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/56648
  • 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/56648
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.

CHARLES SIMMONS

Listed Specialty: Pain Medicine
7920 MCDONOGH RD, SUITE 201, OWINGS MILLS, MD, 21117-5273

2018 Payments: At a Glance

166

payments

$8,501

payment total

20

companies paid this doctor

Types of Payments

Category Payments Payment Value
Food and Beverage
 155 $4,510
Travel and Lodging
 10 $2,514
Consulting
 1 $1,476

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†
AXIUM INS DRG IPG

device

 $2,339
SUPERION ISS

device

 $1,862
PROCLAIM FAMILY OF SCS IPGS

device

 $941
OCTRODE SCS LEADS

device

 $749
AXIUM SHEATH BRAIDED DRG

device

 $317
ADAPTIVESTIM

device

 $207
SENZA SPINAL CORD STIMULATION SYSTEM

device

 $206
EON FAMILY OF SCS IPGS

device

 $198
VECTRIS

device

 $183
XTAMPZA

drug

 $159
KYPHON BALLOON KYPHOPLASTY

device

 $158
PRODIGY FAMILY OF SCS IPGS

device

 $134
MORPHABOND ER

drug

 $105
SPRIX

drug

 $103
ALGOVITA

device

 $102
INTELLIS

device

 $73
TRIPOLE SCS LEADS

device

 $72
MYSTIM

device

 $71
Payments with no listed product

N/A

 $66
RELISTOR

drug

 $62
† 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/56648

Payment Details

When How Much Related To What For From Third Party Payee
Oct 18, 2018 $1,476 AXIUM INS DRG IPG Consulting ABBOTT LABORATORIES
Jun 30, 2018 $845 SUPERION ISS Travel and Lodging VERTIFLEX, INC.
Jun 20, 2018 $542 SUPERION ISS Travel and Lodging VERTIFLEX, INC.
May 23, 2018 $455 AXIUM INS DRG IPG Travel and Lodging ABBOTT LABORATORIES
Jun 26, 2018 $295 PROCLAIM FAMILY OF SCS IPGS Travel and Lodging ABBOTT LABORATORIES
Oct 4, 2018 $206 SENZA SPINAL CORD STIMULATION SYSTEM Food and Beverage NEVRO CORP.
Sep 7, 2018 $179 PROCLAIM FAMILY OF SCS IPGS Food and Beverage ABBOTT LABORATORIES
Jun 6, 2018 $178 OCTRODE SCS LEADS Food and Beverage ABBOTT LABORATORIES
Aug 2, 2018 $177 OCTRODE SCS LEADS Food and Beverage ABBOTT LABORATORIES
Oct 5, 2018 $177 AXIUM INS DRG IPG Food and Beverage ABBOTT LABORATORIES
May 31, 2018 $174 AXIUM SHEATH BRAIDED DRG Food and Beverage ABBOTT LABORATORIES
Jun 27, 2018 $171 OCTRODE SCS LEADS Food and Beverage ABBOTT LABORATORIES
Jul 16, 2018 $139 EON FAMILY OF SCS IPGS Food and Beverage ABBOTT LABORATORIES
Nov 14, 2018 $136 OCTRODE SCS LEADS Food and Beverage ABBOTT LABORATORIES
Mar 14, 2018 $124 XTAMPZA Food and Beverage COLLEGIUM PHARMACEUTICAL, INC.
Jun 13, 2018 $113 SUPERION ISS Travel and Lodging VERTIFLEX, INC.
Aug 9, 2018 $109 PRODIGY FAMILY OF SCS IPGS Food and Beverage ABBOTT LABORATORIES
May 10, 2018 $106 PROCLAIM FAMILY OF SCS IPGS Food and Beverage ABBOTT LABORATORIES
Jun 9, 2018 $105 SUPERION ISS Travel and Lodging VERTIFLEX, INC.
Nov 8, 2018 $93 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/56648

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.