$3,652.49 consulting Payment -- Allergan (AbbVie) to Dr. Heather Mitchell
Allergan (AbbVie) Compensates Plastic Surgeon Heather Mitchell for Consulting Services
This page provides a detailed analysis of a $3,652.49 consulting payment from Allergan (AbbVie) to Dr. Heather Mitchell. Data is from the CMS Open Payments (Sunshine Act) database.
Payment Details
| Field | Value |
|---|---|
| Amount | $3,652.49 |
| Payment Type | consulting |
| Payment Nature | Consulting Fee |
| Pharmaceutical Company | Allergan (AbbVie) |
| Physician | Dr. Heather Mitchell |
| NPI Number | 1644808161 |
| Physician Specialty | Plastic Surgery |
| Location | New York, NY |
| Date of Payment | 2025-01-10 |
| 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.
Allergan (AbbVie) made a $3.7K consulting payment to Heather Mitchell, a Plastic Surgery specialist in New York, NY. Allergan (AbbVie) paid Heather Mitchell, a Plastic Surgeon in New York, $3,652.49 on January 10, 2025. The payment was for consulting services, indicating a professional engagement beyond typical drug promotion. This payment falls within the range of consulting fees often provided to medical professionals for their expertise.
Patient Guidance: What This Payment Means for You
This payment was for consulting services, which may involve providing expert advice or participating in research related to medical products. Always discuss your treatment options with your healthcare provider and ask about alternatives.
Payment Context: Is This Amount Normal?
Consulting fees for plastic surgeons can vary widely depending on the nature of the consultation, but this amount is within a moderate range for such services.
Regulatory Context: Sunshine Act Requirements
Payments to physicians for consulting services are reportable under the Sunshine Act, requiring disclosure to ensure transparency in healthcare.
Related Topics
This payment is related to the following healthcare transparency topics:
- consulting-fees
- pharmaceutical-payments
- plastic-surgery
- allergan-abbvie
- physician-compensation
- open-payments-data
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 $3.7K payment for?
This was a consulting payment of $3.7K from Allergan (AbbVie) to Heather Mitchell, categorized as "Consulting Fee". The payment was reported under the Sunshine Act (CMS Open Payments).
Does Heather Mitchell accept pharmaceutical money?
Yes, Heather Mitchell received this $3.7K payment from Allergan (AbbVie). Under the Sunshine Act, pharmaceutical companies must report all payments to physicians exceeding $10. You can view Heather Mitchell'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 $3.7K 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 Plastic Surgery?
To compare this payment against Plastic Surgery averages, check the full specialty breakdown on CMS Open Payments. Payment amounts vary widely by specialty and type. Plastic Surgery 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 Heather Mitchell's relationship with Allergan (AbbVie)?
The payment amount is specific, suggesting a defined scope of work for the consulting engagement. This $3.7K consulting payment is part of the transparency data reported under the Sunshine Act.
Is this payment amount typical for Plastic Surgery?
The payment was made directly to Dr. Mitchell, not through an intermediary organization.
What should patients do after learning about this payment?
This payment was for consulting services, which may involve providing expert advice or participating in research related to medical products.
What else should I know about this consulting payment?
The date of payment is in the future, which is unusual for reported CMS Open Payments data.
Related Reports
Data from CMS Open Payments. Payment does not imply wrongdoing. Consult your healthcare provider about any concerns.