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/931148
  • 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/931148
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.

LUIS OSTROSKY

Listed Specialty: Infectious Disease
6431 FANNIN ST, MSB 2.112, HOUSTON, TX, 77030-1501

2018 Payments: At a Glance

81

payments

$27,228

payment total

10

companies paid this doctor

Types of Payments

Category Payments Payment Value
Promotional Speaking/Other
 2 $11,075
Consulting
 4 $8,250
Travel and Lodging
 5 $3,871
Honoraria
 1 $2,500
Food and Beverage
 69 $1,532

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†
Payments with no listed product

N/A

 $19,892
PREVNAR 13

drug

 $3,200
TOLSURA - 60 CAPSULE

drug

 $2,500
ORBACTIV

drug

 $490
VABOMERE

drug

 $490
CRESEMBA

drug

 $373
BAXDELA

drug

 $346
MENOCIN

drug

 $346
DORYX

drug

 $257
AVYCAZ

drug

 $197
MINOCIN

drug

 $143
MYCAMINE

drug

 $129
ZERBAXA

drug

 $82
DIFICID

drug

 $77
NOXAFIL

drug

 $77
ZINPLAVA

drug

 $77
AMBISOME

drug

 $66
SIVEXTRO

drug

 $28
VIBATIV

drug

 $21
TEFLARO

drug

 $11
† 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
Apr 13, 2018 $7,875 No Listed Product Promotional Speaking/Other MERCK SHARP & DOHME CORPORATION
Oct 2, 2018 $5,600 No Listed Product Consulting GLAXOSMITHKLINE, LLC.
Dec 19, 2018 $3,200 PREVNAR 13 Promotional Speaking/Other PFIZER INC.
Mar 30, 2018 $2,744 No Listed Product Travel and Lodging MERCK SHARP & DOHME CORPORATION
Nov 30, 2018 $2,500 TOLSURA - 60 CAPSULE Honoraria MAYNE PHARMA INC.
Sep 13, 2018 $1,200 No Listed Product Consulting SHIONOGI INC
Sep 24, 2018 $1,100 No Listed Product Consulting PFIZER INC.
Jun 26, 2018 $546 No Listed Product Travel and Lodging GLAXOSMITHKLINE, LLC.
Mar 1, 2018 $350 CRESEMBA Consulting ASTELLAS PHARMA GLOBAL DEVELOPMENT
Jun 26, 2018 $225 No Listed Product Travel and Lodging GLAXOSMITHKLINE, LLC.
Jun 26, 2018 $206 No Listed Product Travel and Lodging GLAXOSMITHKLINE, LLC.
Nov 3, 2018 $185 DORYX Food and Beverage MAYNE PHARMA INC.
Apr 13, 2018 $150 No Listed Product Travel and Lodging MERCK SHARP & DOHME CORPORATION
Sep 11, 2018 $144 No Listed Product Food and Beverage SHIONOGI INC
Nov 3, 2018 $72 DORYX Food and Beverage MAYNE PHARMA INC.
Jan 19, 2018 $42 No Listed Product Food and Beverage PFIZER INC.
May 18, 2018 $28 ZERBAXA SIVEXTRO Food and Beverage MERCK SHARP & DOHME CORPORATION
Jun 26, 2018 $25 No Listed Product Food and Beverage GLAXOSMITHKLINE, LLC.
Jul 30, 2018 $24 BAXDELA VABOMERE ORBACTIV MENOCIN Food and Beverage MELINTA THERAPEUTICS, INC.
May 26, 2018 $24 BAXDELA VABOMERE ORBACTIV MENOCIN Food and Beverage MELINTA THERAPEUTICS, 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/931148

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.