$23,422.20 consulting Payment -- Vertex Pharmaceuticals to Dr. Lisa Garcia
Pulmonologist Dr. Lisa Garcia receives substantial consulting fee from Vertex Pharmaceuticals
This page provides a detailed analysis of a $23,422.20 consulting payment from Vertex Pharmaceuticals to Dr. Lisa Garcia. Data is from the CMS Open Payments (Sunshine Act) database.
Payment Details
| Field | Value |
|---|---|
| Amount | $23,422.20 |
| Payment Type | consulting |
| Payment Nature | Consulting Fee |
| Pharmaceutical Company | Vertex Pharmaceuticals |
| Physician | Dr. Lisa Garcia |
| NPI Number | 1190135284 |
| Physician Specialty | Pulmonology |
| Location | Miami, FL |
| Date of Payment | 2025-09-03 |
| Conflict Assessment | High -- Significant |
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 $23.4K consulting payment to Lisa Garcia, a Pulmonology specialist in Miami, FL. The total payment of $23,422.20 to Dr. Lisa Garcia from Vertex Pharmaceuticals is a significant amount for consulting services. This payment was made on September 3, 2025, indicating a recent engagement between the physician and the pharmaceutical company. The payment falls under the 'Consulting Fee' category, suggesting a formal agreement for expert advice or services.
Patient Guidance: What This Payment Means for You
If you are a patient of Dr. Lisa Garcia, this information details a professional consulting payment made to her by Vertex Pharmaceuticals. It is important to discuss any questions about your care and treatment options directly with your physician. Always discuss your treatment options with your healthcare provider and ask about alternatives.
Payment Context: Is This Amount Normal?
For a Pulmonologist, a consulting fee of $23,422.20 from a pharmaceutical company like Vertex Pharmaceuticals is on the higher end of typical payments for such services, though specific project scopes can vary widely.
Regulatory Context: Sunshine Act Requirements
This payment is subject to reporting under the Physician Payments Sunshine Act, requiring disclosure of transfers of value from manufacturers of drugs, devices, and other covered items to physicians and teaching hospitals.
Related Topics
This payment is related to the following healthcare transparency topics:
- consulting-fee
- pharmaceutical-payment
- physician-compensation
- pulmonology
- vertex-pharmaceuticals
- open-payments
Understanding consulting Payments
Consulting payments are made when pharmaceutical companies hire physicians as advisors or consultants. This can include serving on advisory boards, providing expert medical opinions on drug development or marketing strategies, and reviewing clinical data. Consulting is one of the most common forms of pharmaceutical payment to physicians and can range from a few hundred dollars for a brief consultation to tens of thousands of dollars for ongoing advisory relationships.
Frequently Asked Questions About This Payment
What was this $23.4K payment for?
This was a consulting payment of $23.4K from Vertex Pharmaceuticals to Lisa Garcia, categorized as "Consulting Fee". The payment was reported under the Sunshine Act (CMS Open Payments).
Does Lisa Garcia accept pharmaceutical money?
Yes, Lisa Garcia received this $23.4K payment from Vertex Pharmaceuticals. Under the Sunshine Act, pharmaceutical companies must report all payments to physicians exceeding $10. You can view Lisa Garcia'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 consulting payment?
A consulting payment of $23.4K may reflect legitimate advisory services the physician provides. 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 Pulmonology?
To compare this payment against Pulmonology averages, check the full specialty breakdown on CMS Open Payments. Payment amounts vary widely by specialty and type. Pulmonology 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 Lisa Garcia's relationship with Vertex Pharmaceuticals?
The payment amount is notably high for a single consulting engagement. This $23.4K consulting payment is part of the transparency data reported under the Sunshine Act.
Is this payment amount typical for Pulmonology?
The specialty of Pulmonology may have specific consulting needs that justify higher fees.
What should patients do after learning about this payment?
If you are a patient of Dr. Lisa Garcia, this information details a professional consulting payment made to her by Vertex Pharmaceuticals. It is important to discuss any questions about your care and treatment options directly with your physician.
What else should I know about this consulting payment?
The payment was made by Vertex Pharmaceuticals, a company known for its work in cystic fibrosis and other respiratory diseases.
Related Reports
Data from CMS Open Payments. Payment does not imply wrongdoing. Consult your healthcare provider about any concerns.