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/97356
  • 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/97356
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.

SEAN O'BRIEN

Listed Specialty: Diagnostic Radiology
303 PARKWAY DRIVE NE, ATLANTA, GA, 30312

2018 Payments: At a Glance

71

payments

$6,444

payment total

16

companies paid this doctor

Types of Payments

Category Payments Payment Value
Travel and Lodging
 19 $3,638
Food and Beverage
 52 $2,806

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†
EMBOZENE

device

 $1,375
CROSSER

device

 $1,158
CFN PLEURX

device

 $726
CERTUS 140 MICROWAVE ABLATION SYSTEM

device

 $723
ANGIOJET

device

 $654
PENUMBRA RUBY COIL

device

 $527
SIR-SPHERES MICROSPHERES

device

 $218
VIABAHN VBX BALLOON EXPANDABLE ENDOPROSTHESIS

device

 $152
KYPHON BALLOON KYPHOPLASTY

device

 $125
OSTEOCOOL RF ABLATION

device

 $124
IN.PACT ADMIRAL

device

 $121
INTERLOCK

device

 $96
VASCUTRAK

device

 $77
VASCEPA

drug

 $73
LIVALO

drug

 $57
MAGNETOM SKYRA

device

 $43
LUTONIX

device

 $41
VENASEAL

device

 $41
REPATHA

drug

 $30
AZUR

device

 $29
† 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/97356

Payment Details

When How Much Related To What For From Third Party Payee
Sep 5, 2018 $533 EMBOZENE Travel and Lodging BOSTON SCIENTIFIC CORPORATION
Mar 22, 2018 $433 CFN PLEURX Travel and Lodging BECTON, DICKINSON AND COMPANY
Oct 23, 2018 $347 ANGIOJET Travel and Lodging BOSTON SCIENTIFIC CORPORATION
Mar 8, 2018 $329 PENUMBRA RUBY COIL Travel and Lodging PENUMBRA, INC.
Aug 17, 2018 $293 CROSSER Travel and Lodging BARD PERIPHERAL VASCULAR, INC.
Oct 19, 2018 $290 CROSSER Travel and Lodging BARD PERIPHERAL VASCULAR, INC.
Jul 17, 2018 $278 CERTUS 140 MICROWAVE ABLATION SYSTEM Travel and Lodging MEDICAL DEVICE BUSINESS SERVICES, INC.
Jul 17, 2018 $241 CERTUS 140 MICROWAVE ABLATION SYSTEM Travel and Lodging MEDICAL DEVICE BUSINESS SERVICES, INC.
Oct 19, 2018 $221 CROSSER Travel and Lodging BARD PERIPHERAL VASCULAR, INC.
Oct 19, 2018 $191 CROSSER Food and Beverage BARD PERIPHERAL VASCULAR, INC.
Sep 5, 2018 $180 EMBOZENE Travel and Lodging BOSTON SCIENTIFIC CORPORATION
Oct 23, 2018 $177 ANGIOJET Travel and Lodging BOSTON SCIENTIFIC CORPORATION
May 2, 2018 $152 VIABAHN VBX BALLOON EXPANDABLE ENDOPROSTHESIS Food and Beverage W. L. GORE & ASSOCIATES, INC.
Mar 20, 2018 $138 EMBOZENE Food and Beverage BOSTON SCIENTIFIC CORPORATION
Aug 16, 2018 $126 CROSSER Food and Beverage BARD PERIPHERAL VASCULAR, INC.
Mar 2, 2018 $125 PENUMBRA RUBY COIL Food and Beverage PENUMBRA, INC.
Nov 2, 2018 $125 KYPHON BALLOON KYPHOPLASTY Food and Beverage MEDTRONIC USA, INC.
Apr 18, 2018 $122 CERTUS 140 MICROWAVE ABLATION SYSTEM Food and Beverage MEDICAL DEVICE BUSINESS SERVICES, INC.
May 31, 2018 $121 IN.PACT ADMIRAL Food and Beverage MEDTRONIC VASCULAR, INC.
Oct 23, 2018 $112 ANGIOJET Food and Beverage BOSTON SCIENTIFIC 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/97356

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.