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/81718
  • 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/81718
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.

CHARLES ELKINS

Listed Specialty: Thoracic Surgery (Cardiothoracic Vascular Surgery)
3433 NW 56TH ST, STE 670, OKLAHOMA CITY, OK, 73112-4430

2018 Payments: At a Glance

38

payments

$5,918

payment total

12

companies paid this doctor

Types of Payments

Category Payments Payment Value
Consulting
 1 $3,778
Travel and Lodging
 7 $1,447
Food and Beverage
 30 $693

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†
ZIPFIX

device

 $4,055
TSFS

device

 $4,032
MATRIXRIB

device

 $3,778
AORTIC TISSUE VALVE - PERCEVAL

device

 $1,141
Payments with no listed product

N/A

 $140
3F

device

 $91
ENDURANT

device

 $89
CLEVIPREX

drug

 $51
CARDENE

drug

 $38
KENGREAL

drug

 $30
RELAY PLUS

device

 $21
AQUADEX

device

 $21
PENUMBRA SYSTEM

device

 $15
ECM

device

 $15
SURGIFLO HEMOSTATIC MATRIX FAMILY OF PRODUCTS

device

 $12
ECHELON ENDOPATH STAPLER

device

 $11
STRATAFIX

device

 $11
† 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.

Payment Details

When How Much Related To What For From Third Party Payee
Dec 21, 2018 $3,778 MATRIXRIB TSFS ZIPFIX Consulting MEDICAL DEVICE BUSINESS SERVICES, INC.
Jan 25, 2018 $635 AORTIC TISSUE VALVE - PERCEVAL Travel and Lodging LIVANOVA USA, INC.
Feb 4, 2018 $291 AORTIC TISSUE VALVE - PERCEVAL Travel and Lodging LIVANOVA USA, INC.
Sep 4, 2018 $254 TSFS Travel and Lodging MEDICAL DEVICE BUSINESS SERVICES, INC.
Nov 9, 2018 $140 ZIPFIX Travel and Lodging MEDICAL DEVICE BUSINESS SERVICES, INC.
Nov 7, 2018 $110 ZIPFIX Food and Beverage MEDICAL DEVICE BUSINESS SERVICES, INC.
Sep 21, 2018 $99 No Listed Product Food and Beverage EDWARDS LIFESCIENCES CORPORATION
Feb 1, 2018 $60 AORTIC TISSUE VALVE - PERCEVAL Food and Beverage LIVANOVA USA, INC.
Feb 2, 2018 $48 AORTIC TISSUE VALVE - PERCEVAL Travel and Lodging LIVANOVA USA, INC.
Feb 2, 2018 $48 AORTIC TISSUE VALVE - PERCEVAL Travel and Lodging LIVANOVA USA, INC.
Jan 25, 2018 $30 AORTIC TISSUE VALVE - PERCEVAL Travel and Lodging LIVANOVA USA, INC.
Feb 2, 2018 $28 AORTIC TISSUE VALVE - PERCEVAL Food and Beverage LIVANOVA USA, INC.
Nov 8, 2018 $28 ZIPFIX Food and Beverage MEDICAL DEVICE BUSINESS SERVICES, INC.
Feb 25, 2018 $26 No Listed Product Food and Beverage COVIDIEN LP
Aug 21, 2018 $21 CARDENE CLEVIPREX Food and Beverage CHIESI USA, INC.
Oct 9, 2018 $21 RELAY PLUS Food and Beverage BOLTON MEDICAL INC
Dec 11, 2018 $21 AQUADEX Food and Beverage CHF SOLUTIONS, INC
Jun 19, 2018 $20 ENDURANT Food and Beverage MEDTRONIC VASCULAR, INC.
Mar 6, 2018 $19 ENDURANT Food and Beverage MEDTRONIC VASCULAR, INC.
Jan 23, 2018 $16 CARDENE CLEVIPREX KENGREAL Food and Beverage CHIESI 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/81718

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.