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/98913
  • 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/98913
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.

SANJAY SHARMA

Listed Specialty: Medical Oncology
2151 N HARBOR BLVD, SUITE 2200, FULLERTON, CA, 92835-3801

2018 Payments: At a Glance

446

payments

$176,319

payment total

39

companies paid this doctor

Types of Payments

Category Payments Payment Value
Promotional Speaking/Other
 77 $130K
Consulting
 6 $20,063
Travel and Lodging
 67 $19,251
Food and Beverage
 295 $7,420
Education
 1 $60

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†
ABRAXANE

drug

 $25,509
XGEVA

drug

 $24,568
KEYTRUDA

drug

 $23,912
HALAVEN

drug

 $21,439
SUTENT

drug

 $18,771
KYPROLIS

drug

 $15,495
NINLARO

drug

 $15,011
OPDIVO

drug

 $13,003
AVASTIN

drug

 $6,455
IBRANCE

drug

 $4,025
REVLIMID

drug

 $3,470
EMPLICITI

drug

 $1,903
PERCLOSE PROGLIDE SUTURE MEDIATED CLOSURE SYSTEM

device

 $349
IMBRUVICA

drug

 $340
NPLATE

drug

 $178
MITRA CLIP SYSTEM

device

 $170
SUPERA PERIPHERAL STENT SYSTEM

device

 $163
TECENTRIQ

drug

 $154
NEULASTA

drug

 $146
VECTIBIX

drug

 $124
† 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/98913

Payment Details

When How Much Related To What For From Third Party Payee
Feb 10, 2018 $7,838 NINLARO Consulting TAKEDA PHARMACEUTICALS U.S.A., INC. ISHASH INCORPORATION
Mar 26, 2018 $6,250 SUTENT Consulting PFIZER INC. ISHASH INC
Jun 27, 2018 $4,310 OPDIVO Promotional Speaking/Other E.R. SQUIBB & SONS, L.L.C.
Apr 3, 2018 $3,850 ABRAXANE Promotional Speaking/Other CELGENE CORPORATION
Jul 17, 2018 $3,850 ABRAXANE Promotional Speaking/Other CELGENE CORPORATION
Mar 9, 2018 $3,505 OPDIVO Promotional Speaking/Other E.R. SQUIBB & SONS, L.L.C.
May 30, 2018 $3,505 OPDIVO Promotional Speaking/Other E.R. SQUIBB & SONS, L.L.C.
Nov 13, 2018 $3,500 KEYTRUDA Promotional Speaking/Other MERCK SHARP & DOHME CORPORATION ISHASH, INC.
Jun 28, 2018 $3,500 KEYTRUDA Promotional Speaking/Other MERCK SHARP & DOHME CORPORATION ISHASH, INC.
Nov 21, 2018 $3,500 KEYTRUDA Promotional Speaking/Other MERCK SHARP & DOHME CORPORATION ISHASH, INC.
Mar 27, 2018 $3,500 KEYTRUDA Promotional Speaking/Other MERCK SHARP & DOHME CORPORATION ISHASH, INC.
Mar 29, 2018 $3,500 KEYTRUDA Promotional Speaking/Other MERCK SHARP & DOHME CORPORATION ISHASH, INC.
Aug 22, 2018 $3,200 AVASTIN Promotional Speaking/Other GENENTECH USA, INC.
Feb 2, 2018 $3,000 IBRANCE Promotional Speaking/Other PFIZER INC. Ishash Inc
Apr 26, 2018 $3,000 SUTENT Promotional Speaking/Other PFIZER INC. Ishash Inc
Apr 26, 2018 $3,000 SUTENT Promotional Speaking/Other PFIZER INC. Ishash Inc
May 24, 2018 $2,800 KYPROLIS Promotional Speaking/Other AMGEN INC.
Jun 8, 2018 $2,800 XGEVA Promotional Speaking/Other AMGEN INC.
May 11, 2018 $2,800 XGEVA Promotional Speaking/Other AMGEN INC.
Apr 3, 2018 $2,800 XGEVA Promotional Speaking/Other AMGEN 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/98913

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.