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/97904
  • 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/97904
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.

FRANK ROMASCAVAGE

Listed Specialty: General Practice
ROUTE 209, BRODHEADSVILLE, PA, 18322

2018 Payments: At a Glance

353

payments

$29,638

payment total

18

companies paid this doctor

Types of Payments

Category Payments Payment Value
Promotional Speaking/Other
 21 $22,650
Food and Beverage
 325 $6,140
Consulting
 1 $500
Travel and Lodging
 6 $348

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†
VASCEPA

drug

 $15,594
LINZESS

drug

 $4,561
VIBERZI

drug

 $3,985
AFREZZA

drug

 $3,303
STIOLTO RESPIMAT

drug

 $1,089
INVOKANA

drug

 $1,072
SPIRIVA RESPIMAT

drug

 $985
XARELTO

drug

 $708
ZONTIVITY

drug

 $613
GLYXAMBI

drug

 $452
JARDIANCE

drug

 $452
ENTRESTO

drug

 $272
SOLIQUA

drug

 $249
STENDRA

drug

 $192
TRADJENTA

drug

 $175
SYNTHROID

drug

 $126
Payments with no listed product

N/A

 $125
YOSPRALA

drug

 $113
EUCRISA

drug

 $102
DEXILANT

drug

 $100
† 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/97904

Payment Details

When How Much Related To What For From Third Party Payee
Aug 29, 2018 $2,000 VASCEPA Promotional Speaking/Other AMARIN PHARMA INC.
Dec 14, 2018 $2,000 VASCEPA Promotional Speaking/Other AMARIN PHARMA INC.
Nov 14, 2018 $2,000 VASCEPA Promotional Speaking/Other AMARIN PHARMA INC.
May 22, 2018 $2,000 VASCEPA Promotional Speaking/Other AMARIN PHARMA INC.
Oct 8, 2018 $2,000 VASCEPA Promotional Speaking/Other AMARIN PHARMA INC.
Aug 22, 2018 $2,000 VASCEPA Promotional Speaking/Other AMARIN PHARMA INC.
Jun 26, 2018 $2,000 VASCEPA Promotional Speaking/Other AMARIN PHARMA INC.
Jan 31, 2018 $1,500 AFREZZA Promotional Speaking/Other MANNKIND CORPORATION
May 2, 2018 $1,500 AFREZZA Promotional Speaking/Other MANNKIND CORPORATION
Jul 3, 2018 $570 INVOKANA Promotional Speaking/Other JANSSEN PHARMACEUTICALS, INC
Aug 9, 2018 $560 LINZESS VIBERZI Promotional Speaking/Other ALLERGAN INC.
Feb 22, 2018 $560 LINZESS Promotional Speaking/Other ALLERGAN INC.
Feb 15, 2018 $560 LINZESS Promotional Speaking/Other ALLERGAN INC.
Jul 12, 2018 $560 LINZESS VIBERZI Promotional Speaking/Other ALLERGAN INC.
Feb 15, 2018 $560 LINZESS VIBERZI Promotional Speaking/Other ALLERGAN INC.
Jun 14, 2018 $560 LINZESS VIBERZI Promotional Speaking/Other ALLERGAN INC.
Feb 22, 2018 $560 LINZESS VIBERZI Promotional Speaking/Other ALLERGAN INC.
Apr 12, 2018 $560 LINZESS VIBERZI Promotional Speaking/Other ALLERGAN INC.
Apr 3, 2018 $500 ZONTIVITY Consulting ARALEZ PHARMACEUTICALS US INC.
Nov 12, 2018 $200 VASCEPA Promotional Speaking/Other AMARIN PHARMA 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/97904

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.