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/98258
  • 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/98258
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.


SATYA GARIMELLA

Listed Specialty: Cardiovascular Disease
41 QUATERMASTER COURT, JEFFERSONVILLE, IN, 47130-3623

2018 Payments: At a Glance

89

payments

$8,312

payment total

19

companies paid this doctor

Types of Payments

Category Payments Payment Value
Food and Beverage
79 $3,341
Travel and Lodging
9 $2,971
Nonaccredited Training
1 $2,000

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

$2,119
WATCHMAN

device

$1,669
RHYTHMIA

device

$1,166
MICRA

device

$987
ELIQUIS

drug

$264
TRYTON SIDE BRANCH STENT

device

$262
GENERAL THERAPIES

device

$236
LIFEVEST

device

$208
ASSURITY PACEMAKER

device

$205
EMBLEM

device

$161
QUADRA ASSURA CRT DEFIBRILLATOR

device

$155
ENTRESTO

drug

$150
CRT-DS

device

$136
EKOSONIC

device

$109
ANGIOSEAL

device

$101
SAMSCA

drug

$56
ENSITE CARDIAC MAPPING SYSTEM

device

$50
PERCLOSE PROGLIDE SUTURE MEDIATED CLOSURE SYSTEM

device

$44
ATRICURE ATRICLIP LAA EXCLUSION

device

$41
ATRICURE CRYOSURGICAL SYSTEM

device

$41
† 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/98258

Payment Details

When How Much Related To What For From Third Party Payee
Aug 21, 2018 $2,000 No Listed Product Nonaccredited Training BIOTRONIK INC.
Feb 11, 2018 $747 WATCHMAN Travel and Lodging BOSTON SCIENTIFIC CORPORATION
Nov 29, 2018 $604 MICRA Travel and Lodging MEDTRONIC VASCULAR, INC.
Oct 18, 2018 $410 RHYTHMIA Travel and Lodging BOSTON SCIENTIFIC CORPORATION
Feb 12, 2018 $259 WATCHMAN Travel and Lodging BOSTON SCIENTIFIC CORPORATION
Oct 17, 2018 $251 RHYTHMIA Travel and Lodging BOSTON SCIENTIFIC CORPORATION
Oct 18, 2018 $231 RHYTHMIA Travel and Lodging BOSTON SCIENTIFIC CORPORATION
Nov 28, 2018 $201 MICRA Travel and Lodging MEDTRONIC VASCULAR, INC.
Oct 17, 2018 $171 RHYTHMIA Travel and Lodging BOSTON SCIENTIFIC CORPORATION
Feb 13, 2018 $148 WATCHMAN Food and Beverage BOSTON SCIENTIFIC CORPORATION
Aug 2, 2018 $142 TRYTON SIDE BRANCH STENT Food and Beverage CARDINAL HEALTH 200, LLC
Mar 1, 2018 $136 CRT-DS Food and Beverage ABBOTT LABORATORIES
Jul 27, 2018 $135 QUADRA ASSURA CRT DEFIBRILLATOR Food and Beverage ABBOTT LABORATORIES
Sep 25, 2018 $129 GENERAL THERAPIES Food and Beverage BOSTON SCIENTIFIC CORPORATION
Aug 15, 2018 $121 ELIQUIS Food and Beverage PFIZER INC.
Feb 1, 2018 $120 TRYTON SIDE BRANCH STENT Food and Beverage CARDINAL HEALTH 200, LLC
Mar 5, 2018 $119 No Listed Product Food and Beverage BIOTRONIK INC.
Feb 21, 2018 $118 WATCHMAN Food and Beverage BOSTON SCIENTIFIC CORPORATION
Jan 31, 2018 $118 ENTRESTO Food and Beverage NOVARTIS PHARMACEUTICALS CORPORATION
Oct 16, 2018 $111 ASSURITY PACEMAKER Food and Beverage ABBOTT LABORATORIES

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/98258

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.