Medicare Enrolled
Dr. Kirit Desai, M.D.
Cardiovascular Disease · Bakersfield, CA
Practice pattern: Clinical Cardiology
— Primarily office-based clinical cardiology
Low-engagement
Very High
DATA COVERAGE
Data in 4 of 4 federal sources
Measures public federal data availability — not provider quality
Informational, not a quality rating.
This page presents federal public records about Dr. Desai from CMS (NPPES, Open Payments, Medicare Provider Utilization, PECOS). It is not medical advice, an endorsement, or a judgment of clinical quality. Always consult the provider directly and a licensed clinician for medical decisions. Read methodology →
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What this data tells you about Dr. Desai
Dr. Kirit Desai is a cardiovascular disease specialist in Bakersfield, CA, with 18 years of NPI registration. Based on federal Medicare data, Dr. Desai performed 8,099 Medicare services across 2,467 unique beneficiaries.
Between the years covered by Open Payments, Dr. Desai received a total of $6,365 from 37 pharmaceutical and/or device companies across 320 individual payments. These payments are legal, publicly disclosed under the federal Sunshine Act, and common in cardiovascular disease. Most payments are for meals and travel — low-value interactions common across virtually all practicing physicians. Patients may wish to discuss these relationships with their provider.
The Data Coverage level for Dr. Desai is Very High — reflecting how much public federal data is available about this provider. Patients are encouraged to use this data as one of several factors when choosing a healthcare provider.
✓ 18 years in practice
▲ Top 9% volume in CA
$6,365 industry payments
Medicare Practice Summary
Medicare Utilization ↗8,099
Medicare services
Top 9% in CA for cardiovascular disease
2,467
Unique beneficiaries
$73
Avg. Medicare payment
Medicare patients only (65+ / disabled) · How to read this →
~450 Medicare services per year of practice
Top procedures by volume
Ranked by number of services performed for Medicare patients. Avg. submitted charge is what the provider billed; avg. Medicare payment is what CMS paid.
| Procedure | Volume | Avg. paid | Avg. submitted |
|---|---|---|---|
| Contrast dye for imaging (iodine-based) A contrast agent containing 300-399 mg/ml of iodine used to enhance imaging studies. It is administered per milliliter to improve the visibility of internal structures. |
4,200 | $0 | $5 |
| Office visit, established patient (30-39 min) A follow-up office visit for an existing patient lasting between 30 and 39 minutes. The visit involves medical evaluation and management of the patient's condition. |
986 | $94 | $226 |
| Regadenoson injection (Lexiscan) for heart stress test An injection of regadenoson, a medication used to stress the heart during diagnostic testing. |
700 | $43 | $150 |
| Rubidium rb-82, diagnostic, per study dose, up to 60 millicuries | 348 | $406 | $1,000 |
| Echocardiogram, transthoracic An ultrasound of the heart that uses color to show blood flow, rate, direction, and valve function. |
267 | $149 | $450 |
| Routine 12-lead electrocardiogram (ECG) A test that records the electrical activity of the heart using at least 12 leads to produce a tracing. |
221 | $5 | $40 |
| Exercise or drug-induced heart stress test with ECG A heart stress test performed using exercise or medication while monitoring the electrocardiogram under physician supervision and review. |
180 | $58 | $152 |
| Nuclear stress test of heart muscle A nuclear medicine imaging test that evaluates blood flow to the heart muscle while at rest and during stress. |
174 | $1,216 | $4,000 |
| CT scan of heart for calcium evaluation A CT scan of the heart used to evaluate calcium levels in the blood vessels. |
125 | $82 | $222 |
| Electrocardiogram (EKG), 12-lead A standard heart rhythm test using at least 12 leads to record electrical activity. A healthcare provider interprets the results and provides a written report. |
111 | $11 | $36 |
| Telephone medical discussion, 21-30 minutes A telephone conversation with a physician lasting between 21 and 30 minutes. This code covers the time spent discussing medical matters over the phone. |
104 | $97 | $199 |
| Prothrombin time test (blood clotting) A laboratory test that measures how long it takes for blood to clot. This procedure evaluates the body's coagulation process. |
86 | $4 | $40 |
| Office visit, established patient (20-29 min) An office visit for an existing patient lasting between 20 and 29 minutes. The visit involves medical evaluation and management of the patient's condition. |
79 | $70 | $154 |
| Anticoagulant management for warfarin Management of anticoagulant therapy for a patient taking warfarin. This service involves monitoring and adjusting the medication regimen. |
67 | $8 | $26 |
| Office visit, established patient, complex (40-54 min) An office or outpatient visit for an existing patient lasting between 40 and 54 minutes. This level of service is determined by the total time spent on the date of the encounter. |
59 | $134 | $304 |
| Pacemaker programming, dual lead system Adjustment and configuration of a dual-lead pacemaker device to ensure proper operation and settings. |
49 | $55 | $124 |
| Continuous EKG monitoring review, 48-7 days Review and interpretation of continuous external EKG recordings lasting more than 48 hours up to 7 days. |
48 | $18 | $100 |
| Continuous external EKG monitoring, 48 hours to 7 days This procedure involves recording the heart's electrical activity continuously using an external device for a period exceeding 48 hours but not more than 7 days. |
47 | $10 | $100 |
| Electrocardiogram, 1 to 3 leads A test that records the electrical activity of the heart using one to three electrodes placed on the body. |
44 | $5 | $13 |
| Normal saline infusion, 500 ml Administration of sterile normal saline solution through an intravenous line. This procedure involves the infusion of a 500 ml unit of the solution. |
43 | $1 | $40 |
| Telephone medical discussion, 11-20 minutes A phone conversation with a physician lasting between 11 and 20 minutes. |
38 | $67 | $150 |
| CT scan of chest, without contrast A computed tomography scan of the chest area that uses X-rays to create detailed images without the use of contrast dye. |
28 | $111 | $350 |
| CT scan of chest blood vessels with contrast A CT scan that uses contrast dye to create detailed images of the blood vessels in the chest. |
19 | $204 | $646 |
| Ultrasound of head and neck blood flow, bilateral An ultrasound exam that uses sound waves to visualize and assess blood flow in the vessels of both the head and the neck. |
17 | $152 | $444 |
| New patient office visit (45-59 min) An initial office visit for a new patient lasting between 45 and 59 minutes. This code covers the total time spent by the physician or qualified healthcare professional on the date of the encounter. |
17 | $108 | $343 |
| Smoking cessation counseling, 4-10 minutes A brief counseling session focused on helping patients quit smoking and tobacco use. The provider spends 4 to 10 minutes discussing strategies and support for cessation. |
15 | $15 | $31 |
| MRI of chest blood vessels An MRI scan that uses magnetic fields and radio waves to create detailed images of the blood vessels in the chest. |
14 | $289 | $865 |
| CT scan of heart blood vessels and grafts with contrast A CT scan that uses contrast dye to create detailed images of the heart's blood vessels and any surgical grafts. |
13 | $231 | $915 |
How to read this data: This reflects Medicare patients only (typically 65+). Payment amounts are what Medicare paid the provider, not your out-of-pocket cost. A higher procedure volume generally indicates more experience with that procedure.
4.4% high complexity
67.5% medium
28.0% routine
Industry Payment Transparency
Open Payments through 2024 ↗$6,365
Total received (2018-2024)
Avg $909/year across 7 years
Top 35% in CA for cardiovascular disease
A higher payment rank reflects disclosed industry relationships (consulting, research, speaking) common among subspecialists — not wrongdoing.
37
Companies
320
Individual payments
All payments are legal and publicly reported · Not evidence of wrongdoing · How to interpret →
Payment profile
Industry payments classified by relationship type. Not all payments are equal — research and consulting reflect different relationships than speaking programs or meals.
Meals & Travel
Food, beverages, travel, and lodging — typically low-value
$6,365 (100.0%)
Payment trend by year
Annual totals from pharmaceutical and medical device companies.
2024
$964
2023
$1,197
2022
$938
2021
$607
2020
$285
2019
$1,250
2018
$1,123
Payments by company (2024)
Consulting
Speaking
Meals & Travel
Research
Abbott Laboratories
$343
Novartis Pharmaceuticals Corporation
$241
Merck Sharp & Dohme LLC
$152
Amgen Inc.
$107
Lexicon Pharmaceuticals, Inc.
$59
AstraZeneca Pharmaceuticals LP
$32
Kiniksa Pharmaceuticals International, plc
$17
PFIZER INC.
$14
Top 3 companies account for 76.3% of 2024 payments
All-time payments by company (2018-2024) ›
Abbott Laboratories
$1,497
Amgen Inc.
$1,131
Merck Sharp & Dohme LLC
$604
Novartis Pharmaceuticals Corporation
$581
Boehringer Ingelheim Pharmaceuticals, Inc.
$221
AstraZeneca Pharmaceuticals LP
$190
Amarin Pharma Inc.
$176
Gilead Sciences, Inc.
$170
Merck Sharp & Dohme Corporation
$165
SANOFI-AVENTIS U.S. LLC
$164
Medtronic Vascular, Inc.
$162
CVRx, Inc.
$158
Penumbra, Inc.
$129
PFIZER INC.
$117
ZOLL Services LLC (A/K/A ZOLL LifeCor Corp)
$92
Kiniksa Pharmaceuticals, Ltd.
$77
Esperion Therapeutics, Inc.
$68
Kowa Pharmaceuticals America, Inc.
$68
iRhythm Technologies, Inc.
$60
Lexicon Pharmaceuticals, Inc.
$59
E.R. Squibb & Sons, L.L.C.
$57
Regeneron Healthcare Solutions, Inc.
$55
Janssen Pharmaceuticals, Inc
$48
CathWorks, Inc.
$36
Bayer HealthCare Pharmaceuticals Inc.
$35
Akcea Therapeutics, Inc.
$35
Boston Scientific Corporation
$30
Chiesi USA, Inc.
$26
Alnylam Pharmaceuticals Inc.
$23
Lundbeck LLC
$23
Maquet Cardiovascular U.S. Sales, L.L.C.
$19
Kiniksa Pharmaceuticals International, plc
$17
SCPHARMACEUTICALS INC.
$17
AtriCure, Inc.
$16
Aegerion Pharmaceuticals, Inc.
$13
NOVARTIS PHARMACEUTICALS CORPORATION
$13
Bardy Diagnostics, Inc.
$12
Top 3 companies account for 50.8% of all-time payments
Associated products mentioned in payments ›
AGILIS HISPRO · ALLURE QUADRA · ASSURITY · ATRICURE SYNERGY ABLATION SYSTEM · AVEIR · Agilis NxT EP Introducer · Arcalyst · Assurity Pacemaker · BELSOMRA · BRILINTA · Barostim Neo System · CAMZYOS · CARDIOMEMS · CHANTIX · CONFIRM RX · Carnation Ambulatory Monitor · Confirm Rx · CoreValve Evolut · Corlanor · DRAGONFLY OPSTAR · ELIQUIS · ENSITE · ENTRESTO · Ellipse ICD · Ensite Cardiac Mapping System · FARXIGA · FFRangio System · FUROSCIX · Fortify Assura · GALLANT · Indigo System · Inpefa · JANUVIA · JARDIANCE · JOT DX · JUXTAPID · KENGREAL · Kerendia · LEQVIO · LOKELMA · LifeVest · Livalo · MERLIN@HOME · Merlin Connectivity and Remote · MitraClip System · NEXLETOL · NORTHERA · ONPATTRO · PRADAXA · PRALUENT · PRALUENT ALIROCUMAB INJECTION · PRESSUREWIRE · QUADRA ALLURE MP · QUADRA ASSURA · Quartet CRT Lead · Repatha · SENSOR ENABLED · TACTICATH ABLATION CATHETER · TEGSEDI · TENDRIL · Tendril Pacing Lead · Unify Assura CRT Defibrillator · VERQUVO · VYNDAQEL · Vascepa · WATCHMAN · XARELTO · XIENCE SKYPOINT · ZIO Patch · ZIO XT Patch · Zephyr Pacemaker · iCAST
Should you be concerned? Payments from pharmaceutical and device companies are legal and common — 57% of U.S. physicians receive at least one. They often reflect legitimate consulting, research, or education. What matters is whether a recommended drug or device appears in your doctor's payment records. If so, consider asking your doctor about it. How to interpret this data →
Most payments (100%) are for meals and travel — low-value interactions that are common across virtually all practicing physicians.
Geographic Context
Cardiologists within 10 mi
30
Per 100K population
3.3
County median income
$67,660
Nearest hospital
GOOD SAMARITAN HOSPITAL
0.0 mi
0.0 mi
Data Sources
| Provider Registry | ✓ NPPES | Weekly updates |
| Medicare Enrollment | ✓ PECOS | Monthly updates |
| Practice Data | ✓ Medicare Util. | Annual (CY lag) |
| Industry Payments | ✓ Open Payments | CY 2024 |
| Disciplinary History | — Not public | N/A |
This provider has data in 4 of 4 available federal datasets, with a Data Coverage level of Very High. This reflects how much public data is available about a provider. How we calculate this →
Summary
Dr. Desai is a clinical cardiology specialist, with above-average Medicare volume (top 9% in CA), with low-engagement industry engagement, with 18 years of NPI registration.
This summary is auto-generated from federal data, describing data availability and patterns. Read our methodology →
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Dr. Desai experienced with contrast dye for imaging (iodine-based)?
Based on Medicare claims data, Dr. Desai performed 4,200 contrast dye for imaging (iodine-based) services. Research suggests that higher procedure volume is often associated with better outcomes, particularly for complex procedures. Note that Medicare data only captures patients aged 65 and older, so the total practice volume across all patients is likely higher.
Does Dr. Desai receive payments from pharmaceutical companies?
Yes. Dr. Desai received a total of $6,365 from 37 companies across 320 individual payments. These payments are legal, publicly disclosed under the federal Sunshine Act, and common among physicians — 57% of all U.S. physicians receive at least one industry payment. Patients may wish to ask their doctor about these relationships, especially if a recommended drug or device appears in the payment records.
How do Dr. Desai's costs compare to other cardiologists in Bakersfield?
Dr. Desai's average Medicare payment per service is $73. Note that these figures represent what Medicare pays, not your out-of-pocket cost, which depends on your specific insurance plan and deductible. Procedure-level data above shows both what was submitted and what Medicare paid for each service type.
What does Data Coverage mean?
Data Coverage (currently Very High for Dr. Desai) measures how much public federal data is available about a provider. It is not a quality rating. A "Very High" or "High" level means the provider has data across multiple federal sources (NPPES, PECOS, Medicare Utilization, Open Payments), indicating a long track record of practice, Medicare participation, and industry disclosure. A "Low" or "Moderate" level may simply mean the provider is newer, does not see Medicare patients, or has not received any industry payments — none of which are inherently negative. Read our full methodology →
Is this data up to date?
Each data source has its own update cycle. Provider registry data (NPPES) is updated weekly. Medicare enrollment (PECOS) is updated monthly. Medicare practice data has a ~2 year lag — the most recent available is typically 2 years prior. Industry payment data (Open Payments) is published annually, usually in June, covering the prior calendar year. We display the data date prominently on each section so you always know how current it is. See our data freshness policy →
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About this page
All data on this page is sourced verbatim from public federal records published by the U.S. Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS): NPPES ↗, Open Payments ↗, Medicare Provider Utilization ↗, and PECOS. Publication is mandated by the Physician Payments Sunshine Act (§6002 ACA, 42 U.S.C. §1320a-7h) and the Freedom of Information Act.
This page is not medical advice, an endorsement, a recommendation, or a quality rating. Data Coverage reflects data completeness — how much federal information exists for this provider — not clinical performance, patient outcomes, or quality of care. Always verify information directly with the provider and consult a licensed clinician before making medical decisions.
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