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/943546
  • 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/943546
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.

PAUL CAGLE

Listed Specialty: Orthopaedic Surgery
747 N RUTLEDGE ST, 5TH FLOOR, SPRINGFIELD, IL, 62702-6700

2018 Payments: At a Glance

20

payments

$2,496

payment total

5

companies paid this doctor

Types of Payments

Category Payments Payment Value
Travel and Lodging
 7 $1,556
Food and Beverage
 13 $940

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†
SHOULDER IMPLANTS SWIVELOCKS COMPOSITE ANCHORS

device

 $692
SHOULDER SUTURE FIBERWIRE OTHER

device

 $692
Payments with no listed product

N/A

 $645
REUNION

device

 $592
A3

device

 $147
T2

device

 $129
ON-Q PUMP AND ACCESSORIES

device

 $104
FMS

device

 $93
VA-LCP PLATES & SCREWS

device

 $93
VAPR

device

 $93
FOOTPRINT ULTRA PK. SL, 4.5 AND 5.5MM KNOTLESS ANCHOR

device

 $40
HEALICOIL

device

 $38
VARIAX

device

 $18
† 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 6, 2018 $366 No Listed Product Travel and Lodging ARTHREX, INC.
Mar 2, 2018 $315 SHOULDER IMPLANTS SWIVELOCKS COMPOSITE ANCHORS SHOULDER SUTURE FIBERWIRE OTHER Travel and Lodging ARTHREX, INC.
Mar 7, 2018 $279 No Listed Product Travel and Lodging ARTHREX, INC.
Mar 5, 2018 $211 SHOULDER IMPLANTS SWIVELOCKS COMPOSITE ANCHORS SHOULDER SUTURE FIBERWIRE OTHER Travel and Lodging ARTHREX, INC.
Mar 7, 2018 $150 REUNION Food and Beverage STRYKER CORPORATION
May 31, 2018 $147 A3 Food and Beverage STRYKER CORPORATION
Mar 5, 2018 $138 SHOULDER IMPLANTS SWIVELOCKS COMPOSITE ANCHORS SHOULDER SUTURE FIBERWIRE OTHER Travel and Lodging ARTHREX, INC.
Dec 11, 2018 $129 T2 Food and Beverage STRYKER CORPORATION
Feb 28, 2018 $125 REUNION Travel and Lodging STRYKER CORPORATION
Oct 15, 2018 $122 REUNION Food and Beverage STRYKER CORPORATION
Feb 28, 2018 $122 REUNION Travel and Lodging STRYKER CORPORATION
Mar 15, 2018 $104 ON-Q PUMP AND ACCESSORIES Food and Beverage AVANOS MEDICAL
Jan 23, 2018 $93 VAPR FMS VA-LCP PLATES & SCREWS Food and Beverage DEPUY SYNTHES SALES INC.
Aug 23, 2018 $40 FOOTPRINT ULTRA PK. SL, 4.5 AND 5.5MM KNOTLESS ANCHOR Food and Beverage SMITH & NEPHEW, INC.
Aug 3, 2018 $38 HEALICOIL Food and Beverage SMITH & NEPHEW, INC.
Feb 28, 2018 $33 REUNION Food and Beverage STRYKER CORPORATION
Mar 5, 2018 $28 SHOULDER IMPLANTS SWIVELOCKS COMPOSITE ANCHORS SHOULDER SUTURE FIBERWIRE OTHER Food and Beverage ARTHREX, INC.
Feb 28, 2018 $22 REUNION Food and Beverage STRYKER CORPORATION
May 3, 2018 $18 VARIAX Food and Beverage STRYKER CORPORATION
Oct 2, 2018 $17 REUNION Food and Beverage STRYKER CORPORATION

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.