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/870208
  • 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/870208
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.

NICHOLAS KETCHUM

Listed Specialty: Physical Medicine & Rehabilitation
9200 W WISCONSIN AVE, MILWAUKEE, WI, 53226-3522

2018 Payments: At a Glance

151

payments

$95,716

payment total

7

companies paid this doctor

Types of Payments

Category Payments Payment Value
Promotional Speaking/Other
 11 $26,878
Consulting
 14 $26,103
Travel and Lodging
 35 $24,787
Honoraria
 4 $13,055
Food and Beverage
 87 $4,893

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†
XEOMIN

drug

 $41,742
SYNCHROMED

device

 $14,431
BOTOX

drug

 $14,275
SPINRAZA

drug

 $8,855
DYSPORT

drug

 $8,309
LIORESAL

device

 $7,809
GABLOFEN 1 ML IN 1 SYRINGE, GLASS

drug

 $251
VECTRIS

device

 $45
† 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

When How Much Related To What For From Third Party Payee
Nov 16, 2018 $9,697 XEOMIN Travel and Lodging MERZ NORTH AMERICA, INC.
Jun 13, 2018 $7,782 XEOMIN Travel and Lodging MERZ NORTH AMERICA, INC.
Aug 30, 2018 $7,560 SPINRAZA Consulting BIOGEN, INC.
Mar 1, 2018 $5,370 XEOMIN Consulting MERZ NORTH AMERICA, INC.
Dec 19, 2018 $5,356 XEOMIN Honoraria MERZ NORTH AMERICA, INC.
Aug 8, 2018 $5,106 XEOMIN Honoraria MERZ NORTH AMERICA, INC.
Sep 28, 2018 $4,512 SYNCHROMED Promotional Speaking/Other MEDTRONIC USA, INC.
Oct 17, 2018 $4,000 BOTOX Consulting ALLERGAN INC.
Jun 25, 2018 $4,000 BOTOX Consulting ALLERGAN INC.
Apr 30, 2018 $3,696 SYNCHROMED Promotional Speaking/Other MEDTRONIC USA, INC.
Oct 11, 2018 $3,384 LIORESAL Promotional Speaking/Other MEDTRONIC USA, INC.
Apr 10, 2018 $3,000 BOTOX Promotional Speaking/Other ALLERGAN INC.
Jun 6, 2018 $2,352 LIORESAL Promotional Speaking/Other MEDTRONIC USA, INC.
Nov 12, 2018 $2,275 DYSPORT Promotional Speaking/Other IPSEN BIOPHARMACEUTICALS, INC
Aug 13, 2018 $2,250 XEOMIN Honoraria MERZ NORTH AMERICA, INC.
Jul 24, 2018 $2,184 SYNCHROMED Promotional Speaking/Other MEDTRONIC USA, INC.
Dec 21, 2018 $2,100 DYSPORT Promotional Speaking/Other IPSEN BIOPHARMACEUTICALS, INC
Dec 11, 2018 $1,575 DYSPORT Promotional Speaking/Other IPSEN BIOPHARMACEUTICALS, INC
Nov 27, 2018 $1,400 DYSPORT Promotional Speaking/Other IPSEN BIOPHARMACEUTICALS, INC
Jun 26, 2018 $1,200 BOTOX Consulting ALLERGAN 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/870208

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.