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/825604
  • 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/825604
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.

BIRUH WORKENEH

Listed Specialty: Internal Medicine
1515 HOLCOMBE BLVD, HOUSTON, TX, 77030-4000

2018 Payments: At a Glance

48

payments

$2,724

payment total

13

companies paid this doctor

Types of Payments

Category Payments Payment Value
Food and Beverage
 45 $2,716
Education
 3 $9

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†
VELTASSA

drug

 $325
JYNARQUE

drug

 $309
RENAL - CRRT

device

 $258
XGEVA

drug

 $190
AURYXIA

drug

 $186
KRYSTEXXA

drug

 $184
ACTHAR

drug

 $154
ARANESP

drug

 $145
CRITLINE - MONITORS

device

 $140
VELPHORO

drug

 $140
SAMSCA

drug

 $129
RENAL - PRISMAFLEX SYSTEM

device

 $126
RENAL - NON PRODUCT RELATED

drug

 $126
Payments with no listed product

N/A

 $125
TOLVAPTAN

drug

 $125
PARSABIV

drug

 $120
SOLIRIS

drug

 $110
REPATHA

drug

 $45
RENAL - DIANEAL SOLUTION

device

 $27
DIALOG EVOLUTION HEMODIALYSIS SYSTEM

device

 $25
† 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/825604

Payment Details

When How Much Related To What For From Third Party Payee
Oct 25, 2018 $147 AURYXIA Food and Beverage KERYX BIOPHARMACEUTICALS, INC.
Mar 22, 2018 $126 RENAL - NON PRODUCT RELATED Food and Beverage BAXTER HEALTHCARE
Mar 22, 2018 $126 RENAL - PRISMAFLEX SYSTEM Food and Beverage BAXTER HEALTHCARE
Jun 12, 2018 $125 JYNARQUE Food and Beverage OTSUKA AMERICA PHARMACEUTICAL, INC.
Oct 25, 2018 $125 TOLVAPTAN Food and Beverage OTSUKA AMERICA PHARMACEUTICAL, INC.
Sep 20, 2018 $125 VELTASSA Food and Beverage RELYPSA, INC.
Jul 17, 2018 $123 RENAL - CRRT Food and Beverage BAXTER HEALTHCARE
Dec 6, 2018 $122 JYNARQUE Food and Beverage OTSUKA AMERICA PHARMACEUTICAL, INC.
May 15, 2018 $120 PARSABIV Food and Beverage AMGEN INC.
Sep 13, 2018 $115 ACTHAR Food and Beverage MALLINCKRODT LLC
Dec 5, 2018 $110 KRYSTEXXA Food and Beverage HORIZON PHARMA PLC
Mar 15, 2018 $110 SOLIRIS Food and Beverage ALEXION PHARMACEUTICALS, INC.
Aug 23, 2018 $96 ARANESP XGEVA Food and Beverage AMGEN INC.
Jan 24, 2018 $95 RENAL - CRRT Food and Beverage BAXTER HEALTHCARE
Oct 24, 2018 $94 No Listed Product Food and Beverage AMGEN INC.
Aug 8, 2018 $88 CRITLINE - MONITORS VELPHORO Food and Beverage FRESENIUS USA MARKETING, INC.
May 23, 2018 $84 VELTASSA Food and Beverage RELYPSA, INC.
Oct 18, 2018 $74 KRYSTEXXA Food and Beverage HORIZON PHARMA PLC
Oct 25, 2018 $52 CRITLINE - MONITORS VELPHORO Food and Beverage FRESENIUS USA MARKETING, INC.
May 24, 2018 $49 ARANESP XGEVA Food and Beverage AMGEN 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/825604

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.