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/849265
  • 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/849265
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.

MICHAEL FASTENBERG

Listed Specialty: Dermatology
260 MIDDLE COUNTRY RD, SUITE 208, SMITHTOWN, NY, 11787-2982

2018 Payments: At a Glance

300

payments

$39,193

payment total

28

companies paid this doctor

Types of Payments

Category Payments Payment Value
Promotional Speaking/Other
 14 $27,910
Consulting
 5 $5,800
Food and Beverage
 279 $5,387
Education
 2 $96

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†
OTEZLA

drug

 $21,778
EUCRISA

drug

 $9,366
ENSTILAR

drug

 $4,448
PICATO

drug

 $4,286
COSENTYX

drug

 $499
IMPOYZ

drug

 $284
VELTIN

drug

 $274
DUPIXENT

drug

 $240
TREMFYA

drug

 $225
HUMIRA

drug

 $222
BENSAL HP

drug

 $202
NUVAIL

device

 $202
SITAVIG

drug

 $202
BIONECT TOPICAL HA

device

 $202
CLODERM

drug

 $202
Payments with no listed product

N/A

 $175
EPIDUO FORTE

drug

 $158
SOOLANTRA

drug

 $129
DORYX

drug

 $120
XOLEGEL

drug

 $112
† 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/849265

Payment Details

When How Much Related To What For From Third Party Payee
May 23, 2018 $2,255 OTEZLA Promotional Speaking/Other CELGENE CORPORATION
Jan 31, 2018 $2,255 OTEZLA Promotional Speaking/Other CELGENE CORPORATION
Mar 28, 2018 $2,255 OTEZLA Promotional Speaking/Other CELGENE CORPORATION
Apr 25, 2018 $2,255 OTEZLA Promotional Speaking/Other CELGENE CORPORATION
Jul 26, 2018 $2,255 OTEZLA Promotional Speaking/Other CELGENE CORPORATION
May 2, 2018 $2,255 OTEZLA Promotional Speaking/Other CELGENE CORPORATION
Jun 6, 2018 $2,255 OTEZLA Promotional Speaking/Other CELGENE CORPORATION
Feb 28, 2018 $2,255 OTEZLA Promotional Speaking/Other CELGENE CORPORATION
Nov 7, 2018 $2,255 OTEZLA Promotional Speaking/Other CELGENE CORPORATION
Oct 8, 2018 $1,900 PICATO ENSTILAR Consulting LEO PHARMA INC.
Jul 26, 2018 $1,900 PICATO ENSTILAR Consulting LEO PHARMA INC.
May 25, 2018 $1,750 EUCRISA Promotional Speaking/Other PFIZER INC.
Nov 21, 2018 $1,750 EUCRISA Promotional Speaking/Other PFIZER INC.
Jul 24, 2018 $1,750 EUCRISA Promotional Speaking/Other PFIZER INC.
Mar 6, 2018 $1,750 EUCRISA Promotional Speaking/Other PFIZER INC.
Nov 8, 2018 $875 EUCRISA Consulting PFIZER INC.
Mar 19, 2018 $875 EUCRISA Consulting PFIZER INC.
Jan 25, 2018 $615 OTEZLA Promotional Speaking/Other CELGENE CORPORATION
Jul 2, 2018 $250 PICATO ENSTILAR Consulting LEO PHARMA INC.
Apr 25, 2018 $130 OTEZLA Food and Beverage CELGENE CORPORATION

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/849265

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.