Medicare Enrolled
Dr. Sanjiv Sharma, MD
Cardiovascular Disease · Bakersfield, CA
Practice pattern: Mixed Practice
— Diverse clinical practice across multiple procedure types
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. Sharma 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. Sharma
Dr. Sanjiv Sharma is a cardiovascular disease specialist in Bakersfield, CA, with 18 years of NPI registration. Based on federal Medicare data, Dr. Sharma performed 21,860 Medicare services across 3,983 unique beneficiaries.
Between the years covered by Open Payments, Dr. Sharma received a total of $7,385 from 43 pharmaceutical and/or device companies across 216 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. Sharma 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 1% volume in CA
$7,385 industry payments
Medicare Practice Summary
Medicare Utilization ↗21,860
Medicare services
Top 1% in CA for cardiovascular disease
3,983
Unique beneficiaries
$43
Avg. Medicare payment
Medicare patients only (65+ / disabled) · How to read this →
~1,214 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. |
16,151 | $0 | $5 |
| Regadenoson injection (Lexiscan) for heart stress test An injection of regadenoson, a medication used to stress the heart during diagnostic testing. |
1,096 | $44 | $150 |
| 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. |
791 | $97 | $226 |
| Rubidium rb-82, diagnostic, per study dose, up to 60 millicuries | 546 | $407 | $1,000 |
| 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. |
399 | $65 | $154 |
| 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. |
294 | $130 | $303 |
| 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. |
279 | $59 | $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. |
272 | $1,216 | $4,000 |
| Echocardiogram, transthoracic An ultrasound of the heart that uses color to show blood flow, rate, direction, and valve function. |
244 | $157 | $451 |
| Routine 12-lead electrocardiogram (ECG) A test that records the electrical activity of the heart using at least 12 leads to produce a tracing. |
206 | $5 | $40 |
| 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. |
159 | $91 | $200 |
| 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. |
155 | $1 | $40 |
| Telephone medical discussion, 11-20 minutes A phone conversation with a physician lasting between 11 and 20 minutes. |
104 | $64 | $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. |
101 | $112 | $350 |
| 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. |
96 | $11 | $36 |
| 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. |
73 | $239 | $915 |
| New patient office visit, complex (60-74 min) | 73 | $143 | $431 |
| Cardiac catheterization | 71 | $211 | $609 |
| CT scan of heart for calcium evaluation A CT scan of the heart used to evaluate calcium levels in the blood vessels. |
66 | $79 | $223 |
| Coronary angiography A procedure to insert a tube into a coronary artery to capture diagnostic images of the heart's blood vessels. |
57 | $155 | $493 |
| Radiologist review of arm or leg artery image A radiologist reviews images of the arteries in the arm or leg. This process involves analyzing the visual data to assess the blood vessels. |
55 | $65 | $363 |
| Continuous external EKG monitoring, 8-15 days This procedure involves recording heart rhythm continuously using an external EKG device over a period of 8 to 15 days. |
48 | $9 | $200 |
| External EKG monitoring, 8-15 days Continuous external electrocardiogram recording and review over a period of 8 to 15 days to monitor heart rhythm. |
48 | $18 | $200 |
| 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. |
45 | $152 | $439 |
| Continuous ECG monitoring, up to 30 days Continuous heart rhythm monitoring for up to 30 days, including professional review and reporting of the results. |
40 | $19 | $54 |
| 2-day continuous ECG with review and report A two-day continuous electrocardiogram recording that includes a professional review and written report of the results. |
39 | $56 | $197 |
| Electrocardiogram, 1 to 3 leads A test that records the electrical activity of the heart using one to three electrodes placed on the body. |
37 | $5 | $13 |
| 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. |
35 | $122 | $343 |
| 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. |
29 | $9 | $100 |
| Continuous EKG monitoring review, 48-7 days Review and interpretation of continuous external EKG recordings lasting more than 48 hours up to 7 days. |
29 | $18 | $100 |
| CT scan of neck blood vessels with contrast A computed tomography scan that uses dye to visualize the blood vessels in the neck. This imaging test helps examine the structure and flow within the neck's vascular system. |
27 | $190 | $617 |
| Coronary stent placement A procedure to insert a stent into a coronary artery or its branch to keep it open, using balloon dilation during the process. |
24 | $435 | $1,204 |
| CT scan of abdominal aorta and leg arteries with contrast A CT scan that uses contrast dye to create detailed images of the abdominal aorta and the arteries in both legs. |
21 | $243 | $950 |
| Blood creatinine level test A blood test that measures the amount of creatinine, a waste product from muscle wear and tear, to help assess kidney function. |
21 | $5 | $15 |
| Telephone medical discussion, 5-10 minutes A phone conversation with a physician lasting between 5 and 10 minutes to discuss medical matters. |
21 | $43 | $100 |
| Office visit, established patient (10-19 min) An office visit for an existing patient lasting 10 to 19 minutes. The visit involves medical evaluation and management of the patient's condition. |
18 | $40 | $93 |
| 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. |
15 | $206 | $646 |
| CT scan of head blood vessels with contrast A CT scan that uses contrast dye to create detailed images of the blood vessels in the head. |
14 | $209 | $608 |
| MRI scan of brain, without contrast A magnetic resonance imaging test of the brain that does not use contrast dye. This procedure creates detailed images of the brain's structure using magnetic fields and radio waves. |
14 | $152 | $498 |
| Normal saline infusion, 250 cc Administration of 250 cubic centimeters of normal saline solution into a vein. This procedure involves the intravenous delivery of a sterile saltwater fluid. |
13 | $1 | $40 |
| CT scan of head/brain, without contrast A CT scan uses X-rays to create detailed images of the head or brain without the use of contrast dye. |
12 | $79 | $249 |
| CT scan of neck soft tissue with contrast A CT scan that uses contrast dye to create detailed images of the soft tissues in the neck, performed both before and after the dye is administered. |
11 | $195 | $527 |
| MRI of abdominal blood vessels An MRI scan that creates detailed images of the blood vessels in the abdomen. |
11 | $243 | $872 |
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.
2.3% high complexity
83.3% medium
14.4% routine
Industry Payment Transparency
Open Payments through 2024 ↗$7,385
Total received (2018-2024)
Avg $1,055/year across 7 years
Top 33% in CA for cardiovascular disease
A higher payment rank reflects disclosed industry relationships (consulting, research, speaking) common among subspecialists — not wrongdoing.
43
Companies
216
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
$5,827 (78.9%)
Consulting
Expert advisory fees, typically reflecting recognized clinical expertise
$1,544 (20.9%)
Speaking / Promotional
Speaker programs, honoraria, and industry-sponsored educational events
$14 (0.2%)
Payment trend by year
Annual totals from pharmaceutical and medical device companies.
2024
$559
2023
$476
2022
$538
2021
$1,366
2020
$369
2019
$1,496
2018
$2,581
Payments by company (2024)
Consulting
Speaking
Meals & Travel
Research
Penumbra, Inc.
$228
Amgen Inc.
$67
PFIZER INC.
$66
Medtronic, Inc.
$66
SCPHARMACEUTICALS INC.
$48
Merck Sharp & Dohme LLC
$43
Lexicon Pharmaceuticals, Inc.
$24
Kiniksa Pharmaceuticals International, plc
$17
Top 3 companies account for 64.5% of 2024 payments
All-time payments by company (2018-2024) ›
Endologix, Inc.
$1,544
CSL Behring
$988
Amgen Inc.
$832
Abbott Laboratories
$644
ABIOMED
$483
Merck Sharp & Dohme LLC
$307
Penumbra, Inc.
$228
CVRx, Inc.
$177
PFIZER INC.
$176
Amarin Pharma Inc.
$153
Boehringer Ingelheim Pharmaceuticals, Inc.
$152
Maquet Cardiovascular U.S. Sales, L.L.C.
$150
Novartis Pharmaceuticals Corporation
$148
Boston Scientific Corporation
$125
Medtronic Vascular, Inc.
$124
ZOLL Services LLC (A/K/A ZOLL LifeCor Corp)
$119
Regeneron Healthcare Solutions, Inc.
$105
Gilead Sciences, Inc.
$101
iRhythm Technologies, Inc.
$78
Kiniksa Pharmaceuticals, Ltd.
$77
Merck Sharp & Dohme Corporation
$67
Medtronic, Inc.
$66
Alnylam Pharmaceuticals Inc.
$61
SANOFI-AVENTIS U.S. LLC
$51
SCPHARMACEUTICALS INC.
$48
AstraZeneca Pharmaceuticals LP
$44
CathWorks, Inc.
$36
Akcea Therapeutics, Inc.
$35
Kowa Pharmaceuticals America, Inc.
$34
Lexicon Pharmaceuticals, Inc.
$24
CARDIVA MEDICAL, INC.
$22
DAVOL INC.
$20
Cook Medical LLC
$20
Daiichi Sankyo Inc.
$18
Arrow International, Inc.
$17
Kiniksa Pharmaceuticals International, plc
$17
BOSTON SCIENTIFIC CORPORATION
$16
E.R. Squibb & Sons, L.L.C.
$15
AtriCure, Inc.
$14
Lupin Inc.
$13
NOVARTIS PHARMACEUTICALS CORPORATION
$13
Bayer HealthCare Pharmaceuticals Inc.
$13
ARBOR PHARMACEUTICALS, INC.
$12
Top 3 companies account for 45.5% of all-time payments
Associated products mentioned in payments ›
AFX · ARISTA AH · Arcalyst · Assurity Pacemaker · AtriCure Synergy Ablation System · Barostim Neo System · CAMZYOS · CHANTIX · CardioMEMS HF System · Catheter - Specialty Access · Confirm Rx · CoreValve Evolut · Corlanor · ELIQUIS · ENTRESTO · EP Recording Systems · Edarbyclor · Ellipse ICD · FARXIGA · FFRangio System · FUROSCIX · Fortify Assura · GALLANT · HawkOne · Hizentra · ICDs · IN.PACT ADMIRAL · INJECTAFER · Impella · Indigo System · JANUVIA · JARDIANCE · Kerendia · LEQVIO · LifeVest · Livalo · MitraClip System · ONPATTRO · Ovation · PERFORMER · PRADAXA · PRALUENT · PRALUENT ALIROCUMAB INJECTION · Quadra Assura CRT Defibrillator · ROTABLATOR · RUBY Coil · Repatha · SOLOSEC-CEEK · SYNERGY · Supera peripheral stent system · TEGSEDI · TURBOHAWK · Unify Assura CRT Defibrillator · VERQUVO · VYNDAQEL · Vascepa · Vascular Closure Device · WATCHMAN · XIENCE SKYPOINT · Xience V coronary stent system · ZIO Patch · ZIO XT Patch · 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 (79%) 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. Sharma is a mixed practice specialist, with above-average Medicare volume (top 1% 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. Sharma experienced with contrast dye for imaging (iodine-based)?
Based on Medicare claims data, Dr. Sharma performed 16,151 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. Sharma receive payments from pharmaceutical companies?
Yes. Dr. Sharma received a total of $7,385 from 43 companies across 216 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. Sharma's costs compare to other cardiologists in Bakersfield?
Dr. Sharma's average Medicare payment per service is $43. 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. Sharma) 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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