Payment overview · 2025
General Payments
$384.63
17 reported records · 6 companies
Healthcare provider profile · identity verified
Robert J Nicholson, MD
Allopathic & Osteopathic Physicians|Orthopaedic Surgery · HAMMOND, LA · NPI 1124417373
Verified facts
What the public records show
CMS Open Payments records show Robert J Nicholson, MD received $384.63 in general payments during 2025 across 17 reported records.
Salix Pharmaceuticals, a division of Bausch Health US, LLC accounted for 37.1% of that reported general-payment amount.
The Open Payments records used for this analysis explicitly named 9 associated products.
A separate comparison found the same explicitly named product in public Medicare Part D data: Belbuca, Movantik, Prolate, Relistor, Ztlido.
Collegium Pharmaceutical, Inc. reported payments to this doctor in 2025. Across the 2025 Open Payments General Payment records loaded for this analysis, that same reporting entity reported BELBUCA as an associated drug or biological on 17475 records involving 4385 distinct recipient NPIs. Public Medicare Part D data also shows 150 claims for Belbuca by this doctor in 2024.
Collegium Pharmaceutical, Inc. reported payments to this doctor in 2025. Across the 2025 Open Payments General Payment records loaded for this analysis, that same reporting entity reported Nucynta as an associated drug or biological on 230 records involving 95 distinct recipient NPIs. Public Medicare Part D data also shows 23 claims for Nucynta by this doctor in 2024.
Forte Bio-Pharma LLC reported payments to this doctor in 2025. Across the 2025 Open Payments General Payment records loaded for this analysis, that same reporting entity reported PROLATE as an associated drug or biological on 5557 records involving 1112 distinct recipient NPIs. Public Medicare Part D data also shows 18 claims for Prolate by this doctor in 2024.
SCILEX PHARMACEUTICALS INC. reported payments to this doctor in 2025. Across the 2025 Open Payments General Payment records loaded for this analysis, that same reporting entity reported ZTLido as an associated drug or biological on 6923 records involving 3060 distinct recipient NPIs. Public Medicare Part D data also shows 65 claims for Ztlido by this doctor in 2024.
Salix Pharmaceuticals, a division of Bausch Health US, LLC reported payments to this doctor in 2025. Across the 2025 Open Payments General Payment records loaded for this analysis, that same reporting entity reported RELISTOR as an associated drug or biological on 23206 records involving 6246 distinct recipient NPIs. Public Medicare Part D data also shows 44 claims for Relistor by this doctor in 2024.
Valinor Pharma, LLC reported payments to this doctor in 2025. Across the 2025 Open Payments General Payment records loaded for this analysis, that same reporting entity reported MOVANTIK as an associated drug or biological on 4139 records involving 1847 distinct recipient NPIs. Public Medicare Part D data also shows 86 claims for Movantik by this doctor in 2024.
These records do not establish that a payment influenced prescribing or medical care.
Separate record types
Research & Ownership
Research Payments (direct recipient): not present in the loaded data
Associated Research Funding (for example, named PI): not present in the loaded data
Ownership / Investment: not present in the loaded data
These categories are never added into the General Payments headline. Associated research funding must not be described as money the doctor personally received unless the source record supports that conclusion.
Who paid this doctor?
Companies in 2025 General Payments
| Reported company | Canonical company | Amount | Share | Records | Year |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Salix Pharmaceuticals, a division of Bausch Health US, LLC | Unresolved — no canonical attribution shown | $142.84 | 37.1% | 3 | 2025 |
| Valinor Pharma, LLC | Unresolved — no canonical attribution shown | $73.10 | 19.0% | 4 | 2025 |
| Forte Bio-Pharma LLC | Unresolved — no canonical attribution shown | $69.00 | 17.9% | 4 | 2025 |
| Collegium Pharmaceutical, Inc. | Unresolved — no canonical attribution shown | $61.26 | 15.9% | 4 | 2025 |
| VERTEX PHARMACEUTICALS INCORPORATED | Unresolved — no canonical attribution shown | $23.70 | 6.2% | 1 | 2025 |
| SCILEX PHARMACEUTICALS INC. | Unresolved — no canonical attribution shown | $14.73 | 3.8% | 1 | 2025 |
What were the payments for?
Payment categories
| Category | Amount | Records |
|---|---|---|
| Food and Beverage | $384.63 | 17 |
A meal, consulting fee, royalty, and travel payment describe different kinds of reported relationships and should not be interpreted as equivalent.
Analysis 1 · Payment-linked products
Products named in Open Payments records
| Reported product | Type | Reported company | Related amount* | Records | Year |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| RELISTOR Normalized: relistor |
Drug | Salix Pharmaceuticals, a division of Bausch Health US, LLC | $142.84 | 3 | 2025 |
Source payment records
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| ALDARA Normalized: aldara |
Drug | Salix Pharmaceuticals, a division of Bausch Health US, LLC | $114.02 | 1 | 2025 |
Source payment records
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| MOVANTIK Normalized: movantik |
Drug | Valinor Pharma, LLC | $73.10 | 4 | 2025 |
Source payment records
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| NALOCET Normalized: nalocet |
Drug | Forte Bio-Pharma LLC | $69.00 | 4 | 2025 |
Source payment records
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| PROLATE Normalized: prolate |
Drug | Forte Bio-Pharma LLC | $69.00 | 4 | 2025 |
Source payment records
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| TANLOR Normalized: tanlor |
Drug | Forte Bio-Pharma LLC | $69.00 | 4 | 2025 |
Source payment records
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| Belbuca Normalized: belbuca |
Drug | Collegium Pharmaceutical, Inc. | $61.26 | 4 | 2025 |
Source payment records
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| JOURNAVX Normalized: journavx |
Drug | VERTEX PHARMACEUTICALS INCORPORATED | $23.70 | 1 | 2025 |
Source payment records
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| ZTLido Normalized: ztlido |
Drug | SCILEX PHARMACEUTICALS INC. | $14.73 | 1 | 2025 |
Source payment records
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* Product-associated amounts are non-additive because one payment record may name more than one product.
These products were named on specific Open Payments records. A named product does not show that the payment influenced treatment or prescribing.
Public prescribing for products named in payments
| Open Payments product | Payment year | Part D brand | Part D year | Claims | Match method | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Belbuca belbuca |
2025 | Belbuca | 2024 | 150 | exact normalized | Medicare Part D |
| MOVANTIK movantik |
2025 | Movantik | 2024 | 86 | exact normalized | Medicare Part D |
| PROLATE prolate |
2025 | Prolate | 2024 | 18 Beneficiary count suppressed |
exact normalized | Medicare Part D |
| RELISTOR relistor |
2025 | Relistor | 2024 | 44 | exact normalized | Medicare Part D |
| ZTLido ztlido |
2025 | Ztlido | 2024 | 65 | exact normalized | Medicare Part D |
The presence of the same drug in both datasets does not show that a payment caused or influenced a prescription.
Analysis 2 · Same-company prescribing overlap
Drugs reported in other payments from the same company that also appear in Medicare Part D
This analysis is independent from products named on this doctor’s individual payment records. A row appears only when the exact Open Payments reporting entity paid this doctor, that same reporting entity reported the drug or biological on at least 10 loaded General Payment records involving at least 2 distinct recipient NPIs, and this doctor has the same non-generic brand in public Part D data. This does not mean the company owns or manufactures the drug.
| Paying company | Payment year | Drug reported by same entity | Open Payments evidence | Part D | Claims | Beneficiaries |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Collegium Pharmaceutical, Inc. Exact reporting entity; no affiliate inference |
2025 | BELBUCA open payments reported associated product |
CMS Open Payments — General Payments 17475 supporting records · 4385 recipient NPIs · example record 1224105020 |
Belbuca · 2024 Exact normalized brand match · 1 Part D row |
150 | 35 |
| Collegium Pharmaceutical, Inc. Exact reporting entity; no affiliate inference |
2025 | Nucynta open payments reported associated product |
CMS Open Payments — General Payments 230 supporting records · 95 recipient NPIs · example record 1224105108 |
Nucynta · 2024 Exact normalized brand match · 1 Part D row |
23 | suppressed by CMS |
| Forte Bio-Pharma LLC Exact reporting entity; no affiliate inference |
2025 | PROLATE open payments reported associated product |
CMS Open Payments — General Payments 5557 supporting records · 1112 recipient NPIs · example record 1251429153 |
Prolate · 2024 Exact normalized brand match · 1 Part D row |
18 | suppressed by CMS |
| SCILEX PHARMACEUTICALS INC. Exact reporting entity; no affiliate inference |
2025 | ZTLido open payments reported associated product |
CMS Open Payments — General Payments 6923 supporting records · 3060 recipient NPIs · example record 1242585247 |
Ztlido · 2024 Exact normalized brand match · 1 Part D row |
65 | 11 |
| Salix Pharmaceuticals, a division of Bausch Health US, LLC Exact reporting entity; no affiliate inference |
2025 | RELISTOR open payments reported associated product |
CMS Open Payments — General Payments 23206 supporting records · 6246 recipient NPIs · example record 1231775437 |
Relistor · 2024 Exact normalized brand match · 1 Part D row |
44 | 15 |
| Valinor Pharma, LLC Exact reporting entity; no affiliate inference |
2025 | MOVANTIK open payments reported associated product |
CMS Open Payments — General Payments 4139 supporting records · 1847 recipient NPIs · example record 1248445875 |
Movantik · 2024 Exact normalized brand match · 1 Part D row |
86 | 29 |
These facts do not show that a payment was for the drug, that the company owns or manufactures the drug, or that a payment caused or influenced prescribing.
Public Medicare Part D data
Provider-and-drug rows loaded for 2024
| Brand | Generic | Claims | Beneficiaries |
|---|---|---|---|
| Oxycodone-Acetaminophen | Oxycodone Hcl/Acetaminophen | 1427 | 234 |
| Hydrocodone-Acetaminophen | Hydrocodone/Acetaminophen | 1037 | 184 |
| Gabapentin | Gabapentin | 717 | 146 |
| Tizanidine Hcl | Tizanidine Hcl | 568 | 115 |
| Morphine Sulfate Er | Morphine Sulfate | 334 | 54 |
| Amitriptyline Hcl | Amitriptyline Hcl | 329 | 67 |
| Celecoxib | Celecoxib | 309 | 59 |
| Baclofen | Baclofen | 299 | 59 |
| Cyclobenzaprine Hcl | Cyclobenzaprine Hcl | 289 | 57 |
| Pregabalin | Pregabalin | 288 | 61 |
| Tramadol Hcl Er | Tramadol Hcl | 247 | 59 |
| Meloxicam | Meloxicam | 244 | 46 |
| Methocarbamol | Methocarbamol | 236 | 49 |
| Clonazepam | Clonazepam | 189 | 29 |
| Xtampza Er | Oxycodone Myristate | 184 | 34 |
| Diclofenac Sodium | Diclofenac Sodium | 182 | 53 |
| Fentanyl | Fentanyl | 176 | 22 |
| Oxycodone Hcl | Oxycodone Hcl | 156 | 26 |
| Lidocaine | Lidocaine | 152 | 42 |
| Belbuca | Buprenorphine Hcl | 150 | 35 |
| Ondansetron Odt | Ondansetron | 135 | 26 |
| Alprazolam | Alprazolam | 117 | 18 |
| Duloxetine Hcl | Duloxetine Hcl | 87 | 18 |
| Ibuprofen | Ibuprofen | 86 | 16 |
| Movantik | Naloxegol Oxalate | 86 | 29 |
| Zolpidem Tartrate | Zolpidem Tartrate | 85 | 15 |
| Oxycontin | Oxycodone Hcl | 83 | 13 |
| Tramadol Hcl | Tramadol Hcl | 81 | 24 |
| Topiramate | Topiramate | 65 | 12 |
| Ztlido | Lidocaine | 65 | 11 |
| Trazodone Hcl | Trazodone Hcl | 64 | 15 |
| Butalbital-Acetaminophen-Caffe | Butalb/Acetaminophen/Caffeine | 60 | 14 |
| Naproxen | Naproxen | 55 | suppressed |
| Promethazine Hcl | Promethazine Hcl | 45 | suppressed |
| Relistor | Methylnaltrexone Bromide | 44 | 15 |
| Ondansetron Hcl | Ondansetron Hcl | 42 | 13 |
| Quetiapine Fumarate | Quetiapine Fumarate | 42 | 11 |
| Sumatriptan Succinate | Sumatriptan Succinate | 42 | suppressed |
| Sulindac | Sulindac | 38 | suppressed |
| Diazepam | Diazepam | 36 | suppressed |
| Carisoprodol | Carisoprodol | 35 | suppressed |
| Nurtec Odt | Rimegepant Sulfate | 32 | suppressed |
| Lorazepam | Lorazepam | 29 | suppressed |
| Buspirone Hcl | Buspirone Hcl | 28 | suppressed |
| Ubrelvy | Ubrogepant | 27 | suppressed |
| Chlorzoxazone | Chlorzoxazone | 23 | suppressed |
| Metaxalone | Metaxalone | 23 | suppressed |
| Naloxone Hcl | Naloxone Hcl | 23 | 23 |
| Nucynta | Tapentadol Hcl | 23 | suppressed |
| Morphine Sulfate | Morphine Sulfate | 21 | suppressed |
| Ropinirole Hcl | Ropinirole Hcl | 20 | suppressed |
| Prednisone | Prednisone | 19 | suppressed |
| Hydroxyzine Hcl | Hydroxyzine Hcl | 18 | suppressed |
| Nabumetone | Nabumetone | 18 | suppressed |
| Prolate | Oxycodone Hcl/Acetaminophen | 18 | suppressed |
| Hydroxyzine Pamoate | Hydroxyzine Pamoate | 16 | suppressed |
| Diclofenac Epolamine | Diclofenac Epolamine | 15 | suppressed |
| Nucynta Er | Tapentadol Hcl | 15 | suppressed |
| Ketoprofen | Ketoprofen | 12 | suppressed |
| Omeprazole | Omeprazole | 12 | suppressed |
| Savella | Milnacipran Hcl | 12 | suppressed |
| Rizatriptan | Rizatriptan Benzoate | 11 | suppressed |
Timeline
Payment and prescribing data by year
Open Payments and Medicare Part D may refer to different years. They are shown separately rather than aligned as if they describe the same period.
| Year | General Payments | Main payer | Explicit products | Company overlaps | Part D coverage |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | $384.63 · 17 records | Salix Pharmaceuticals, a division of Bausch Health US, LLC | ALDARA, Belbuca, JOURNAVX, MOVANTIK, NALOCET, PROLATE, RELISTOR, TANLOR, ZTLido | 6 | — |
| 2024 | — | — | — | — | Complete |
Questions to ask
Questions you could discuss with your doctor
- What role, if any, does Belbuca play in your treatment recommendations for me?
- How do you evaluate evidence when you have a financial relationship with Collegium Pharmaceutical, Inc.?
- Are there reasonable alternatives I should understand when we discuss treatment options?
- How should I interpret the industry-payment records shown here in the context of my care?
These are general questions generated from reviewed templates. They are not personalized medical advice.
Sources and limitations
How to read this page
- Payment and Medicare prescribing data can cover different years; every comparison shows both years explicitly.
- Part D does not represent a doctor’s entire practice; it excludes many patients and is subject to CMS public-release thresholds.
- Company–drug relationships must have an auditable source, a precise relationship type, and a valid evidence period. Unresolved mappings are not published.
- Generic drug claims are not attributed to a specific manufacturer without manufacturer-level evidence.
- When a source extract is incomplete, missing rows are never treated as proof of no payments or no prescriptions.
Loaded source releases
| Dataset | Year | Publication | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| CMS Open Payments — General Payments | 2025 | 2026-06-30 | Original source |
| Medicare Part D Prescribers by Provider and Drug | 2024 | 2026-05-06 | Original source |
| NPPES Data Dissemination V2 | current / reference data | 2026-08-10 | Original source |
Full methodology · Questions & answers · Report a possible error