Medicare Enrolled
Dr. Catherine Lee, M.D.
Dermatology · Corona Del Mar, 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. Lee 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. Lee
Dr. Catherine Lee is a dermatology specialist in Corona Del Mar, CA, with 19 years of NPI registration. Based on federal Medicare data, Dr. Lee performed 53,366 Medicare services across 5,636 unique beneficiaries.
Between the years covered by Open Payments, Dr. Lee received a total of $643 from 13 pharmaceutical and/or device companies across 31 individual payments. These payments are legal, publicly disclosed under the federal Sunshine Act, and common in dermatology. 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. Lee 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 0% volume in CA
$643 industry payments
Medicare Practice Summary
Medicare Utilization ↗53,366
Medicare services
Top 0% in CA for dermatology
5,636
Unique beneficiaries
$236
Avg. Medicare payment
Medicare patients only (65+ / disabled) · How to read this →
~2,809 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Xcellerate, per square centimeter A procedure involving the application of Xcellerate to a specific area measured in square centimeters. |
14,510 | $564 | $1,226 |
| Tissue staining for diagnosis, additional An extra laboratory procedure to apply special stains to tissue slides for detailed examination. |
8,012 | $80 | $135 |
| Special stain test for organisms A laboratory test using special stains on tissue slides to identify microorganisms. The process includes the technical preparation of the slides and a professional interpretation of the results. |
5,588 | $104 | $177 |
| Special tissue stain and interpretation A laboratory test using special stains to examine tissue samples, including the pathologist's review and written report of the findings. |
4,985 | $76 | $130 |
| Manual microscopic genetic analysis of tumor A laboratory test that uses a microscope to manually examine tumor tissue for genetic changes. |
3,777 | $108 | $185 |
| Special tissue stain, multiplex A laboratory procedure using special stains to examine tissue samples. This multiplex technique allows for the analysis of multiple markers on a single slide. |
3,776 | $158 | $266 |
| Tissue staining for diagnosis, initial A laboratory test where special stains are applied to tissue slides to help examine the cells and identify specific characteristics. |
2,512 | $92 | $156 |
| Destruction of precancerous skin growths, 2-14 This procedure involves the removal or destruction of two to fourteen precancerous skin lesions. It is performed to eliminate abnormal skin cells that have the potential to develop into cancer. |
1,549 | $6 | $11 |
| Skin and tissue removal, 20 sq cm or less This procedure involves the surgical excision of skin and underlying tissue from an area measuring 20 square centimeters or smaller. |
1,220 | $60 | $200 |
| Removal and microscopic exam of growth of head, neck, hands, feet, or genitals, each additional stage, 1-5 tissue blocks | 1,181 | $380 | $639 |
| Skin substitute graft application, 25 sq cm or less Application of a skin substitute graft to a wound on the face, scalp, eyelids, mouth, neck, ears, around eyes, genitals, hands, feet, fingers, or toes. The wound area covered is 25.0 square centimeters or less. |
877 | $110 | $241 |
| Skin growth removal and lab exam, 1-5 blocks This procedure involves the removal of a growth from the head, neck, hands, feet, or genitals. The removed tissue is then examined under a microscope in the laboratory. |
653 | $535 | $1,046 |
| 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. |
564 | $73 | $135 |
| Destruction of precancerous skin growth, 1 Removal of a single precancerous skin growth. This procedure destroys abnormal skin cells to prevent them from developing into cancer. |
544 | $36 | $104 |
| Skin substitute graft application, 25 sq cm or less Application of a skin substitute graft to a wound on the trunk, arms, or legs covering 25 square centimeters or less. |
538 | $103 | $234 |
| 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. |
459 | $97 | $190 |
| Additional Mohs surgery stage with microscopic exam This procedure involves the removal and microscopic examination of an additional stage of tissue from the trunk, arms, or legs. It is performed in stages to ensure complete removal of the growth. |
397 | $365 | $615 |
| Destruction of skin growths (warts/lesions), 1-14 This procedure involves the removal or destruction of one to fourteen skin growths. It is a minor surgical intervention performed on the skin surface. |
368 | $87 | $178 |
| Skin biopsy, tangential A procedure to remove a sample of the first identified skin growth for laboratory examination. |
315 | $61 | $159 |
| Skin growth removal and lab exam, 1-5 blocks A procedure to remove a growth from the trunk, arms, or legs and send 1 to 5 tissue samples to a laboratory for microscopic examination. |
216 | $474 | $986 |
| Additional skin growth biopsy Removal of a sample of an additional skin growth for laboratory examination. This code is used for each extra lesion biopsied during the same session. |
210 | $47 | $78 |
| Additional skin and tissue removal, per 20 sq cm This code covers the removal of skin and tissue for each additional 20 square centimeters or less beyond the initial procedure. |
206 | $35 | $59 |
| Destruction of 15 or more precancerous skin growths This procedure involves the removal or destruction of fifteen or more precancerous skin lesions. It is performed to treat abnormal skin cells that have the potential to develop into cancer. |
151 | $150 | $262 |
| Destruction of skin growth, 15 or more growths | 140 | $112 | $207 |
| Skin substitute graft, additional 25 sq cm Application of a skin substitute graft to an additional 25 square centimeters of a wound on the trunk, arms, or legs. |
85 | $21 | $36 |
| Destruction of large cancerous skin growth This procedure involves the removal or destruction of a cancerous skin lesion larger than 4.0 cm on the scalp, neck, hands, feet, or genitals. |
81 | $199 | $433 |
| 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. |
69 | $48 | $85 |
| Destruction of large cancerous skin growth on trunk or limbs This procedure involves the removal or destruction of a cancerous skin lesion located on the trunk, arms, or legs that measures more than 4.0 centimeters in size. |
66 | $150 | $363 |
| Destruction of large cancerous skin growth on face or mouth This procedure involves the removal or destruction of a cancerous skin growth larger than 4.0 cm located on the face, ears, eyelids, nose, lips, or mouth. |
57 | $260 | $535 |
| Additional skin substitute graft, 25 sq cm Application of an additional 25 square centimeters of skin substitute graft to a wound, when the total wound area is 100 square centimeters or less. |
45 | $28 | $48 |
| Simple drainage of skin abscess A minor procedure to drain a localized collection of pus from the skin. The abscess is opened to allow the fluid to escape and promote healing. |
36 | $94 | $193 |
| Ear tissue biopsy A procedure to remove a small sample of tissue from the ear for laboratory examination. |
36 | $51 | $149 |
| Steroid injection (triamcinolone) A 10 mg injection of triamcinolone acetonide, a corticosteroid medication. This code specifies the drug and dosage administered. |
34 | $1 | $2 |
| Injection into skin growths, 1-7 A procedure involving the injection of medication into one to seven skin growths. |
33 | $36 | $87 |
| 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. |
23 | $86 | $167 |
| Complicated wound repair, 2.6-7.5 cm A complex surgical procedure to close a wound measuring between 2.6 and 7.5 centimeters on areas such as the face, neck, hands, or feet. |
22 | $215 | $721 |
| Intraoperative pathology examination, first tissue block A pathologist examines a tissue sample removed during surgery to provide a preliminary diagnosis. This test is performed on the first tissue block obtained from the procedure. |
16 | $93 | $156 |
| Complicated wound repair, scalp/arms/legs, 2.6-7.5 cm A complex surgical procedure to close a wound on the scalp, arms, or legs that measures between 2.6 and 7.5 centimeters in length. |
15 | $195 | $658 |
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.
0.7% high complexity
1.2% medium
98.1% routine
Industry Payment Transparency
Open Payments through 2024 ↗$643
Total received (2018-2024)
Avg $92/year across 7 years
Bottom 33% in CA for dermatology
13
Companies
31
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
$643 (100.0%)
Payment trend by year
Annual totals from pharmaceutical and medical device companies.
2024
$36
2023
$29
2022
$151
2021
$127
2020
$148
2019
$90
2018
$60
Payments by company (2024)
Consulting
Speaking
Meals & Travel
Research
Galderma Laboratories, L.P.
$36
Top 3 companies account for 100.0% of 2024 payments
All-time payments by company (2018-2024) ›
LEO Pharma Inc.
$194
Galderma Laboratories, L.P.
$107
Sun Pharmaceutical Industries Inc.
$68
DERMIRA, INC.
$51
PFIZER INC.
$47
Sebela Pharmaceuticals Inc.
$31
Journey Medical Corporation
$27
Allergan, Inc.
$27
Almirall LLC
$24
Sandoz Inc.
$21
Ortho Dermatologics, a division of Bausch Health US, LLC
$18
Allergan Inc.
$16
Bard Peripheral Vascular, Inc.
$12
Top 3 companies account for 57.4% of all-time payments
Associated products mentioned in payments ›
ABSORICA LD · BOTOX · BOTOX COSMETIC · DUOBRII · ENSTILAR · EUCRISA · KERYDIN · NAFTIN · QBREXZA · Seysara · Winlevi
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
Dermatologists within 10 mi
252
Per 100K population
8.0
County median income
$113,702
Nearest hospital
HOAG MEMORIAL HOSPITAL PRESBYTERIAN
4.0 mi
4.0 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. Lee is a mixed practice specialist, with above-average Medicare volume (top 0% in CA), with low-engagement industry engagement, 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. Lee experienced with xcellerate, per square centimeter?
Based on Medicare claims data, Dr. Lee performed 14,510 xcellerate, per square centimeter 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. Lee receive payments from pharmaceutical companies?
Yes. Dr. Lee received a total of $643 from 13 companies across 31 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. Lee's costs compare to other dermatologists in Corona Del Mar?
Dr. Lee's average Medicare payment per service is $236. 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. Lee) 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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