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/81831
  • 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/81831
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.

FIRAS KOURA

Listed Specialty: Pulmonary Disease
200 MEDICAL CENTER DR, 2M, HAZARD, KY, 41701-9422

2018 Payments: At a Glance

243

payments

$84,834

payment total

18

companies paid this doctor

Types of Payments

Category Payments Payment Value
Promotional Speaking/Other
 24 $64,500
Travel and Lodging
 64 $10,997
Food and Beverage
 149 $5,403
Consulting
 2 $3,830
Education
 4 $104

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†
PROLASTIN-C

drug

 $26,999
BEVYXXA

drug

 $15,907
LONHALA MAGNAIR

drug

 $14,857
GIAPREZA

drug

 $13,528
UTIBRON

drug

 $6,563
SEEBRI

drug

 $3,659
FASENRA

drug

 $1,267
ARALAST

drug

 $525
TRELEGY ELLIPTA

drug

 $301
ANORO

drug

 $269
SYMBICORT

drug

 $145
Payments with no listed product

N/A

 $143
OFEV

drug

 $112
GLASSIA

drug

 $108
ZEMAIRA

drug

 $104
OPSUMIT

drug

 $96
BREO

drug

 $76
STIOLTO RESPIMAT

drug

 $65
BROVANA

drug

 $63
VELETRI EPOPROSTENOL

drug

 $63
† 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/81831

Payment Details

When How Much Related To What For From Third Party Payee
Oct 7, 2018 $6,300 GIAPREZA Promotional Speaking/Other LA JOLLA PHARMACEUTICAL COMPANY
Aug 23, 2018 $3,600 PROLASTIN-C Promotional Speaking/Other GRIFOLS USA, LLC
Jun 20, 2018 $3,600 GIAPREZA Promotional Speaking/Other LA JOLLA PHARMACEUTICAL COMPANY
Mar 13, 2018 $3,600 PROLASTIN-C Consulting GRIFOLS USA, LLC
May 8, 2018 $3,425 LONHALA MAGNAIR Promotional Speaking/Other SUNOVION PHARMACEUTICALS INC.
Apr 11, 2018 $3,425 SEEBRI Promotional Speaking/Other SUNOVION PHARMACEUTICALS INC.
May 2, 2018 $3,425 LONHALA MAGNAIR Promotional Speaking/Other SUNOVION PHARMACEUTICALS INC.
Jan 26, 2018 $2,925 PROLASTIN-C Promotional Speaking/Other GRIFOLS USA, LLC
Sep 20, 2018 $2,925 PROLASTIN-C Promotional Speaking/Other GRIFOLS USA, LLC
May 17, 2018 $2,925 PROLASTIN-C Promotional Speaking/Other GRIFOLS USA, LLC
May 21, 2018 $2,850 UTIBRON Promotional Speaking/Other SUNOVION PHARMACEUTICALS INC.
Jun 28, 2018 $2,850 UTIBRON Promotional Speaking/Other SUNOVION PHARMACEUTICALS INC.
Jul 5, 2018 $2,700 GIAPREZA Promotional Speaking/Other LA JOLLA PHARMACEUTICAL COMPANY
Jul 20, 2018 $2,600 PROLASTIN-C Promotional Speaking/Other GRIFOLS USA, LLC
Jul 12, 2018 $2,500 BEVYXXA Promotional Speaking/Other PORTOLA PHARMACEUTICALS, INC.
Apr 4, 2018 $2,280 LONHALA MAGNAIR Promotional Speaking/Other SUNOVION PHARMACEUTICALS INC.
Jun 27, 2018 $2,100 LONHALA MAGNAIR Promotional Speaking/Other SUNOVION PHARMACEUTICALS INC.
Sep 26, 2018 $2,025 PROLASTIN-C Promotional Speaking/Other GRIFOLS USA, LLC
Apr 11, 2018 $2,000 BEVYXXA Promotional Speaking/Other PORTOLA PHARMACEUTICALS, INC.
Apr 10, 2018 $2,000 BEVYXXA Promotional Speaking/Other PORTOLA PHARMACEUTICALS, 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/81831

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.