Medicare Enrolled
Dr. Phillip Lim, D.O., MPH
Pain Medicine · Buena Park, CA
Practice pattern: Clinical Cardiology
— Primarily office-based clinical cardiology
Speaking/Promotional
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. Lim 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. Lim
Dr. Phillip Lim is a pain medicine specialist in Buena Park, CA, with 18 years of NPI registration. Based on federal Medicare data, Dr. Lim performed 8,422 Medicare services across 1,625 unique beneficiaries.
Between the years covered by Open Payments, Dr. Lim received a total of $154,018 from 56 pharmaceutical and/or device companies across 899 individual payments. These payments are legal, publicly disclosed under the federal Sunshine Act, and common in pain medicine. The majority of payments are for speaking programs and promotional activities, reflecting participation in industry-sponsored events. Patients may wish to discuss these relationships with their provider.
The Data Coverage level for Dr. Lim 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 4% volume in CA
$154,018 industry payments
Medicare Practice Summary
Medicare Utilization ↗8,422
Medicare services
Top 4% in CA for pain medicine
1,625
Unique beneficiaries
$34
Avg. Medicare payment
Medicare patients only (65+ / disabled) · How to read this →
~468 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Joint lubricant injection (GenVisc) An injection of hyaluronan or its derivative into a joint space to provide lubrication and cushioning. |
2,875 | $7 | $34 |
| 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. |
1,923 | $72 | $203 |
| Dexamethasone injection (steroid) An injection of dexamethasone sodium phosphate, a corticosteroid medication, administered in a dose of 1 milligram. |
1,290 | $0 | $1 |
| Steroid injection (triamcinolone) A 10 mg injection of triamcinolone acetonide, a corticosteroid medication. This code specifies the drug and dosage administered. |
974 | $1 | $4 |
| 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. |
253 | $123 | $370 |
| Ultrasound-guided large joint aspiration or injection This procedure uses ultrasound imaging to guide the removal of fluid from or the injection of medication into a large joint. |
248 | $85 | $229 |
| Ketorolac injection, per 15 mg An injection of ketorolac tromethamine, a nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug, administered in doses measured per 15 mg. |
152 | $0 | $2 |
| Ultrasound guidance for needle placement Use of ultrasound imaging to guide the precise placement of a needle during a medical procedure. |
121 | $51 | $131 |
| 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. |
99 | $10 | $32 |
| 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. |
94 | $228 | $623 |
| Spinal drug pump reprogramming and refill A physician electronically adjusts the settings of a spinal drug infusion pump and refills its medication reservoir. |
57 | $76 | $227 |
| Trigger point injection, 3 or more muscles Injection of medication into three or more specific muscle trigger points to relieve pain. |
53 | $52 | $140 |
| Compounded drug, not otherwise classified A medication prepared specifically for an individual patient by a pharmacist or physician, tailored to meet unique needs that cannot be fulfilled by commercially available products. |
35 | $51 | $240 |
| Sacral spine nerve root injection with imaging guidance An injection of anesthetic and/or steroid medication into a sacral spine nerve root. The procedure uses imaging guidance to ensure accurate placement. |
30 | $111 | $830 |
| Spine facet joint injection with imaging guidance, single level An injection is administered into a single facet joint of the lower or sacral spine while using imaging guidance to ensure accurate placement. |
25 | $234 | $793 |
| Facet joint injection, second level, with imaging guidance An injection into a lower or sacral spine facet joint using imaging guidance for the second level treated. |
25 | $118 | $385 |
| Spinal injection with imaging guidance A procedure where medication is injected into the middle or upper part of the spinal canal. Imaging technology is used to guide the needle to the correct location. |
22 | $222 | $630 |
| Assessment of emotional or behavioral problems An evaluation to identify and understand emotional or behavioral issues. This process involves reviewing symptoms and behaviors to determine the nature of the concerns. |
22 | $4 | $11 |
| Facet joint nerve destruction, single joint A procedure to destroy nerves in a single lower or sacral spinal facet joint using imaging guidance to target pain signals. |
21 | $216 | $1,670 |
| Facet joint nerve destruction, additional joint This procedure uses imaging guidance to destroy nerves in an additional lower or sacral spinal facet joint. |
21 | $64 | $547 |
| Minimally invasive spine decompression, lower spine A minimally invasive procedure to remove bone from the lower spine to relieve pressure on nerve tissue, guided by imaging and accessed through the skin. |
18 | $474 | $9,520 |
| Injection of anesthetic or steroid into sacroiliac joint with imaging guidance This procedure involves injecting an anesthetic or steroid medication into the joint connecting the lower spine and hip bone. Imaging guidance is used to ensure accurate placement of the injection. |
18 | $177 | $617 |
| Additional sacral spine nerve root injection with imaging An injection of anesthetic and/or steroid medication into an additional sacral spine nerve root level, guided by imaging. |
17 | $43 | $258 |
| 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. |
16 | $110 | $287 |
| Knee nerve block injection with imaging guidance An injection of anesthetic and/or steroid medication into a nerve branch of the knee, performed using imaging guidance to ensure accurate placement. |
13 | $201 | $520 |
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 ↗$154,018
Total received (2018-2024)
Avg $22,003/year across 7 years
Top 2% in CA for pain medicine
A higher payment rank reflects disclosed industry relationships (consulting, research, speaking) common among subspecialists — not wrongdoing.
56
Companies
899
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.
Speaking / Promotional
Speaker programs, honoraria, and industry-sponsored educational events
$126,380 (82.1%)
Meals & Travel
Food, beverages, travel, and lodging — typically low-value
$24,204 (15.7%)
Consulting
Expert advisory fees, typically reflecting recognized clinical expertise
$3,434 (2.2%)
Payment trend by year
Annual totals from pharmaceutical and medical device companies.
2024
$6,592
2023
$6,014
2022
$23,837
2021
$27,643
2020
$23,278
2019
$30,341
2018
$36,313
Payments by company (2024)
Consulting
Speaking
Meals & Travel
Research
Medtronic, Inc.
$2,509
Stryker Corporation
$2,000
Boston Scientific Corporation
$727
Vertos Medical, Inc.
$184
Amgen Inc.
$169
Saluda Medical Americas, Inc.
$146
PFIZER INC.
$144
BIOTRONIK NRO, Inc.
$134
Curonix LLC
$131
Saxum Surgical, Inc.
$127
PAINTEQ LLC
$117
Spinal Simplicity, LLC
$97
SI-BONE, INC.
$64
Nevro Corp.
$22
AstraZeneca Pharmaceuticals LP
$21
Top 3 companies account for 79.4% of 2024 payments
All-time payments by company (2018-2024) ›
Medtronic USA, Inc.
$51,954
Medtronic, Inc.
$40,204
PFIZER INC.
$21,660
Boston Scientific Corporation
$10,659
BOSTON SCIENTIFIC CORPORATION
$9,263
Stryker Corporation
$3,225
Abbott Laboratories
$2,439
Nevro Corp.
$1,860
Saluda Medical Americas, Inc.
$1,633
Spinal Simplicity, LLC
$1,551
Biohaven Pharmaceuticals, Inc.
$1,434
Vertos Medical, Inc.
$1,414
Vertiflex, Inc.
$790
Relievant Medsystems, Inc.
$674
PAINTEQ LLC
$372
Radius Health, Inc.
$340
Biohaven Pharmaceutical Holding Company Ltd.
$289
Lilly USA, LLC
$282
SurGenTec
$279
Arthrex, Inc.
$256
Flowonix Medical Incorporated
$252
Foundation Fusion Solutions, LLC
$242
Choice Spine, LLC
$231
BioDelivery Sciences International, Inc.
$226
Curonix LLC
$221
Stimwave Technologies Incorporated
$195
Amgen Inc.
$195
Nalu Medical, Inc.
$186
Daiichi Sankyo Inc.
$175
Captiva Spine Inc
$161
BIOTRONIK NRO, Inc.
$134
Saxum Surgical, Inc.
$127
TerSera Therapeutics LLC
$107
Takeda Pharmaceuticals U.S.A., Inc.
$99
DePuy Synthes Sales Inc.
$90
Forte Bio-Pharma LLC
$82
AstraZeneca Pharmaceuticals LP
$80
Nuvectra Corporation
$71
SI-BONE, INC.
$64
Teva Pharmaceuticals USA, Inc.
$59
BIODELIVERY SCIENCES INTERNATIONAL, INC.
$48
Allergan, Inc.
$42
Collegium Pharmaceutical, Inc.
$39
Scilex Pharmaceuticals Inc.
$38
GRT US Holding, Inc.
$38
OrthoScan, Inc.
$37
Jazz Pharmaceuticals Inc.
$32
Pacira Therapeutics, Inc.
$26
SPR Therapeutics, Inc
$26
BioTissue Holdings, Inc.
$20
IBSA Pharma Inc.
$19
FORTE BIO-PHARMA LLC
$19
Avanos Medical
$18
Flexion Therapeutics, Inc.
$17
Titan Pharmaceuticals, Inc.
$13
Allergan Inc.
$11
Top 3 companies account for 73.9% of all-time payments
Associated products mentioned in payments ›
3D GraftRasp System · ACCURIAN · ACTIVOS · ADAPTIVESTIM · AJOVY · Algovita · Amitiza · Axium INS DRG IPG · BELBUCA · BLACKHAWK CERVICAL SPACER SYSTEM · BOTOX · BOTOX THERAPEUTIC · DISTAL EXTREMITIES IMPLANTS TRAUMA ANKLE FRACTURE · DISTAL EXTREMITIES IMPLANTS TRAUMA SYNDESMOSIS TIGHTROPES · DISTAL EXTREMITIES INSTRUMENTS TRAUMA UPPER EXTREMITY TRAUMA · DRG Accessories · DRG IPGs · EMBEDA · EMGALITY · EVENITY · Entrada · Evoke · Evoke SCS · FARXIGA · GAMMA · GENERAL PAIN MANAGEMENT · GENERAL THERAPIES · GENERAL - PAIN MANAGEMENT · GENERAL - THERAPIES · GENERAL PAIN MANAGEMENT · GENERAL THERAPIES · GENERATOR · General - Pain Management · HA MINUTEMAN G3-R · HOFFMANN · HYDROSET · INJECTAFER · INTELLIS · INTELLIS ADAPTIVESTIM · Infinion 16 · Inflate FX · Intracept · KYPHON Balloon Kyphoplasty · KYPHON EXPRESS II KYPHOPAK TRAY · LEVOPHED · LICART · LYRICA · MILD DEVICE KIT · MONOVISC · MOVANTIK · Morphabond ER · N'VISION · NEOX · NURTEC ODT · Nalocet · Nalu Neurostimulation System · ORTHOVISC · OSTEOCOOL RF ABLATION · Omnia · PAINTEQ · PAXLOVID · PELVIS II · PNS FREEDOM-4A PERMANENT NEUROSTIMULATOR RECEIVER KIT CHANNEL A · PRIALT · PROCLAIM · PROLATE · Prialt · Probuphine · Proclaim Family of SCS IPGs · Proclaim IPG · Prodigy Family of SCS IPGs · Prometra II · Prospera · Protege Family of SCS IPGs · Qutenza · RESTORE · SCS IPGs · SPECTRA WAVEWRITER · SPRINT PNS System · SUPERION · SYNCHROMED · SYNCHROMEDII · Senza · Senza Spinal Cord Stimulation System · SlimTip lead DRG Lead · Spectra WaveWriter · StimQ Receiver Stimulator Kit Channel A US w Receiver · Superion · Superion ISS · Superion Indirect Decompression System · Swift-Lock SCS · T2 · TARGETSTIM · Transfasten · Tymlos · VANTA ADAPTIVESTIM · VECTRIS · VENASEAL · Vanta · VenaSeal · WAVEWRITER ALPHA · WaveWriter Alpha Prime 16 · XTAMPZA · XTAMPZAER · Xtampza ER · ZTLido 30 POUCH in 1 CARTON 1 PATCH in 1 POUCH · Zilretta · mild Device Kit
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 →
The majority of payments (82%) are for speaking programs and promotional activities, which reflect participation in industry-sponsored educational or marketing events. This is common in pain medicine and does not inherently indicate bias, but patients may wish to be aware. Total industry engagement is in the top 2% for pain medicine in CA.
Geographic Context
Pain medicines within 10 mi
105
Per 100K population
3.3
County median income
$113,702
Nearest hospital
AHMC ANAHEIM REGIONAL MEDICAL CENTER
3.1 mi
3.1 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. Lim is a clinical cardiology specialist, with above-average Medicare volume (top 4% in CA), with speaking/promotional industry engagement in the top 2% of CA peers, 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. Lim experienced with joint lubricant injection (genvisc)?
Based on Medicare claims data, Dr. Lim performed 2,875 joint lubricant injection (genvisc) 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. Lim receive payments from pharmaceutical companies?
Yes. Dr. Lim received a total of $154,018 from 56 companies across 899 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. Lim's costs compare to other pain medicines in Buena Park?
Dr. Lim's average Medicare payment per service is $34. 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. Lim) 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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