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/82894
  • 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/82894
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.

JOEL BERGER

Listed Specialty: Oral & Maxillofacial Surgery
8008 FROST ST, # 311, SAN DIEGO, CA, 92123-4205

2018 Payments: At a Glance

15

payments

$1,673

payment total

8

companies paid this doctor

Types of Payments

Category Payments Payment Value
Travel and Lodging
 3 $1,140
Food and Beverage
 11 $521
Gift
 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†
TRINITY

drug

 $1,140
Payments with no listed product

N/A

 $269
VIRTUAL SURGICAL PLANNING

device

 $137
CMF NON

device

 $35
AXOGUARD NERVE CONNECTOR

device

 $35
AXOGUARD NERVE PROTECTOR

device

 $35
TRAUMAONE

device

 $23
BONESCALPEL

device

 $19
CMF ORTHOGNATHIC

device

 $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.

Payment Details

All payments are displayed, the largest appearing on top.

When How Much Related To What For From Third Party Payee
Mar 22, 2018 $850 TRINITY Travel and Lodging ORTHOFIX MEDICAL, INC.
Jan 16, 2018 $151 No Listed Product Food and Beverage KEYSTONE DENTAL INC.
Apr 24, 2018 $145 TRINITY Travel and Lodging ORTHOFIX MEDICAL, INC.
Apr 24, 2018 $145 TRINITY Travel and Lodging ORTHOFIX MEDICAL, INC.
Jan 30, 2018 $119 VIRTUAL SURGICAL PLANNING Food and Beverage ZIMMER BIOMET HOLDINGS, INC.
Dec 17, 2018 $60 No Listed Product Food and Beverage SALVIN DENTAL SPECIALTIES, INC.
Oct 11, 2018 $37 No Listed Product Food and Beverage SALVIN DENTAL SPECIALTIES, INC.
Jan 30, 2018 $35 CMF NON Food and Beverage ZIMMER BIOMET HOLDINGS, INC.
Mar 24, 2018 $35 AXOGUARD NERVE CONNECTOR AXOGUARD NERVE PROTECTOR Food and Beverage AXOGEN
May 31, 2018 $23 TRAUMAONE Food and Beverage ZIMMER BIOMET HOLDINGS, INC.
Nov 9, 2018 $19 BONESCALPEL Food and Beverage MISONIX INC
Jan 30, 2018 $18 VIRTUAL SURGICAL PLANNING Food and Beverage ZIMMER BIOMET HOLDINGS, INC.
Aug 28, 2018 $15 CMF ORTHOGNATHIC Food and Beverage ZIMMER BIOMET HOLDINGS, INC.
Dec 12, 2018 $12 No Listed Product Gift STRAUMANN USA LLC
Jul 9, 2018 $10 No Listed Product Food and Beverage KLS-MARTIN L.P.

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.