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/79933
  • 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/79933
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.

ROBERTO RUIZ

Listed Specialty: Internal Medicine
15255 N 40TH ST, SUITE 127, PHOENIX, AZ, 85032-4624

2018 Payments: At a Glance

214

payments

$46,071

payment total

23

companies paid this doctor

Types of Payments

Category Payments Payment Value
Promotional Speaking/Other
 16 $28,670
Travel and Lodging
 28 $7,108
Consulting
 3 $5,080
Food and Beverage
 165 $4,201
Honoraria
 1 $1,000
Education
 1 $12

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†
STEGLATRO

drug

 $16,337
LIVALO

drug

 $13,741
INVOKANA

drug

 $7,842
VICTOZA

drug

 $4,722
Payments with no listed product

N/A

 $1,094
FARXIGA

drug

 $617
VASCEPA

drug

 $272
JARDIANCE

drug

 $235
ENSITE CARDIAC MAPPING SYSTEM

device

 $178
OZEMPIC

drug

 $169
TOUJEO

drug

 $133
QUADRA ASSURA CRT DEFIBRILLATOR

device

 $128
MINIMED 530G

device

 $117
JULUCA

drug

 $117
TRESIBA

drug

 $113
TRADJENTA

drug

 $95
QSYMIA

drug

 $91
TRULICITY

drug

 $84
GLYXAMBI

drug

 $79
BASAGLAR

drug

 $69
† 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/79933

Payment Details

When How Much Related To What For From Third Party Payee
Jun 30, 2018 $3,848 VICTOZA Consulting NOVO NORDISK INC
Apr 10, 2018 $2,750 LIVALO Promotional Speaking/Other KOWA PHARMACEUTICALS AMERICA, INC.
Apr 17, 2018 $2,750 LIVALO Promotional Speaking/Other KOWA PHARMACEUTICALS AMERICA, INC.
May 9, 2018 $2,050 INVOKANA Promotional Speaking/Other JANSSEN PHARMACEUTICALS, INC Roberto Ruiz, MD, FACP
Jan 19, 2018 $2,050 INVOKANA Promotional Speaking/Other JANSSEN PHARMACEUTICALS, INC Roberto Ruiz, MD, PC
Jun 11, 2018 $1,715 STEGLATRO Promotional Speaking/Other MERCK SHARP & DOHME CORPORATION SOUTHWEST INTERNAL MEDICINE GR
Apr 20, 2018 $1,715 STEGLATRO Promotional Speaking/Other MERCK SHARP & DOHME CORPORATION SOUTHWEST INTERNAL MEDICINE GR
May 14, 2018 $1,715 STEGLATRO Promotional Speaking/Other MERCK SHARP & DOHME CORPORATION SOUTHWEST INTERNAL MEDICINE GR
Jun 21, 2018 $1,715 STEGLATRO Promotional Speaking/Other MERCK SHARP & DOHME CORPORATION SOUTHWEST INTERNAL MEDICINE GR
May 14, 2018 $1,715 STEGLATRO Promotional Speaking/Other MERCK SHARP & DOHME CORPORATION SOUTHWEST INTERNAL MEDICINE GR
May 7, 2018 $1,715 STEGLATRO Promotional Speaking/Other MERCK SHARP & DOHME CORPORATION SOUTHWEST INTERNAL MEDICINE GR
Dec 3, 2018 $1,715 STEGLATRO Promotional Speaking/Other MERCK SHARP & DOHME CORPORATION SOUTHWEST INTERNAL MEDICINE GR
Dec 3, 2018 $1,715 STEGLATRO Promotional Speaking/Other MERCK SHARP & DOHME CORPORATION SOUTHWEST INTERNAL MEDICINE GR
Apr 17, 2018 $1,700 LIVALO Promotional Speaking/Other KOWA PHARMACEUTICALS AMERICA, INC.
Feb 21, 2018 $1,700 LIVALO Promotional Speaking/Other KOWA PHARMACEUTICALS AMERICA, INC.
Apr 21, 2018 $1,500 INVOKANA Promotional Speaking/Other JANSSEN PHARMACEUTICALS, INC Roberto Ruiz MD PC
Feb 22, 2018 $1,000 No Listed Product Honoraria KOWA PHARMACEUTICALS AMERICA, INC.
Nov 30, 2018 $893 STEGLATRO Travel and Lodging MERCK SHARP & DOHME CORPORATION
Apr 12, 2018 $727 LIVALO Travel and Lodging KOWA PHARMACEUTICALS AMERICA, INC.
Jul 18, 2018 $720 INVOKANA Consulting JANSSEN PHARMACEUTICALS, INC Roberto Ruiz, MD, PC

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/79933

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.