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/868971
  • 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/868971
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.

LON BARONNE

Listed Specialty: Orthopaedic Surgery of the Spine
108 RUE LOUIS XIV, LAFAYETTE, LA, 70508-5739

2018 Payments: At a Glance

56

payments

$38,885

payment total

9

companies paid this doctor

Types of Payments

Category Payments Payment Value
Promotional Speaking/Other
 7 $26,900
Travel and Lodging
 12 $9,422
Food and Beverage
 37 $2,563

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†
EXCELSIUS - GPS

device

 $13,141
ALTERA

device

 $8,812
MAGNIFY-S

device

 $8,800
Payments with no listed product

N/A

 $2,411
DIRECT LOOK LATERAL SYSTEM

device

 $1,756
SI-LOK

device

 $1,653
RISE-L

device

 $1,094
CAVUX CERVICAL CAGE

device

 $218
DTRAX SPINAL SYSTEM

device

 $218
ALLY BONE SCREW

device

 $218
BIOLOGIX ALLOGRAFT BONE

device

 $218
CALIBER

device

 $216
SENZA SPINAL CORD STIMULATION SYSTEM

device

 $140
FORTIFY

device

 $120
TRITANIUM

device

 $117
CREO MIS

device

 $99
COVEREDGE

device

 $72
MARS AUX

device

 $45
COALITION

device

 $42
INDEPENDENCE

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/868971

Payment Details

When How Much Related To What For From Third Party Payee
Apr 16, 2018 $4,800 ALTERA Promotional Speaking/Other GLOBUS MEDICAL, INC.
Jun 2, 2018 $4,800 MAGNIFY-S Promotional Speaking/Other GLOBUS MEDICAL, INC.
Oct 27, 2018 $4,800 EXCELSIUS - GPS Promotional Speaking/Other GLOBUS MEDICAL, INC.
Jun 2, 2018 $4,000 MAGNIFY-S Promotional Speaking/Other GLOBUS MEDICAL, INC.
Apr 16, 2018 $4,000 ALTERA Promotional Speaking/Other GLOBUS MEDICAL, INC.
Oct 27, 2018 $3,300 EXCELSIUS - GPS Promotional Speaking/Other GLOBUS MEDICAL, INC.
Jan 31, 2018 $1,756 DIRECT LOOK LATERAL SYSTEM Travel and Lodging GLOBUS MEDICAL, INC.
Mar 16, 2018 $1,680 EXCELSIUS - GPS Travel and Lodging GLOBUS MEDICAL, INC.
Jun 2, 2018 $1,492 SI-LOK Travel and Lodging GLOBUS MEDICAL, INC.
Feb 25, 2018 $1,486 No Listed Product Travel and Lodging INNOVASIS INC
Oct 26, 2018 $1,270 EXCELSIUS - GPS Travel and Lodging GLOBUS MEDICAL, INC.
Oct 22, 2018 $1,200 EXCELSIUS - GPS Promotional Speaking/Other GLOBUS MEDICAL, INC.
Apr 15, 2018 $807 RISE-L Travel and Lodging GLOBUS MEDICAL, INC.
Jan 9, 2018 $589 No Listed Product Food and Beverage INNOVASIS INC
Apr 16, 2018 $287 RISE-L Travel and Lodging GLOBUS MEDICAL, INC.
Mar 22, 2018 $227 No Listed Product Food and Beverage INNOVASIS INC
Oct 27, 2018 $200 EXCELSIUS - GPS Travel and Lodging GLOBUS MEDICAL, INC.
Mar 17, 2018 $164 EXCELSIUS - GPS Travel and Lodging GLOBUS MEDICAL, INC.
Jun 1, 2018 $144 SI-LOK Travel and Lodging GLOBUS MEDICAL, INC.
Oct 26, 2018 $120 FORTIFY Travel and Lodging GLOBUS MEDICAL, 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/868971

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.