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/786807
  • 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/786807
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.

DENNIS DIETRICH

Listed Specialty: Neurology
400 15TH AVE S, STE 206, GREAT FALLS, MT, 59405-4375

2018 Payments: At a Glance

189

payments

$92,866

payment total

15

companies paid this doctor

Types of Payments

Category Payments Payment Value
Promotional Speaking/Other
 29 $63,850
Consulting
 3 $16,440
Travel and Lodging
 44 $9,087
Food and Beverage
 113 $3,490

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†
TYSABRI

drug

 $33,352
TECFIDERA

drug

 $29,775
AUBAGIO

drug

 $28,362
COPAXONE

drug

 $11,377
ZINBRYTA

drug

 $6,578
ARZERRA

drug

 $793
Payments with no listed product

N/A

 $278
GILENYA

drug

 $156
AMPYRA

drug

 $73
LEMTRADA

drug

 $60
APTIOM

drug

 $41
BETASERON

drug

 $33
REBIF

drug

 $31
SOLIRIS

drug

 $30
VIMPAT

drug

 $26
MS DISEASE STATE

drug

 $24
OZANIMOD

drug

 $21
REPATHA

drug

 $18
QUDEXY XR TOPIRAMATE EXTENDED RELEASE CAPSULES

drug

 $15
EMGALITY

drug

 $15
† 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/786807

Payment Details

When How Much Related To What For From Third Party Payee
Jul 20, 2018 $7,350 AUBAGIO Consulting GENZYME CORPORATION
Jan 22, 2018 $4,950 TYSABRI TECFIDERA ZINBRYTA Consulting BIOGEN, INC.
Nov 14, 2018 $4,320 TECFIDERA Promotional Speaking/Other BIOGEN, INC.
Aug 21, 2018 $4,320 TYSABRI Promotional Speaking/Other BIOGEN, INC.
Jun 29, 2018 $4,140 TYSABRI TECFIDERA Consulting BIOGEN, INC. Advanced Neurology Specialists
Mar 13, 2018 $3,880 AUBAGIO Promotional Speaking/Other GENZYME CORPORATION Advanced Neurology Specialists
Mar 2, 2018 $3,395 AUBAGIO Promotional Speaking/Other GENZYME CORPORATION
May 7, 2018 $3,240 TYSABRI Promotional Speaking/Other BIOGEN, INC.
Nov 1, 2018 $3,240 TECFIDERA Promotional Speaking/Other BIOGEN, INC.
Mar 14, 2018 $3,153 AUBAGIO Promotional Speaking/Other GENZYME CORPORATION Advanced Neurology Specialists
May 31, 2018 $2,880 TYSABRI Promotional Speaking/Other BIOGEN, INC.
Nov 27, 2018 $2,789 AUBAGIO Promotional Speaking/Other GENZYME CORPORATION Advanced Neurology Specialists
Aug 1, 2018 $2,520 TECFIDERA Promotional Speaking/Other BIOGEN, INC.
Aug 16, 2018 $2,425 AUBAGIO Promotional Speaking/Other GENZYME CORPORATION Advanced Neurology Specialists
Aug 16, 2018 $2,425 AUBAGIO Promotional Speaking/Other GENZYME CORPORATION Advanced Neurology Specialists
Mar 7, 2018 $2,400 TECFIDERA Promotional Speaking/Other BIOGEN, INC.
May 8, 2018 $2,160 TYSABRI Promotional Speaking/Other BIOGEN, INC.
Mar 21, 2018 $2,000 COPAXONE Promotional Speaking/Other TEVA PHARMACEUTICALS USA, INC.
Jun 7, 2018 $2,000 COPAXONE Promotional Speaking/Other TEVA PHARMACEUTICALS USA, INC.
Mar 12, 2018 $2,000 COPAXONE Promotional Speaking/Other TEVA PHARMACEUTICALS USA, 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/786807

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.