Medicare Enrolled

Dr. Kathy Yu, M.D.

Otolaryngology · Huntington Beach, CA
Practice pattern: Clinical Cardiology — Primarily office-based clinical cardiology
Low-engagement
17742 BEACH BLVD STE 345, Huntington Beach, CA 92647
7143754224
In practice since 2008 (17 years)
NPI: 1255587762 verify on NPPES ↗
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. Yu 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 →
Are you Dr. Yu? Request a correction or review of any data shown here. Provider portal →

What this data tells you about Dr. Yu

Dr. Kathy Yu is an otolaryngology specialist in Huntington Beach, CA, with 17 years of NPI registration. Based on federal Medicare data, Dr. Yu performed 2,892 Medicare services across 1,679 unique beneficiaries.

Between the years covered by Open Payments, Dr. Yu received a total of $11,702 from 20 pharmaceutical and/or device companies across 266 individual payments. These payments are legal, publicly disclosed under the federal Sunshine Act, and common in otolaryngology. 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. Yu 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.

✓ 17 years in practice ▲ Top 8% volume in CA $11,702 industry payments

Medicare Practice Summary

Medicare Utilization ↗
2,892
Medicare services
Top 8% in CA for otolaryngology
1,679
Unique beneficiaries
$266
Avg. Medicare payment
Medicare patients only (65+ / disabled) · How to read this →
~170 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
Nasal endoscopy
A diagnostic procedure that uses a thin, lighted tube to examine the inside of the nasal passages.
733 $169 $490
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.
533 $76 $165
Ear wax removal
A procedure to remove impacted ear wax from the ear canal.
315 $27 $110
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.
268 $102 $240
CT scan of face, without contrast
A computed tomography scan that creates detailed images of the facial structures. This procedure is performed without the use of intravenous contrast dye.
247 $121 $400
Middle ear function test
A diagnostic test used to evaluate how well the middle ear is functioning.
151 $14 $35
Endoscopic nasal polyp biopsy or removal
A procedure to remove or sample nasal polyps or tissue using an endoscope. The endoscope allows the provider to view the nasal passages during the procedure.
117 $332 $859
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.
111 $130 $365
Flexible laryngoscopy
A diagnostic exam of the voice box using a flexible endoscope to visualize the larynx.
58 $59 $264
Endoscopic sinus dilation
A procedure that widens the nasal sinuses using an endoscope to improve drainage and airflow.
55 $2,121 $7,025
Computer-assisted neurosurgery outside brain covering
A surgical procedure using computer guidance to operate on areas outside the membrane covering the brain.
52 $144 $400
Endoscopic dilation of sphenoid and frontal sinuses
A procedure using an endoscope to widen the sphenoid and frontal sinuses.
50 $4,478 $13,950
Removal of nasal air passage under lining tissue
A surgical procedure to remove tissue from the nasal air passage located beneath the lining.
44 $199 $968
Eustachian tube dilation, bilateral, via endoscope
This procedure widens the Eustachian tubes on both sides using an endoscope inserted through the nose.
42 $2,550 $7,500
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.
38 $78 $250
Impacted earwax removal by physician
Removal of impacted earwax from one or both ears by a physician on the same day as audiologic testing.
33 $27 $110
Reshaping of nasal cartilage 29 $303 $1,400
Eardrum incision, aspiration, and/or inflation
A procedure involving making an incision in the eardrum, removing fluid, and/or inflating the middle ear space.
16 $159 $462
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.
1.8% high complexity
37.9% medium
60.3% routine

Industry Payment Transparency

Open Payments through 2024 ↗
$11,702
Total received (2018-2024)
Avg $1,672/year across 7 years
Top 8% in CA for otolaryngology
A higher payment rank reflects disclosed industry relationships (consulting, research, speaking) common among subspecialists — not wrongdoing.
20
Companies
266
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
$11,702 (100.0%)

Payment trend by year

Annual totals from pharmaceutical and medical device companies.

2024
$372
2023
$683
2022
$1,141
2021
$1,415
2020
$1,571
2019
$2,265
2018
$4,253

Payments by company (2024)

Consulting
Speaking
Meals & Travel
Research
Stryker Corporation
$156
GENZYME CORPORATION
$56
Regeneron Healthcare Solutions, Inc.
$56
GlaxoSmithKline, LLC.
$25
AERIN MEDICAL INC.
$23
Optinose US, Inc.
$22
Hikma Pharmaceuticals USA
$21
Vertical Pharmaceuticals, LLC
$14
Top 3 companies account for 71.9% of 2024 payments
All-time payments by company (2018-2024) ›
Stryker Corporation
$8,790
Intersect ENT, Inc.
$1,704
Entellus Medical, Inc.
$323
Medtronic, Inc.
$201
Medtronic USA, Inc.
$81
AERIN MEDICAL INC.
$66
Olympus America Inc.
$61
Hikma Pharmaceuticals USA
$61
GENZYME CORPORATION
$56
Regeneron Healthcare Solutions, Inc.
$56
Takeda Pharmaceuticals U.S.A., Inc.
$52
Ethicon US, LLC
$50
Optinose US, Inc.
$42
Acclarent, Inc
$33
Vertical Pharmaceuticals, LLC
$33
GlaxoSmithKline, LLC.
$25
McKesson Medical-Surgical, Inc.
$19
Novartis Pharmaceuticals Corporation
$19
Mylan Specialty L.P.
$16
Glenmark Therapeutics Inc.
$13
Top 3 companies account for 92.4% of all-time payments
Associated products mentioned in payments ›
CIPRODEX · CLARIFIX · CLARIFIX CRYOTHERAPY DEVICE · CONSUMABLES · DSUVIA · DUPIXENT · Dexilant · Dymista · ENTELLUS - CYCLONE SINONASAL SUCTION/IRRIGATION SYSTEM · ENTELLUS - ENTELLUS MEDICAL SHAVER SYSTEM · ENTELLUS - FIAGON SINUS NAVIGATION SYSTEM · ENTELLUS - FOCESS SINUSCOPES · ENTELLUS - XPRESS ENT DILATION SYSTEM · FIAGON NAVIGATION UNIT · FUSION · HARMONIC Product Family · MINIFESS BLAKESLEY FORCEPS STRAIGHT · NSE - NASOPORE OTOPORE · NUCALA · NUVENT · Olympus ENT Fiber Scopes · Olympus ENT Rigid Scopes · Otiprio · PROPEL · RELIEVA SpinPlus NAV Balloon Sinusplasty System · Ryaltris · Trintellix · VIVAER STYLUS · VenSure · XPRESS ENT DILATION SYSTEM · XPRESS LOPROFILE · Xhance
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 8% for otolaryngology in CA.

Looking for an otolaryngology specialist in Huntington Beach?
Compare otolaryngologists in the Huntington Beach area by procedure volume, costs, and industry payment transparency.
Browse otolaryngologists nearby

Geographic Context

Otolaryngologists within 10 mi
127
Per 100K population
4.0
County median income
$113,702
Nearest hospital
HUNTINGTON BEACH HOSPITAL
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. Yu is a clinical cardiology specialist, with above-average Medicare volume (top 8% in CA), with low-engagement industry engagement in the top 8% of CA peers, with 17 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. Yu experienced with nasal endoscopy?
Based on Medicare claims data, Dr. Yu performed 733 nasal endoscopy 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. Yu receive payments from pharmaceutical companies?
Yes. Dr. Yu received a total of $11,702 from 20 companies across 266 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. Yu's costs compare to other otolaryngologists in Huntington Beach?
Dr. Yu's average Medicare payment per service is $266. 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. Yu) 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 →
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.

Provider corrections: Provider portal · Privacy questions: Privacy Policy · Terms: Terms of Use · Methodology: Methodology

Data Disclaimer — Data sourced from the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS): National Plan and Provider Enumeration System (NPPES), Open Payments program, Medicare Provider Utilization and Payment Data, and Provider Enrollment & Certification data (PECOS). Published under the Freedom of Information Act (FOIA). This website is not affiliated with, endorsed by, or authorized by CMS, HHS, or the U.S. Government. Data may contain errors as reported to CMS by providers and reporting entities. Payments from industry are legal and do not indicate wrongdoing. Medicare data reflects only patients aged 65+ or those with qualifying disabilities. For corrections, contact CMS directly. This information does not constitute medical advice and should not be used as the sole basis for choosing a healthcare provider. Procedure descriptions use plain language and do not reference CPT® codes, which are copyrighted by the American Medical Association. Full methodology → · Report a data error → · Privacy policy →