How Much Did Pharmaceutical Companies Pay St. Louis Park Doctors?

Drug companies have paid St. Louis Park doctors tens of thousands of dollars since 2009 as part of an effort to spread the word about their products, according to a ProPublica database updated last week.

The “Dollars for Docs” database represents $2 billion in disclosed payments from a total of 15 companies who cumulatively hold 47 percent of the industry’s market share.

The payments cover:

• Speaking fees
• Consulting fees
• Research
• Travel fees
• Meals
• Educational items or gifts
• Royalty or license fees

Pharmaceutical payments to physicians are not illegal, but critics say these payments turn doctors into sales reps, influence physicians’ prescription decisions and undermine trust in the health care system.

Backers counter that they provide important education on new drugs that benefits doctors and patients alike.

The ProPublica database likely understates the amount that doctors receive. Dozens of companies don’t publicize their payments to specific doctors. Most companies in the database are required to report because of legal settlements with the federal government.

Minnesota physicians received $26,502,825 of the total. The state also had one of the 22 doctors nationwide who have earned at least $500,000 from pharmaceuticals since 2009—Todd Hess, director of United Pain Center in St. Paul. ProPublica found 32 payments worth $542,900 from Eli Lilly, Forest, Johnson & Johnson and Pfizer.

Michaela Louise Tsai—a former Park Nicollet oncologist who’s now at Allina Health’s Piper Breast Center in Minneapolis—received the most in St. Louis Park. She received $79,747 in 2012 and $20,321 in 2011 for Pfizer-sponsored research. 

According to ProPublica, “Research payments are distinct from speaking and consulting,” and do not “reflect the actual compensation received by the physician listed as the principal investigator.” The total includes the cost of supplies, patient care and time spent managing the study.

Mark Richard Sannes—a Park Nicollet infectious disease specialist—has received the biggest payments that weren’t from research. Merck paid him $26,450 in 2010 in speaking fees.

Use the widget above to find out what payments your doctor received. Then share your thoughts on what you find in the comments below.