SYSTEM

device

 $153
OMNIPOD

device

 $150
GLYXAMBI

drug

 $146
UNITHROID

drug

 $137
PROLIA

drug

 $126
SOMATULINE DEPOT

drug

 $124
FREESTYLE LIBRE BLOOD GLUCOSE FLASH MONITORING SYSTEM

device

 $123
BD ULTRA-FINE

device

 $123
† 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/56332

Payment Details

When How Much Related To What For From Third Party Payee
Jun 20, 2018 $3,000 VASCEPA Promotional Speaking/Other AMARIN PHARMA INC.
Apr 5, 2018 $3,000 VASCEPA Promotional Speaking/Other AMARIN PHARMA INC.
Feb 3, 2018 $2,480 VASCEPA Promotional Speaking/Other AMARIN PHARMA INC.
Apr 20, 2018 $2,340 INVOKANA Promotional Speaking/Other JANSSEN PHARMACEUTICALS, INC
Apr 21, 2018 $1,500 INVOKANA Promotional Speaking/Other JANSSEN PHARMACEUTICALS, INC
Feb 3, 2018 $682 VASCEPA Travel and Lodging AMARIN PHARMA INC.
Feb 3, 2018 $564 VASCEPA Travel and Lodging AMARIN PHARMA INC.
Apr 21, 2018 $394 INVOKANA Travel and Lodging JANSSEN PHARMACEUTICALS, INC
Apr 21, 2018 $354 INVOKANA Travel and Lodging JANSSEN PHARMACEUTICALS, INC
Nov 12, 2018 $310 VASCEPA Promotional Speaking/Other AMARIN PHARMA INC.
Oct 1, 2018 $139 EVERSENSE Food and Beverage SENSEONICS, INCORPORATED
May 19, 2018 $134 FARXIGA Food and Beverage ASTRAZENECA PHARMACEUTICALS LP
May 19, 2018 $133 FARXIGA Food and Beverage ASTRAZENECA PHARMACEUTICALS LP
Nov 15, 2018 $130 PRALUENT Food and Beverage SANOFI-AVENTIS U.S. LLC
May 17, 2018 $127 PRALUENT Food and Beverage REGENERON PHARMACEUTICALS, INC.
Apr 16, 2018 $125 INVOKANA Food and Beverage JANSSEN PHARMACEUTICALS, INC
Mar 15, 2018 $125 VASCEPA Food and Beverage AMARIN PHARMA INC.
Jun 14, 2018 $125 VASCEPA Food and Beverage AMARIN PHARMA INC.
Feb 15, 2018 $123 VASCEPA Food and Beverage AMARIN PHARMA INC.
Jul 16, 2018 $109 MINIMED 670G SYSTEM Food and Beverage MEDTRONIC MINIMED, 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/56332

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.