Medicare Enrolled
Dr. Stephen Balfour, M.D.
Radiation Oncology · Fresno, CA
Practice pattern: Mixed Practice
— Diverse clinical practice across multiple procedure types
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. Balfour 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. Balfour
Dr. Stephen Balfour is a radiation oncology specialist in Fresno, CA, with 13 years of NPI registration. Based on federal Medicare data, Dr. Balfour performed 806 Medicare services across 750 unique beneficiaries.
Between the years covered by Open Payments, Dr. Balfour received a total of $26,346 from 26 pharmaceutical and/or device companies across 126 individual payments. These payments are legal, publicly disclosed under the federal Sunshine Act, and common in radiation oncology. 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. Balfour 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.
✓ 13 years in practice
▲ 806 Medicare services
$26,346 industry payments
Medicare Practice Summary
Medicare Utilization ↗806
Medicare services
Bottom 29% in CA for radiation oncology
Lower Medicare volume may reflect subspecialty focus, hospital-based work, or a higher share of non-Medicare patients.
750
Unique beneficiaries
$40
Avg. Medicare payment
Medicare patients only (65+ / disabled) · How to read this →
~62 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sedation by physician, initial 15 minutes Administration of a drug to induce depression of consciousness by the physician performing a procedure. This code covers the initial 15 minutes of sedation for patients aged 5 years or older. |
185 | $10 | $38 |
| Ultrasound guidance for blood vessel access Use of ultrasound imaging to help locate and access a blood vessel. This guidance assists healthcare providers in performing procedures such as inserting IV lines or drawing blood. |
93 | $11 | $44 |
| Chest X-ray, 1 view An X-ray image of the chest taken from a single angle. This imaging test is used to visualize the structures within the chest cavity. |
57 | $6 | $28 |
| Fluoroscopic guidance for central vein access device Use of live X-ray imaging to guide the placement or removal of a central vein access device. |
50 | $14 | $57 |
| 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. |
40 | $133 | $342 |
| Knee X-ray, 3 views An X-ray imaging test of the knee joint that captures three different angles to evaluate the bones and surrounding structures. |
33 | $7 | $29 |
| Knee X-ray, 1-2 views An X-ray imaging test of the knee joint using one to two different angles to visualize the bones and surrounding structures. |
32 | $6 | $26 |
| 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. |
31 | $102 | $243 |
| Radiologist review of CT-guided needle placement A radiologist reviews the CT imaging used to guide the placement of a needle. |
30 | $55 | $230 |
| Ultrasound guidance for needle placement Use of ultrasound imaging to guide the precise placement of a needle during a medical procedure. |
29 | $25 | $100 |
| Central venous port insertion A surgical procedure to place a small reservoir under the skin for long-term access to the bloodstream. The device is connected to a vein to allow for repeated medication administration or blood draws. |
25 | $260 | $1,045 |
| 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. |
25 | $7 | $34 |
| Shoulder X-ray, 2+ views An X-ray imaging test of the shoulder joint using at least two different angles to visualize the bones and surrounding structures. |
23 | $7 | $29 |
| Hip X-ray, 2-3 views An X-ray imaging test of the hip joint using two to three different angles to visualize the bones and surrounding structures. |
19 | $8 | $35 |
| Ankle X-ray, minimum 3 views An X-ray imaging test of the ankle that captures at least three different angles to evaluate the bones and joints. |
18 | $5 | $27 |
| 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. |
18 | $87 | $369 |
| Insertion of non-tunneled central venous catheter A procedure to place a central venous catheter for infusion in patients aged 5 years or older. The catheter is inserted directly into a large vein without being tunneled under the skin. |
16 | $67 | $263 |
| Bone marrow biopsy and aspiration A procedure to remove a small sample of bone marrow and liquid for laboratory testing. The sample is analyzed to help diagnose various medical conditions. |
16 | $60 | $246 |
| Insertion of tunneled central venous catheter for infusion, age 5+ A surgical procedure to place a long-term catheter into a large vein for delivering medications or fluids. The catheter is tunneled under the skin to reduce infection risk and provide stable access for patients aged 5 and older. |
15 | $201 | $816 |
| 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. |
15 | $66 | $262 |
| Kidney tube placement with imaging guidance A tube is placed into the kidney using imaging guidance. A radiologist reviews the procedure. |
12 | $166 | $760 |
| Foot X-ray, 3+ views An X-ray imaging test of the foot that captures at least three different views to evaluate the bones and joints. |
12 | $5 | $26 |
| Ultrasound scan of chest An imaging test that uses sound waves to create pictures of the structures inside the chest. |
12 | $19 | $84 |
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.
3.8% high complexity
22.3% medium
73.8% routine
Industry Payment Transparency
Open Payments through 2024 ↗$26,346
Total received (2018-2024)
Avg $3,764/year across 7 years
Top 5% in CA for radiation oncology
A higher payment rank reflects disclosed industry relationships (consulting, research, speaking) common among subspecialists — not wrongdoing.
26
Companies
126
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
$15,834 (60.1%)
Consulting
Expert advisory fees, typically reflecting recognized clinical expertise
$7,590 (28.8%)
Meals & Travel
Food, beverages, travel, and lodging — typically low-value
$2,922 (11.1%)
Payment trend by year
Annual totals from pharmaceutical and medical device companies.
2024
$3,048
2023
$13,357
2022
$7,925
2021
$328
2020
$276
2019
$927
2018
$484
Payments by company (2024)
Consulting
Speaking
Meals & Travel
Research
Inari Medical, Inc.
$2,974
Becton, Dickinson and Company
$36
ShockWave Medical, Inc
$24
Abbott Laboratories
$13
Top 3 companies account for 99.6% of 2024 payments
All-time payments by company (2018-2024) ›
Inari Medical, Inc.
$16,395
ShockWave Medical, Inc
$6,915
Sirtex Medical Inc
$635
Abbott Laboratories
$342
ARGON MEDICAL DEVICES, INC.
$286
Bard Peripheral Vascular, Inc.
$272
Penumbra, Inc.
$212
Medtronic USA, Inc.
$204
Medtronic Vascular, Inc.
$161
Cardiovascular Systems Inc.
$156
BOSTON SCIENTIFIC CORPORATION
$156
Medtronic, Inc.
$123
Terumo Medical Corporation
$88
Endologix LLC
$74
Boston Scientific Corporation
$59
Otsuka America Pharmaceutical, Inc.
$44
Stryker Corporation
$38
Becton, Dickinson and Company
$36
Calliditas Therapeutics US Inc.
$31
Aurinia Pharma U.S., Inc.
$21
Nevro Corp.
$19
Siemens Medical Solutions USA, Inc.
$19
Daiichi Sankyo Inc.
$16
Philips Electronics North America Corporation
$15
Bayer HealthCare Pharmaceuticals Inc.
$14
Surefire Medical, Inc.
$14
Top 3 companies account for 90.9% of all-time payments
Associated products mentioned in payments ›
ABRE · AFX2 Bifurcated Endograft System · AZUR · Absolute Pro vascular stent system · CT THROMBECTOMY SYSTEM KIT · Chameleon · Diamondback Peripheral · Embozene · FLOWTRIEVER CATHETER · GENERAL IO ABLATION · GENERAL VASCULAR INTERVENTION · Hi-Torque Command guide wire · IGT_D Peripheral · INFINION · INJECTAFER · INTELLIS ADAPTIVESTIM · IVS - IVAS · Indigo System · JETI · JETI PERIPHERAL CATHETER · JYNARQUE · KYPHON Balloon Kyphoplasty · KYPHON EXPRESS II KYPHOPAK TRAY · Kerendia · LUPKYNIS · LUTONIX · MVP · OPTION · OSTEOCOOL RF ABLATION · OSTEOCOOL RF ABLATION SYSTEM · Omnilink Elite vascular stent system · Perclose ProGlide suture mediated closure system · Peripheral Orbital Atherectomy System · S · SHOCKWAVE IVL SYSTEM WITH THE SHOCKWAVE C2 CORONARY IVL CATHETER · SIR-Spheres Microspheres · SPINEJACK · Senza · Shockwave IVL System with the Shockwave C2 Coronary IVL Catheter · Supera peripheral stent system · Surefire Infusion Systems · TARPEYO · TR Band · TheraSphere Y90 Glass Microspheres 10 GBq · Venovo
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 (60%) are for speaking programs and promotional activities, which reflect participation in industry-sponsored educational or marketing events. This is common in radiation oncology and does not inherently indicate bias, but patients may wish to be aware. Total industry engagement is in the top 5% for radiation oncology in CA.
Geographic Context
Radiation oncologists within 10 mi
65
Per 100K population
6.4
County median income
$71,434
Nearest hospital
FRESNO SURGICAL 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. Balfour is a mixed practice specialist, with moderate Medicare volume, with speaking/promotional industry engagement in the top 5% of CA peers.
This summary is auto-generated from federal data, describing data availability and patterns. Read our methodology →
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Dr. Balfour experienced with sedation by physician, initial 15 minutes?
Based on Medicare claims data, Dr. Balfour performed 185 sedation by physician, initial 15 minutes 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. Balfour receive payments from pharmaceutical companies?
Yes. Dr. Balfour received a total of $26,346 from 26 companies across 126 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. Balfour's costs compare to other radiation oncologists in Fresno?
Dr. Balfour's average Medicare payment per service is $40. 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. Balfour) 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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