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/69234
  • 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/69234
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.

JOSE VILLARREAL

Listed Specialty: Pain Medicine
5652 N MESA, EL PASO, TX, 79912-5425

2018 Payments: At a Glance

219

payments

$8,277

payment total

23

companies paid this doctor

Types of Payments

Category Payments Payment Value
Food and Beverage
 208 $4,829
Travel and Lodging
 8 $2,365
Promotional Speaking/Other
 1 $1,050
Education
 2 $33

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†
SENZA SPINAL CORD STIMULATION SYSTEM

device

 $2,701
BONJESTA

drug

 $1,962
PROCLAIM FAMILY OF SCS IPGS

device

 $886
MORPHABOND ER

drug

 $642
LYRICA

drug

 $241
PRODIGY FAMILY OF SCS IPGS

device

 $176
DRG IPGS

device

 $169
PROTEGE FAMILY OF SCS IPGS

device

 $169
AXIUM SHEATH BRAIDED DRG

device

 $145
FLECTOR PATCH

drug

 $137
EMBEDA

drug

 $124
SCS LEADS

device

 $122
INSPIRE UPPER AIRWAY STIMULATION SYSTEM

device

 $119
HORIZANT

drug

 $114
MOVANTIK

drug

 $105
SCS IPGS

device

 $81
AXIUM INS DRG IPG

device

 $78
SYMPROIC

drug

 $52
ZTLIDO 30 POUCH IN 1 CARTON 1 PATCH IN 1 POUCH

drug

 $50
NT1100 NT2000IX SIMPLICITY

device

 $50
† 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/69234

Payment Details

When How Much Related To What For From Third Party Payee
Jul 18, 2018 $1,050 BONJESTA Promotional Speaking/Other DUCHESNAY USA INCORPORATED
Jul 18, 2018 $802 BONJESTA Travel and Lodging DUCHESNAY USA INCORPORATED
Mar 8, 2018 $414 SENZA SPINAL CORD STIMULATION SYSTEM Travel and Lodging NEVRO CORP.
Mar 8, 2018 $333 SENZA SPINAL CORD STIMULATION SYSTEM Travel and Lodging NEVRO CORP.
Mar 9, 2018 $333 SENZA SPINAL CORD STIMULATION SYSTEM Travel and Lodging NEVRO CORP.
Mar 12, 2018 $175 SENZA SPINAL CORD STIMULATION SYSTEM Travel and Lodging NEVRO CORP.
Mar 9, 2018 $175 SENZA SPINAL CORD STIMULATION SYSTEM Travel and Lodging NEVRO CORP.
Nov 15, 2018 $161 PROTEGE FAMILY OF SCS IPGS Food and Beverage ABBOTT LABORATORIES
May 14, 2018 $148 PROCLAIM FAMILY OF SCS IPGS Food and Beverage ABBOTT LABORATORIES
Jan 11, 2018 $148 SENZA SPINAL CORD STIMULATION SYSTEM Food and Beverage NEVRO CORP.
Apr 17, 2018 $144 SENZA SPINAL CORD STIMULATION SYSTEM Food and Beverage NEVRO CORP.
Mar 9, 2018 $141 SENZA SPINAL CORD STIMULATION SYSTEM Food and Beverage NEVRO CORP.
Apr 30, 2018 $139 PROCLAIM FAMILY OF SCS IPGS Food and Beverage ABBOTT LABORATORIES
Oct 24, 2018 $130 SENZA SPINAL CORD STIMULATION SYSTEM Food and Beverage NEVRO CORP.
Sep 7, 2018 $123 AXIUM SHEATH BRAIDED DRG Food and Beverage ABBOTT LABORATORIES
Dec 5, 2018 $119 INSPIRE UPPER AIRWAY STIMULATION SYSTEM Food and Beverage INSPIRE MEDICAL SYSTEMS, INC.
Jul 18, 2018 $111 BONJESTA Food and Beverage DUCHESNAY USA INCORPORATED
Jan 18, 2018 $109 MORPHABOND ER Food and Beverage DAIICHI SANKYO INC.
Aug 30, 2018 $109 SENZA SPINAL CORD STIMULATION SYSTEM Food and Beverage NEVRO CORP.
Feb 7, 2018 $108 SCS LEADS 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/69234

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.