Medicare Enrolled
Dr. John Friedline, MD
Family Medicine · El Centro, 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. Friedline 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. Friedline
Dr. John Friedline is a family medicine specialist in El Centro, CA, with 19 years of NPI registration. Based on federal Medicare data, Dr. Friedline performed 3,764 Medicare services across 1,966 unique beneficiaries.
Between the years covered by Open Payments, Dr. Friedline received a total of $4,420 from 36 pharmaceutical and/or device companies across 278 individual payments. These payments are legal, publicly disclosed under the federal Sunshine Act, and common in family medicine. 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. Friedline 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 5% volume in CA
$4,420 industry payments
Medicare Practice Summary
Medicare Utilization ↗3,764
Medicare services
Top 5% in CA for family medicine
1,966
Unique beneficiaries
$46
Avg. Medicare payment
Medicare patients only (65+ / disabled) · How to read this →
~198 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. |
603 | $64 | $175 |
| 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. |
575 | $98 | $200 |
| Blood glucose test using reagent strip A test that measures the level of sugar in the blood using a chemical reagent strip. |
407 | $5 | $12 |
| Dexamethasone injection (steroid) An injection of dexamethasone sodium phosphate, a corticosteroid medication, administered in a dose of 1 milligram. |
298 | $0 | $2 |
| Advance care planning consultation, first 30 min A session focused on discussing and documenting future healthcare preferences and goals. This service covers the initial 30 minutes of the planning discussion. |
285 | $71 | $200 |
| 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. |
199 | $11 | $45 |
| Hemoglobin A1c test (diabetes monitoring) A blood test that measures your average blood sugar levels over the past two to three months. |
160 | $9 | $35 |
| Annual depression screening | 140 | $19 | $35 |
| Annual wellness visit, follow-up A follow-up annual wellness visit that includes a personalized prevention plan of service. |
137 | $132 | $224 |
| Ketorolac injection, per 15 mg An injection of ketorolac tromethamine, a nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug, administered in doses measured per 15 mg. |
103 | $0 | $6 |
| Routine 12-lead electrocardiogram (ECG) A test that records the electrical activity of the heart using at least 12 leads to produce a tracing. |
93 | $5 | $30 |
| EKG interpretation and report A standard electrocardiogram test that records the heart's electrical activity using at least 12 leads. The service includes a professional interpretation of the results and a written report. |
92 | $6 | $35 |
| Steroid injection (triamcinolone) A 10 mg injection of triamcinolone acetonide, a corticosteroid medication. This code specifies the drug and dosage administered. |
75 | $1 | $8 |
| Limited abdominal ultrasound A focused ultrasound examination of the abdomen to evaluate specific organs or areas. This procedure uses sound waves to create images of internal structures. |
68 | $69 | $199 |
| Annual alcohol misuse screening, 5 to 15 minutes | 66 | $19 | $35 |
| Automated urinalysis An automated laboratory test performed on a urine sample to analyze its chemical and physical properties. The procedure uses machinery to detect various substances and cells within the urine. |
52 | $2 | $7 |
| Vitamin B-12 injection An injection of vitamin B-12 (cyanocobalamin) with a dose of up to 1000 mcg. |
52 | $1 | $10 |
| Office visit for established patient An office visit for an existing patient that may not require the healthcare professional to be present. |
37 | $16 | $45 |
| Flu vaccine, high-dose High-dose seasonal influenza vaccine for adults aged 65 and older. Contains four times the antigen of standard-dose flu vaccines (60 mcg per strain), split-virus formulation, preservative-free, single-dose syringe. |
33 | $72 | $75 |
| Bladder ultrasound after voiding An ultrasound scan performed after urination to measure the amount of urine remaining in the bladder. |
32 | $9 | $60 |
| Fecal immunochemical test (FIT), 1-3 simultaneous A screening test that uses a stool sample to detect hidden blood in the feces, helping to identify potential colorectal cancer. |
32 | $18 | $35 |
| Obesity behavioral counseling, 15 minutes A 15-minute face-to-face session focused on behavioral counseling to help manage obesity. |
32 | $26 | $65 |
| Flu vaccine administration This procedure involves the administration of the influenza virus vaccine. It covers the process of delivering the vaccine to the patient. |
31 | $31 | $45 |
| 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. |
23 | $128 | $255 |
| Transitional care management, high complexity Coordination of care for a patient transitioning from a short-term hospital stay or other facility to home or another care setting. This service addresses a high-complexity medical problem. |
23 | $226 | $450 |
| Ultrasound of arm and leg arteries This procedure uses sound waves to create images of the blood vessels in the arms and legs. It allows healthcare providers to examine the structure and blood flow within these arteries. |
20 | $69 | $224 |
| Ultrasound of arm and leg arteries A non-invasive imaging test that uses sound waves to examine the blood vessels in the arms and legs. It evaluates blood flow and checks for blockages or other vascular issues. |
18 | $105 | $300 |
| COVID-19 immunoassay detection test A laboratory test that uses an immunoassay method to detect the presence of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (COVID-19) through direct visual observation. |
17 | $41 | $65 |
| COVID-19 amplified DNA/RNA probe detection A laboratory test that uses amplified DNA or RNA probes to detect the presence of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (COVID-19) antigen. |
16 | $47 | $95 |
| Home health agency supervision, complex multidisciplinary care Supervision by a physician or allowed practitioner for a patient receiving Medicare-covered services from a participating home health agency. This involves complex and multidisciplinary care modalities, with the patient not present during the supervision. |
16 | $84 | $195 |
| Chronic care management services Comprehensive assessment and care planning for patients requiring ongoing chronic care management. |
16 | $47 | $120 |
| Transitional care management services, moderate complexity Services provided to coordinate care during the transition from an inpatient or other facility setting back to the community. This includes follow-up and management of a health problem of at least moderate complexity. |
13 | $167 | $325 |
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 ↗$4,420
Total received (2018-2024)
Avg $631/year across 7 years
Top 9% in CA for family medicine
A higher payment rank reflects disclosed industry relationships (consulting, research, speaking) common among subspecialists — not wrongdoing.
36
Companies
278
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
$4,420 (100.0%)
Payment trend by year
Annual totals from pharmaceutical and medical device companies.
2024
$439
2023
$989
2022
$939
2021
$812
2020
$482
2019
$233
2018
$525
Payments by company (2024)
Consulting
Speaking
Meals & Travel
Research
Alnylam Pharmaceuticals Inc.
$64
Lilly USA, LLC
$56
Boehringer Ingelheim Pharmaceuticals, Inc.
$43
Bayer Healthcare Pharmaceuticals Inc.
$35
Exact Sciences Corporation
$34
Tactile Systems Technology Inc
$28
Otsuka America Pharmaceutical, Inc.
$25
Corcept Therapeutics
$25
Esperion Therapeutics, Inc.
$22
GlaxoSmithKline, LLC.
$19
Novartis Pharmaceuticals Corporation
$19
Nevro Corp.
$14
Janssen Pharmaceuticals, Inc
$14
Novo Nordisk Inc
$14
ABBVIE INC.
$13
Amgen Inc.
$13
Top 3 companies account for 37.4% of 2024 payments
All-time payments by company (2018-2024) ›
Janssen Pharmaceuticals, Inc
$804
Corcept Therapeutics
$688
Novo Nordisk Inc
$494
AstraZeneca Pharmaceuticals LP
$409
GlaxoSmithKline, LLC.
$299
Lilly USA, LLC
$225
Novartis Pharmaceuticals Corporation
$200
Amgen Inc.
$125
Ironwood Pharmaceuticals, Inc
$109
ABBVIE INC.
$109
Boehringer Ingelheim Pharmaceuticals, Inc.
$80
Alnylam Pharmaceuticals Inc.
$64
Amarin Pharma Inc.
$63
AbbVie Inc.
$60
Xeris Pharmaceuticals, Inc.
$58
Takeda Pharmaceuticals U.S.A., Inc.
$55
PFIZER INC.
$55
Merck Sharp & Dohme Corporation
$53
Insmed, Inc.
$41
AbbVie, Inc.
$38
Bayer Healthcare Pharmaceuticals Inc.
$35
Merck Sharp & Dohme LLC
$35
Exact Sciences Corporation
$34
Astellas Pharma US Inc
$34
Supernus Pharmaceuticals, Inc.
$31
Tactile Systems Technology Inc
$28
Eisai Inc.
$26
Otsuka America Pharmaceutical, Inc.
$25
Biohaven Pharmaceutical Holding Company Ltd.
$25
Esperion Therapeutics, Inc.
$22
Dexcom, Inc.
$20
Abbott Laboratories
$18
Bayer HealthCare Pharmaceuticals Inc.
$16
Daiichi Sankyo Inc.
$16
Nevro Corp.
$14
Synergy Pharmaceuticals Inc
$12
Top 3 companies account for 45.0% of all-time payments
Associated products mentioned in payments ›
AMVUTTRA · ANORO · Aimovig · Amitiza · Arikayce · BELSOMRA · CHANTIX · CREON · Cologuard Collection Kit · Creon · Dayvigo · Dexcom G6 Transmitter · ELIQUIS · EMGALITY · ENTRESTO · EVENITY · FARXIGA · FREESTYLE LIBRE 2 · Flexitouch Plus · GIVLAARI · GVOKE PFS · INJECTAFER · INVOKANA · JANUVIA · JARDIANCE · Kerendia · Korlym · LEQVIO · LINZESS · LYRICA · LYUMJEV · Linzess · MOUNJARO · MOVANTIK · MYRBETRIQ · NEXLETOL · NURTEC ODT · Otezla · Ozempic · Prolia · RECORLEV · REXULTI · RYBELSUS · Repatha · Rybelsus · SHINGRIX · SYMBICORT · Saxenda · Senza · TLANDO · TRADJENTA · TRELEGY ELLIPTA · TRULICITY · Trintellix · Trulance · UBRELVY · VIBERZI · VRAYLAR · Vascepa · Wegovy · XARELTO
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. Total industry engagement is in the top 9% for family medicine in CA.
Geographic Context
Family medicine physicians within 10 mi
24
Per 100K population
13.4
County median income
$56,393
Nearest hospital
EL CENTRO REGIONAL MEDICAL CENTER
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. Friedline is a clinical cardiology specialist, with above-average Medicare volume (top 5% in CA), with low-engagement industry engagement in the top 9% 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. Friedline experienced with office visit, established patient (20-29 min)?
Based on Medicare claims data, Dr. Friedline performed 603 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. Friedline receive payments from pharmaceutical companies?
Yes. Dr. Friedline received a total of $4,420 from 36 companies across 278 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. Friedline's costs compare to other family medicine physicians in El Centro?
Dr. Friedline's average Medicare payment per service is $46. 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. Friedline) 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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