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/76772
  • 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/76772
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.

BALJEET UPPAL

Listed Specialty: Vascular Surgery
15571 N REEMS RD, SURPRISE, AZ, 85374-9584

2018 Payments: At a Glance

141

payments

$17,995

payment total

13

companies paid this doctor

Types of Payments

Category Payments Payment Value
Consulting
 10 $11,100
Food and Beverage
 128 $6,006
Education
 3 $889

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†
OVATION

device

 $8,881
AFX

device

 $6,018
Payments with no listed product

N/A

 $1,186
EXCLUDER AAA ENDOPROSTHESIS

device

 $1,135
VIABAHN VBX BALLOON EXPANDABLE ENDOPROSTHESIS

device

 $258
VIABAHN ENDOPROSTHESIS

device

 $254
CVX-300

device

 $252
CLOSUREFAST

device

 $205
SUPERA PERIPHERAL STENT SYSTEM

device

 $199
TAG THORACIC ENDOPROSTHESIS

device

 $181
HAWKONE

device

 $174
PHOTOFIX

device

 $158
BIOGLUE

device

 $152
IN.PACT ADMIRAL

device

 $141
PHILIPS CONSUMABLES

device

 $130
IGT_D PERIPHERAL

device

 $124
OASIS

device

 $110
REGRANEX

drug

 $110
SANTYL

drug

 $110
ENDURANT

device

 $94
† 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/76772

Payment Details

When How Much Related To What For From Third Party Payee
Jan 25, 2018 $2,400 AFX Consulting ENDOLOGIX, INC.
Mar 15, 2018 $1,200 OVATION Consulting ENDOLOGIX, INC.
Aug 16, 2018 $1,200 OVATION Consulting ENDOLOGIX, INC.
Sep 20, 2018 $1,200 AFX Consulting ENDOLOGIX, INC.
Jan 18, 2018 $1,200 OVATION Consulting ENDOLOGIX, INC.
May 2, 2018 $1,200 OVATION Consulting ENDOLOGIX, INC.
Jun 18, 2018 $1,200 OVATION Consulting ENDOLOGIX, INC.
Jun 18, 2018 $600 AFX OVATION Consulting ENDOLOGIX, INC.
Mar 1, 2018 $600 OVATION AFX Consulting ENDOLOGIX, INC.
Mar 26, 2018 $578 No Listed Product Food and Beverage ENDOLOGIX, INC.
Mar 27, 2018 $392 No Listed Product Food and Beverage ENDOLOGIX, INC.
Oct 28, 2018 $389 EXCLUDER AAA ENDOPROSTHESIS Education W. L. GORE & ASSOCIATES, INC.
Dec 14, 2018 $360 EXCLUDER AAA ENDOPROSTHESIS Education W. L. GORE & ASSOCIATES, INC.
Mar 15, 2018 $300 AFX Consulting ENDOLOGIX, INC.
Dec 19, 2018 $270 AFX OVATION Food and Beverage ENDOLOGIX, INC.
Mar 21, 2018 $232 VIABAHN ENDOPROSTHESIS Food and Beverage W. L. GORE & ASSOCIATES, INC.
Sep 4, 2018 $191 OVATION Food and Beverage ENDOLOGIX, INC.
Dec 5, 2018 $181 TAG THORACIC ENDOPROSTHESIS Food and Beverage W. L. GORE & ASSOCIATES, INC.
Aug 9, 2018 $172 AFX Food and Beverage ENDOLOGIX, INC.
Aug 6, 2018 $163 EXCLUDER AAA ENDOPROSTHESIS Food and Beverage W. L. GORE & ASSOCIATES, 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/76772

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.