Dr.Steve Balt: Dollars for Docs, Pfizer and a $306 dollar questionable "meal"

Dr.Steve Balt

Has found himself in the ProPublica Dollars for Docs database. What is intriguing about this find, is that Dr.Balt says he did not receive income from Pfizer and what is shown in the database is a meal. In house lunches at office settings apparently count for Pfizer's reports.

This brings up questions of the integrity and accuracy of the Dollars for Docs database, and whether or not all doctors are reported by drug companies as receiving income or meals just by attending an event sponsored by that company.

As Dr.Steve Balt thinks out loud on his blog about an upcoming antipsychotic Latuda event:

"I wouldn’t be surprised if Sunovion reports a $1000+ payout to me if I attend this half-day symposium. (Facility rental + A/V costs + Xeroxing/handouts + coffee service + refreshments, all divided by the # of docs in attendance.) I frankly don’t want my future patients searching my name on Dollars For Docs and finding I received a huge “payment” from Sunovion in Q3 2011. On the other hand, I would like to learn more about Latuda and whether/how it differs from other antipsychotics on the market (including generic first-generation agents). "

There is a disclaimer on the ProPublica site:

If you are a listed practitioner and believe you are listed in error, please contact us atornstein.weber@propublica.org.

I'll be interested to know if Sunovion does report his attendance at the event, in the form of Dollars for Docs...