Dr. Russell Paul, MD
What this data tells you about Dr. Paul
Dr. Russell Paul is a vascular & interventional radiology physician in Bakersfield, CA, with 20 years of NPI registration. Based on federal Medicare data, Dr. Paul performed 320 Medicare services across 301 unique beneficiaries.
Between the years covered by Open Payments, Dr. Paul received a total of $3,615 from 17 pharmaceutical and/or device companies across 94 individual payments. These payments are legal, publicly disclosed under the federal Sunshine Act, and common in vascular & interventional radiology physician. 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. Paul 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.
Medicare Practice Summary
Medicare Utilization ↗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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Chest fluid aspiration with imaging guidance This procedure involves removing fluid from the chest cavity using imaging technology to guide the needle placement. |
57 | $86 | $280 |
| Radiologist review of CT-guided needle placement A radiologist reviews the CT imaging used to guide the placement of a needle. |
30 | $57 | $219 |
| Abdominal fluid drainage with imaging guidance Removal of fluid from the abdominal cavity using imaging technology to guide the procedure. |
22 | $84 | $271 |
| Insertion of tunneled central venous catheter for infusion, age 5+ A surgical procedure to place a long-term catheter into a large vein for delivering medications or fluids. The catheter is tunneled under the skin to reduce infection risk and provide stable access for patients aged 5 and older. |
20 | $209 | $660 |
| Core needle biopsy of lung or mediastinum A procedure to remove a small tissue sample from the lung or the space between the lungs using a needle inserted through the skin. |
19 | $116 | $389 |
| Fluoroscopic guidance for central vein access device Use of live X-ray imaging to guide the placement or removal of a central vein access device. |
18 | $14 | $56 |
| Bone marrow biopsy and aspiration A procedure to remove a small sample of bone marrow and liquid for laboratory testing. The sample is analyzed to help diagnose various medical conditions. |
17 | $61 | $196 |
| Ultrasound guidance for blood vessel access Use of ultrasound imaging to help locate and access a blood vessel. This guidance assists healthcare providers in performing procedures such as inserting IV lines or drawing blood. |
17 | $11 | $42 |
| Central venous port insertion A surgical procedure to place a small reservoir under the skin for long-term access to the bloodstream. The device is connected to a vein to allow for repeated medication administration or blood draws. |
15 | $255 | $846 |
| Injection into lower spine canal with imaging guidance A procedure where a substance is injected into the lower part of the spinal canal. The injection is performed using imaging guidance to ensure accurate placement. |
15 | $80 | $255 |
| Joint injection, major joint Removal of fluid from a large joint and/or injection of medication into the joint space. |
14 | $29 | $129 |
| Removal of central venous port or pump A procedure to remove a central venous access device, such as a port or pump, from the body. |
14 | $124 | $322 |
| Fluoroscopic guidance for needle placement Use of real-time X-ray imaging to guide the precise placement of a needle during a medical procedure. |
14 | $20 | $84 |
| Replacement of tunneled central venous tube This procedure involves replacing an existing tunneled central venous catheter with a new one. The new tube is inserted through the same tunnel under the skin to maintain vascular access. |
13 | $136 | $467 |
| Vena cava filter insertion with radiologist review A procedure to place a filter in the vena cava to prevent blood clots from traveling to the lungs, including review by a radiologist. |
13 | $154 | $553 |
| Insertion of non-tunneled central venous catheter A procedure to place a central venous catheter for infusion in patients aged 5 years or older. The catheter is inserted directly into a large vein without being tunneled under the skin. |
11 | $67 | $213 |
| Lumbar puncture with imaging guidance A procedure to remove spinal fluid from the lower back for diagnostic testing, performed using imaging guidance. |
11 | $70 | $222 |
Industry Payment Transparency
Open Payments through 2024 ↗Payment profile
Industry payments classified by relationship type. Not all payments are equal — research and consulting reflect different relationships than speaking programs or meals.
Payment trend by year
Annual totals from pharmaceutical and medical device companies.
Payments by company (2024)
All-time payments by company (2018-2024) ›
Associated products mentioned in payments ›
Most payments (100%) are for meals and travel — low-value interactions that are common across virtually all practicing physicians.
Geographic Context
14.3 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. Paul is a mixed practice specialist, with moderate Medicare volume, with low-engagement industry engagement, with 20 years of NPI registration.
This summary is auto-generated from federal data, describing data availability and patterns. Read our methodology →
Frequently Asked Questions
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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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