$243.98 meals Payment -- Vertex Pharmaceuticals to Dr. David Kim

Payment Details

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.

Vertex Pharmaceuticals made a $243.98 meals payment to David Kim, a Genetics specialist in City, SC. The payment was associated with Wegovy. The payment of $243.98 to Dr. David Kim from Vertex Pharmaceuticals was for meals. This payment was associated with the drug Wegovy. The payment occurred on April 14, 2025, in South Carolina.

Patient Guidance: What This Payment Means for You

This record indicates a meal expense provided by a pharmaceutical company, which is a common practice in the healthcare industry. Always discuss your treatment options with your healthcare provider and ask about alternatives.

Payment Context: Is This Amount Normal?

Payments for meals are generally considered low-value and are common across many medical specialties, including Genetics.

Regulatory Context: Sunshine Act Requirements

This payment falls under the Sunshine Act provisions of the Affordable Care Act, requiring disclosure of payments made by manufacturers of drugs, devices, and medical supplies to physicians and teaching hospitals.

Related Topics

This payment is related to the following healthcare transparency topics:

• pharmaceutical-payments
• physician-compensation
• meals-and-entertainment
• vertex-pharmaceuticals
• wegovy
• open-payments

Understanding meals Payments

Food and beverage payments cover meals provided to physicians during pharmaceutical sales representative visits, medical conferences, and educational events. While individual meal payments tend to be small (often under $100), research published in JAMA Internal Medicine has shown that even modest meals can be associated with changes in prescribing behavior. Meal payments are the most common type of pharmaceutical payment to physicians.

Frequently Asked Questions About This Payment

What was this $243.98 payment for?

This was a meals payment of $243.98 from Vertex Pharmaceuticals to David Kim, categorized as "Food and Beverage". It was associated with Wegovy. The payment was reported under the Sunshine Act (CMS Open Payments).

Does David Kim accept pharmaceutical money?

Yes, David Kim received this $243.98 payment from Vertex Pharmaceuticals. Under the Sunshine Act, pharmaceutical companies must report all payments to physicians exceeding $10. You can view David Kim'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 meals payment?

A meals payment of $243.98 is generally routine and common in the industry. 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 Genetics?

To compare this payment against Genetics averages, check the full specialty breakdown on CMS Open Payments. Payment amounts vary widely by specialty and type. Genetics 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 David Kim's relationship with Vertex Pharmaceuticals?

The payment amount is relatively small, suggesting it was for a meal rather than a significant sponsorship. This $243.98 meals payment is part of the transparency data reported under the Sunshine Act.

Is this payment amount typical for Genetics?

The payment type is explicitly listed as 'meals', indicating a common practice for pharmaceutical companies.

What should patients do after learning about this payment?

This record indicates a meal expense provided by a pharmaceutical company, which is a common practice in the healthcare industry.

What else should I know about this meals payment?

The drug associated, Wegovy, is a weight-loss medication, which may or may not be relevant to the meal context.

Related Reports

• View Dr. David Kim's full payment report
• Vertex Pharmaceuticals full spending report
• Browse all Genetics payments
• Browse all payments in South Carolina
• Search for other payments