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/618203
  • 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/618203
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.

DAVID COSGROVE

Listed Specialty: Interventional Pain Medicine
2700 10TH AVE S, STE 444, BIRMINGHAM, AL, 35205-1200

2018 Payments: At a Glance

149

payments

$50,321

payment total

23

companies paid this doctor

Types of Payments

Category Payments Payment Value
Promotional Speaking/Other
 30 $47,707
Food and Beverage
 116 $1,915
Travel and Lodging
 2 $399
Nonaccredited Training
 1 $300

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†
SYMPROIC

drug

 $19,538
XTAMPZA

drug

 $16,488
GRALISE

drug

 $12,624
LUCEMYRA

drug

 $336
RELISTOR

drug

 $190
Payments with no listed product

N/A

 $187
SENZA SPINAL CORD STIMULATION SYSTEM

device

 $120
TROKENDI XR

drug

 $96
AMITIZA

drug

 $85
SPRIX

drug

 $82
ZOHYDRO ER

drug

 $78
MOVANTIK

drug

 $74
ARYMO ER

drug

 $72
EMBEDA

drug

 $58
FLECTOR PATCH

drug

 $58
LYRICA

drug

 $58
AIMOVIG

drug

 $55
OXTELLAR XR

drug

 $48
PENNSAID

drug

 $37
HORIZANT

drug

 $33
† 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/618203

Payment Details

When How Much Related To What For From Third Party Payee
Jan 31, 2018 $4,015 XTAMPZA Promotional Speaking/Other COLLEGIUM PHARMACEUTICAL, INC.
Mar 9, 2018 $4,015 XTAMPZA Promotional Speaking/Other COLLEGIUM PHARMACEUTICAL, INC.
Apr 18, 2018 $3,520 SYMPROIC Promotional Speaking/Other PURDUE PHARMA L.P.
May 17, 2018 $3,520 SYMPROIC Promotional Speaking/Other PURDUE PHARMA L.P.
Apr 4, 2018 $3,285 XTAMPZA Promotional Speaking/Other COLLEGIUM PHARMACEUTICAL, INC.
Mar 27, 2018 $3,080 SYMPROIC Promotional Speaking/Other PURDUE PHARMA L.P.
Apr 10, 2018 $2,640 SYMPROIC Promotional Speaking/Other PURDUE PHARMA L.P.
Apr 12, 2018 $2,640 SYMPROIC Promotional Speaking/Other PURDUE PHARMA L.P.
Mar 26, 2018 $2,373 XTAMPZA Promotional Speaking/Other COLLEGIUM PHARMACEUTICAL, INC.
Mar 15, 2018 $2,200 SYMPROIC Promotional Speaking/Other PURDUE PHARMA L.P.
Mar 1, 2018 $2,000 GRALISE Promotional Speaking/Other DEPOMED, INC.
Jul 9, 2018 $2,000 GRALISE Promotional Speaking/Other DEPOMED, INC.
Oct 25, 2018 $2,000 GRALISE Promotional Speaking/Other DEPOMED, INC.
Feb 12, 2018 $2,000 GRALISE Promotional Speaking/Other DEPOMED, INC.
May 3, 2018 $2,000 GRALISE Promotional Speaking/Other DEPOMED, INC.
Sep 14, 2018 $2,000 GRALISE Promotional Speaking/Other DEPOMED, INC.
Jan 31, 2018 $1,825 XTAMPZA Promotional Speaking/Other COLLEGIUM PHARMACEUTICAL, INC.
Feb 26, 2018 $500 GRALISE Promotional Speaking/Other DEPOMED, INC.
May 17, 2018 $446 SYMPROIC Promotional Speaking/Other PURDUE PHARMA L.P.
Apr 18, 2018 $316 SYMPROIC Promotional Speaking/Other PURDUE PHARMA L.P.

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/618203

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.