$37,446.85 speaking Payment -- Biogen to Dr. Mark Perez
Biogen pays Internal Medicine physician $37,446.85 for Tagrisso-related speaking services
This page provides a detailed analysis of a $37,446.85 speaking payment from Biogen to Dr. Mark Perez. Data is from the CMS Open Payments (Sunshine Act) database.
Payment Details
| Field | Value |
|---|---|
| Amount | $37,446.85 |
| Payment Type | speaking |
| Payment Nature | Compensation for serving as faculty or as a speaker |
| Pharmaceutical Company | Biogen |
| Physician | Dr. Mark Perez |
| NPI Number | 1770938775 |
| Physician Specialty | Internal Medicine |
| Location | City, CO |
| Date of Payment | 2025-02-22 |
| Related Drug/Device | Tagrisso |
| Conflict Assessment | Moderate -- Worth Noting |
AI-Powered Analysis of This Payment
The following analysis was generated by artificial intelligence to help patients understand the context, significance, and implications of this pharmaceutical payment. This analysis is not medical or legal advice.
Biogen made a $37.4K speaking payment to Mark Perez, a Internal Medicine specialist in City, CO. The payment was associated with Tagrisso. The total payment of $37,446.85 to Dr. Mark Perez from Biogen is for speaking engagements. This payment is associated with Tagrisso, a drug used in oncology. The payment was made on February 22, 2025, indicating a recent engagement.
Patient Guidance: What This Payment Means for You
If you are a patient, this payment relates to a doctor being compensated for educating others about a medication, which may or may not be relevant to your treatment. Always discuss your treatment options with your healthcare provider and ask about alternatives.
Payment Context: Is This Amount Normal?
For Internal Medicine specialists, speaking fees can vary widely, but this amount is on the higher end for a single engagement, especially if it's for a specific drug.
Regulatory Context: Sunshine Act Requirements
Payments to physicians for speaking engagements are reportable under the Sunshine Act and are intended to provide transparency in the pharmaceutical industry.
Related Topics
This payment is related to the following healthcare transparency topics:
- speaking-fees
- biogen
- tagrisso
- internal-medicine
- speaker-compensation
- pharmaceutical-payments
Understanding speaking Payments
Speaking and education payments compensate physicians for presenting at conferences, continuing medical education (CME) events, and promotional speaking engagements. These payments often cover honoraria, preparation time, and travel expenses. Speaking fees are among the highest-value payment categories and have attracted significant attention from researchers studying potential conflicts of interest.
Frequently Asked Questions About This Payment
What was this $37.4K payment for?
This was a speaking payment of $37.4K from Biogen to Mark Perez, categorized as "Compensation for serving as faculty or as a speaker". It was associated with Tagrisso. The payment was reported under the Sunshine Act (CMS Open Payments).
Does Mark Perez accept pharmaceutical money?
Yes, Mark Perez received this $37.4K payment from Biogen. Under the Sunshine Act, pharmaceutical companies must report all payments to physicians exceeding $10. You can view Mark Perez's full payment history on the CMS Open Payments database or on this site.
Is it legal for doctors to accept pharma payments?
Yes, it is legal for physicians to receive payments from pharmaceutical companies. The Physician Payments Sunshine Act (2010) requires transparency by mandating that companies report all payments exceeding $10 to CMS. These payments include consulting fees, meals, travel, speaking fees, and research grants. The law does not prohibit payments but ensures public disclosure.
Should I be concerned about this speaking payment?
A speaking payment of $37.4K should be evaluated in context. Payment does not imply wrongdoing, but patients have the right to ask their doctor about pharmaceutical relationships.
How do I talk to my doctor about pharma relationships?
You can ask your doctor directly: "Do you receive payments from pharmaceutical companies?" and "Does this affect which medications you prescribe?" Most doctors will answer honestly. You can also verify payment data yourself through CMS Open Payments (openpaymentsdata.cms.gov). Consider asking about generic alternatives and whether the prescribed medication is the best option regardless of manufacturer relationships.
What types of pharma payments are most concerning?
Ownership interests and large consulting/speaking fees are generally considered more significant than meals or small educational grants. Research payments typically fund clinical studies and are common in academic medicine. The total volume and concentration of payments from a single company may be more telling than any individual payment. Patterns matter more than individual transactions.
Does pharma money affect what my doctor prescribes?
Research shows that even small payments can influence prescribing behavior. Studies published in JAMA Internal Medicine found that physicians who received meals costing as little as $20 were more likely to prescribe the promoted brand-name drug. However, many physician-industry interactions are legitimate professional activities. The key is transparency and awareness.
How does this compare to other doctors in Internal Medicine?
To compare this payment against Internal Medicine averages, check the full specialty breakdown on CMS Open Payments. Payment amounts vary widely by specialty and type. Internal Medicine physicians may receive payments for consulting, speaking, or research that are standard for the field. Individual payments should be evaluated in the context of the doctor's full payment history.
What does this payment reveal about Mark Perez's relationship with Biogen?
The payment amount is substantial, suggesting significant speaking activity. This $37.4K speaking payment is part of the transparency data reported under the Sunshine Act.
Is this payment amount typical for Internal Medicine?
The specific nature of the payment is 'Compensation for serving as faculty or as a speaker'.
What should patients do after learning about this payment?
If you are a patient, this payment relates to a doctor being compensated for educating others about a medication, which may or may not be relevant to your treatment.
What else should I know about this speaking payment?
Dr. Perez's specialty is Internal Medicine, and the payment is linked to Tagrisso.
Related Reports
Data from CMS Open Payments. Payment does not imply wrongdoing. Consult your healthcare provider about any concerns.