Medicare Enrolled
Dr. Syed Alam, M.D.
Pulmonary 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. Alam 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. Alam
Dr. Syed Alam is a pulmonary disease specialist in Bakersfield, CA, with 19 years of NPI registration. Based on federal Medicare data, Dr. Alam performed 9,227 Medicare services across 4,206 unique beneficiaries.
Between the years covered by Open Payments, Dr. Alam received a total of $14,720 from 71 pharmaceutical and/or device companies across 810 individual payments. These payments are legal, publicly disclosed under the federal Sunshine Act, and common in pulmonary 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. Alam 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.
✓ 19 years in practice
▲ Top 1% volume in CA
$14,720 industry payments
Medicare Practice Summary
Medicare Utilization ↗9,227
Medicare services
Top 1% in CA for pulmonary disease
4,206
Unique beneficiaries
$43
Avg. Medicare payment
Medicare patients only (65+ / disabled) · How to read this →
~486 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 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. |
1,683 | $66 | $125 |
| Steroid injection (triamcinolone) A 10 mg injection of triamcinolone acetonide, a corticosteroid medication. This code specifies the drug and dosage administered. |
989 | $1 | $34 |
| Remote patient monitoring device, 30 days Initial setup of devices for remote monitoring of body functions with daily data transmission or alerts. This service covers the first 30 days of the monitoring period. |
924 | $42 | $100 |
| Chronic care management, first 20 min/month This service covers the first 20 minutes of clinical staff time directed by a healthcare professional each calendar month to manage chronic conditions. |
799 | $51 | $100 |
| Remote patient monitoring management, 20 min/month Management based on results from remote vital sign monitoring for the first 20 minutes per calendar month. |
690 | $40 | $81 |
| Spirometry test before and after medication A test that measures the amount of air you can exhale and the speed of your breathing before and after taking a medication. |
484 | $30 | $250 |
| Lung volume test using sensors A test that measures the amount of air in the lungs using sensors. |
482 | $44 | $175 |
| Pulmonary gas exchange test A test to examine how well the lungs exchange gases. |
482 | $45 | $175 |
| Ketorolac injection, per 15 mg An injection of ketorolac tromethamine, a nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug, administered in doses measured per 15 mg. |
444 | $0 | $14 |
| Critical care, first 30-74 min Emergency medical care for a critically ill or injured patient lasting between 30 and 74 minutes. This service involves direct patient care and medical decision making to stabilize the patient. |
346 | $170 | $489 |
| Drug injection, under skin or into muscle A procedure involving the administration of a medication or substance via injection into the subcutaneous tissue or muscle. |
320 | $11 | $39 |
| Remote vital sign monitoring management, each additional 20 minutes This code covers the time spent by a provider managing patient data from remote vital sign monitoring devices. It applies to each additional 20-minute increment beyond the initial monthly service period. |
319 | $32 | $66 |
| Ceftriaxone antibiotic injection This code represents the administration of ceftriaxone sodium, an antibiotic medication. The charge is calculated for every 250 mg of the drug administered. |
280 | $0 | $28 |
| Remote physiologic monitoring setup and education Initial setup of remote monitoring equipment and patient education on its use. |
220 | $16 | $30 |
| Chronic care management, additional 20 min/month This service covers an extra 20 minutes of clinical staff time directed by a healthcare professional for managing two or more chronic conditions each calendar month. |
146 | $39 | $80 |
| New patient office visit (30-44 min) An initial office visit for a new patient lasting between 30 and 44 minutes. This code is used when the total time spent on the date of the encounter falls within this range. |
125 | $87 | $250 |
| Vitamin B-12 injection An injection of vitamin B-12 (cyanocobalamin) with a dose of up to 1000 mcg. |
75 | $1 | $5 |
| Office visit for established patient An office visit for an existing patient that may not require the healthcare professional to be present. |
73 | $18 | $50 |
| 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. |
67 | $37 | $300 |
| 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. |
57 | $140 | $375 |
| Exercise-induced lung stress test A test performed to evaluate how the lungs function during physical exertion. It helps identify breathing difficulties or lung conditions that occur specifically when exercising. |
47 | $27 | $150 |
| Bronchial irrigation and suction for cell collection This procedure uses an endoscope to flush and suction the lung airways in order to collect cells for testing. |
32 | $23 | $500 |
| Bronchoscopy A procedure to examine the airways inside the lungs using a thin, flexible tube with a camera. |
31 | $17 | $355 |
| Lung airway biopsy using endoscope A procedure to remove a small tissue sample from the lung airways using a flexible tube with a camera. The sample is examined to check for disease or abnormalities. |
25 | $123 | $600 |
| Chest X-ray, 2 views An X-ray imaging test of the chest that captures two different angles to visualize the lungs, heart, and chest wall. |
22 | $14 | $60 |
| Hospital discharge day management, 30 minutes or less This service covers the final day of hospital care when the patient is being discharged. It includes coordination of care and instructions for the patient within a time frame of 30 minutes or less. |
22 | $65 | $126 |
| Initial hospital admission, high complexity Initial hospital inpatient or observation care for a new patient involving high-level medical decision making, with at least 75 minutes total time on the date of the encounter. |
16 | $140 | $346 |
| Multiplex respiratory virus test (COVID-19, flu, RSV) A laboratory test that uses a multiplex amplified probe technique to detect severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), influenza virus types A and B, and respiratory syncytial virus (RSV). |
14 | $140 | $175 |
| Paranasal sinus X-ray, minimum 3 views An X-ray imaging test of the paranasal sinuses using at least three different views to visualize the sinus cavities. |
13 | $10 | $80 |
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.
Industry Payment Transparency
Open Payments through 2024 ↗$14,720
Total received (2018-2024)
Avg $2,103/year across 7 years
Top 12% in CA for pulmonary disease
A higher payment rank reflects disclosed industry relationships (consulting, research, speaking) common among subspecialists — not wrongdoing.
71
Companies
810
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
$14,025 (95.3%)
Speaking / Promotional
Speaker programs, honoraria, and industry-sponsored educational events
$696 (4.7%)
Payment trend by year
Annual totals from pharmaceutical and medical device companies.
2024
$1,794
2023
$1,610
2022
$1,656
2021
$1,894
2020
$2,056
2019
$2,790
2018
$2,921
Payments by company (2024)
Consulting
Speaking
Meals & Travel
Research
GlaxoSmithKline, LLC.
$462
AstraZeneca Pharmaceuticals LP
$361
Boehringer Ingelheim Pharmaceuticals, Inc.
$142
Novo Nordisk Inc
$92
Grifols USA, LLC
$86
Actelion Pharmaceuticals US, Inc.
$78
Baxter Healthcare
$74
PFIZER INC.
$67
Astellas Pharma US Inc
$58
Merck Sharp & Dohme LLC
$57
Electromed, Inc.
$56
Vifor Pharma, Inc.
$35
Inari Medical, Inc.
$33
Amgen Inc.
$31
Regeneron Healthcare Solutions, Inc.
$27
ABIOMED
$25
Inspire Medical Systems, Inc.
$22
Optinose US, Inc.
$20
Phadia US Inc.
$18
United Therapeutics Corporation
$17
Mylan Specialty L.P.
$17
Philips North America LLC
$16
Top 3 companies account for 53.8% of 2024 payments
All-time payments by company (2018-2024) ›
GlaxoSmithKline, LLC.
$3,304
AstraZeneca Pharmaceuticals LP
$2,236
Boehringer Ingelheim Pharmaceuticals, Inc.
$1,132
Actelion Pharmaceuticals US, Inc.
$898
Philips Electronics North America Corporation
$528
Novo Nordisk Inc
$441
Astellas Pharma US Inc
$417
Grifols USA, LLC
$398
Takeda Pharmaceuticals U.S.A., Inc.
$281
Janssen Pharmaceuticals, Inc
$278
United Therapeutics Corporation
$271
CSL Behring
$263
Novartis Pharmaceuticals Corporation
$249
Daiichi Sankyo Inc.
$247
Sunovion Pharmaceuticals Inc.
$235
PFIZER INC.
$235
Bayer HealthCare Pharmaceuticals Inc.
$175
Insmed, Inc.
$170
Allergan Inc.
$156
Mylan Specialty L.P.
$148
Pulmonx Corporation
$144
Kowa Pharmaceuticals America, Inc.
$141
Regeneron Healthcare Solutions, Inc.
$138
ADVANCED RESPIRATORY, INC
$137
Electromed, Inc.
$122
Otsuka America Pharmaceutical, Inc.
$119
Merck Sharp & Dohme LLC
$109
Baxter Healthcare
$103
Resmed Corp
$93
MAYNE PHARMA INC.
$90
Avanir Pharmaceuticals, Inc.
$80
GENZYME CORPORATION
$75
Amgen Inc.
$71
Merck Sharp & Dohme Corporation
$71
Ironwood Pharmaceuticals, Inc
$63
MITSUBISHI TANABE PHARMA AMERICA, INC.
$63
Teva Pharmaceuticals USA, Inc.
$59
SANOFI-AVENTIS U.S. LLC
$56
IRONWOOD PHARMACEUTICALS, INC
$53
Phadia US Inc.
$51
Boston Scientific Corporation
$49
Circassia Pharmaceuticals Inc
$46
Advanced Respiratory, Inc
$45
ABBVIE INC.
$44
Exact Sciences Corporation
$44
Covidien LP
$43
Lilly USA, LLC
$40
Arbor Pharmaceuticals, Inc.
$36
Bayer Healthcare Pharmaceuticals Inc.
$36
Vifor Pharma, Inc.
$35
Inari Medical, Inc.
$33
ARBOR PHARMACEUTICALS, INC.
$27
Allergan, Inc.
$27
ABIOMED
$25
Egalet US Inc
$25
Harmony Biosciences LLC
$23
Horizon Therapeutics plc
$23
Inspire Medical Systems, Inc.
$22
Pinnacle Biologics, Inc
$20
Optinose US, Inc.
$20
Genentech USA, Inc.
$18
Veran Medical Technologies, Inc.
$16
Philips North America LLC
$16
Shire North American Group Inc
$16
Medtronic, Inc.
$15
AbbVie Inc.
$14
Amylyx Pharmaceuticals, Inc.
$14
Axsome Therapeutics, Inc.
$14
Gilead Sciences, Inc.
$13
Zyla Life Sciences
$12
Ceribell, Inc.
$11
Top 3 companies account for 45.3% of all-time payments
Associated products mentioned in payments ›
(7999) SRC Und · (8874) inCourage · ABILIFY MAINTENA · AIRSUPRA · AJOVY · ANORO · ANORO ELLIPTA · AREXVY · AVYCAZ · Adempas · Aimovig · Amitiza · Arikayce · Astral · Auvelity · BELSOMRA · BEVESPI AEROSPHERE · BREO · BREZTRI · BREZTRI AEROSPHERE · BROVANA · BYSTOLIC · CHANTIX · CHARTIS CATHETER · CREON · CRESEMBA · Ceribell Rapid Response EEG · Cologuard Collection Kit · Cresemba · DORYX · DUPIXENT · DUZALLO · ELIQUIS · Edarbi · FARXIGA · FASENRA · FLOWTRIEVER CATHETER · GLASSIA · Hillrom - Life 2000 Ventilation System · Hillrom - Monarch Airway Clearance System · Horizant · ILLUMISITE · INJECTAFER · INSPIRE · INVOKANA · ImmunoCAP · Impella · JANUVIA · JARDIANCE · JYNARQUE · LEQVIO · LINZESS · LONHALA MAGNAIR · Life 2000 Ventilation System · Linzess · Livalo · MOTEGRITY · MOVANTIK · Motegrity · NAMZARIC · NUCALA · NUEDEXTA · OFEV · OPSUMIT · OPSUMIT MACITENTAN · ORENITRAM · Ozempic · PENNSAID · Perforomist · Photofrin · Prolastin-C · Prolastin-C Liquid · Pulmonx Endobronchial Valve EBV · QVAR · RADICAVA · RELYVRIO · REMODULIN · REXULTI · Respiratoriy Care Undiv · Rybelsus · S · S&RC Und · SAMSCA · SMARTVEST · SOLIQUA 100/33 · SPIRIVA · SPIRIVA RESPIMAT · SPRIX · STIOLTO · STIOLTO RESPIMAT · SYMBICORT · Spin · SuperDimension · TEFLARO · TEZSPIRE · TOUJEO · TRADJENTA · TRELEGY ELLIPTA · TRULICITY · TUDORZA PRESSAIR · TYVASO · The Vest System Model 105 Home Care · Tresiba · Trilogy 100 · Trintellix · UBRELVY · UPTRAVI · VIBERZI · VRAYLAR · Veltassa · Vyvanse · WATCHMAN · WINREVAIR · Wakix · Wellcentive Undiv · XARELTO · XOLAIR · Xhance · Xolair · YUPELRI · Yupelri · ZERBAXA · Zemaira · inCourage
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 (95%) are for meals and travel — low-value interactions that are common across virtually all practicing physicians.
Geographic Context
Pulmonary diseases within 10 mi
9
Per 100K population
1.0
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. Alam is a clinical cardiology specialist, with above-average Medicare volume (top 1% in CA), with low-engagement industry engagement in the top 12% of CA peers, with 19 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. Alam experienced with office visit, established patient (20-29 min)?
Based on Medicare claims data, Dr. Alam performed 1,683 office visit, established patient (20-29 min) 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. Alam receive payments from pharmaceutical companies?
Yes. Dr. Alam received a total of $14,720 from 71 companies across 810 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. Alam's costs compare to other pulmonary diseases in Bakersfield?
Dr. Alam'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. Alam) 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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