$24.55 meals Payment -- Teva Pharmaceuticals to Dr. Christine Edwards
Teva Pharmaceuticals provides a $24.55 meal to a Pain Management physician.
This page provides a detailed analysis of a $24.55 meals payment from Teva Pharmaceuticals to Dr. Christine Edwards. Data is from the CMS Open Payments (Sunshine Act) database.
Payment Details
| Field | Value |
|---|---|
| Amount | $24.55 |
| Payment Type | meals |
| Payment Nature | Food and Beverage |
| Pharmaceutical Company | Teva Pharmaceuticals |
| Physician | Dr. Christine Edwards |
| NPI Number | 1633413409 |
| Physician Specialty | Pain Management |
| Location | City, WI |
| Date of Payment | 2025-06-30 |
| Related Drug/Device | Humira |
| Conflict Assessment | Low -- Routine |
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.
Teva Pharmaceuticals made a $24.55 meals payment to Christine Edwards, a Pain Management specialist in City, WI. The payment was associated with Humira. A payment of $24.55 was made by Teva Pharmaceuticals to Christine Edwards, a Pain Management specialist. The payment was for 'Food and Beverage' and specifically categorized as a 'meal'. This payment occurred on June 30, 2025, and is associated with the drug Humira.
Patient Guidance: What This Payment Means for You
This record indicates a meal 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?
Meals provided by pharmaceutical companies to physicians are generally considered low-value interactions, especially when compared to other forms of compensation or speaker fees.
Regulatory Context: Sunshine Act Requirements
Payments for meals and other food and beverage items are reportable under the Sunshine Act, provided they meet the reporting threshold.
Related Topics
This payment is related to the following healthcare transparency topics:
- meals
- food-and-beverage
- teva-pharmaceuticals
- christine-edwards
- pain-management
- humira
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 $24.55 payment for?
This was a meals payment of $24.55 from Teva Pharmaceuticals to Christine Edwards, categorized as "Food and Beverage". It was associated with Humira. The payment was reported under the Sunshine Act (CMS Open Payments).
Does Christine Edwards accept pharmaceutical money?
Yes, Christine Edwards received this $24.55 payment from Teva Pharmaceuticals. Under the Sunshine Act, pharmaceutical companies must report all payments to physicians exceeding $10. You can view Christine Edwards'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 $24.55 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 Pain Management?
To compare this payment against Pain Management averages, check the full specialty breakdown on CMS Open Payments. Payment amounts vary widely by specialty and type. Pain Management 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 Christine Edwards's relationship with Teva Pharmaceuticals?
The payment amount is relatively small, suggesting it was for a single meal. This $24.55 meals payment is part of the transparency data reported under the Sunshine Act.
Is this payment amount typical for Pain Management?
The payment is linked to a specific drug, Humira, which is common in physician-pharma interactions.
What should patients do after learning about this payment?
This record indicates a meal provided by a pharmaceutical company, which is a common practice in the healthcare industry.
What else should I know about this meals payment?
The payment date is in the future, which might indicate a scheduled or anticipated event.
Related Reports
Data from CMS Open Payments. Payment does not imply wrongdoing. Consult your healthcare provider about any concerns.