Medicare Enrolled
Dr. Masoud Afshar, M.D.
Nephrology · Imperial, CA
Practice pattern: Remote Monitoring
— Significant remote device monitoring activity
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. Afshar 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. Afshar
Dr. Masoud Afshar is a nephrology specialist in Imperial, CA, with 17 years of NPI registration. Based on federal Medicare data, Dr. Afshar performed 8,793 Medicare services across 1,931 unique beneficiaries.
Between the years covered by Open Payments, Dr. Afshar received a total of $7,709 from 36 pharmaceutical and/or device companies across 264 individual payments. These payments are legal, publicly disclosed under the federal Sunshine Act, and common in nephrology. 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. Afshar 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 5% volume in CA
$7,709 industry payments
Medicare Practice Summary
Medicare Utilization ↗8,793
Medicare services
Top 5% in CA for nephrology
1,931
Unique beneficiaries
$75
Avg. Medicare payment
Medicare patients only (65+ / disabled) · How to read this →
~517 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Remote patient monitoring management, 20 min/month Management based on results from remote vital sign monitoring for the first 20 minutes per calendar month. |
2,458 | $39 | $75 |
| Remote vital sign monitoring management, each additional 20 minutes This code covers the time spent by a provider managing patient data from remote vital sign monitoring devices. It applies to each additional 20-minute increment beyond the initial monthly service period. |
1,829 | $32 | $60 |
| Remote patient monitoring device, 30 days Initial setup of devices for remote monitoring of body functions with daily data transmission or alerts. This service covers the first 30 days of the monitoring period. |
1,169 | $41 | $85 |
| Dialysis services for patients 20 or older Dialysis treatment provided to patients aged 20 years or older, involving four or more physician visits per month. |
894 | $272 | $450 |
| Hospital follow-up visit, moderate complexity Follow-up hospital visit for an existing patient involving moderate medical decision making. The visit requires at least 35 minutes of time spent on the date of service. |
792 | $63 | $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. |
649 | $95 | $175 |
| Initial hospital admission, moderate complexity Initial hospital inpatient or observation care for a new patient involving moderate-level medical decision making, with at least 55 minutes total time on the date of the encounter. |
198 | $102 | $275 |
| 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. |
160 | $68 | $150 |
| Moderate sedation during GI endoscopy Sedation services provided by the physician performing a gastrointestinal endoscopic procedure. This requires an independent trained observer to assist in monitoring the patient. |
131 | $4 | $125 |
| Dialysis services for adults, 2-3 visits per month This code covers dialysis services for patients aged 20 or older who have 2 to 3 physician visits per month. |
98 | $227 | $405 |
| 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. |
98 | $117 | $200 |
| Hemodialysis circuit intervention with balloon dilation A procedure to insert a needle or tube into a hemodialysis circuit and dilate the dialysis segment using a balloon, with radiological review. |
92 | $180 | $1,500 |
| Remote physiologic monitoring setup and education Initial setup of remote monitoring equipment and patient education on its use. |
72 | $16 | $65 |
| Balloon dilation of dialysis access with radiologist review A minimally invasive procedure to widen a narrowed section of a dialysis access vessel using a balloon catheter. The procedure includes review by a radiologist to ensure proper placement and effectiveness. |
58 | $112 | $695 |
| Hospital follow-up visit, high complexity Subsequent hospital inpatient or observation care for an existing patient involving high-level medical decision making, with at least 50 minutes total time on the date of the encounter. |
25 | $91 | $200 |
| Monthly dialysis physician visit A monthly doctor's visit for patients aged 20 or older who are receiving dialysis treatment. |
23 | $152 | $395 |
| Removal of tunneled central venous tube This procedure involves the removal of a catheter that has been surgically placed under the skin and threaded into a large vein. |
18 | $133 | $325 |
| Needle or tube insertion into hemodialysis circuit with radiologist review A procedure involving the insertion of a needle or tube into a hemodialysis circuit, accompanied by a review of the procedure by a radiologist. |
16 | $125 | $895 |
| 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. |
13 | $198 | $425 |
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.
0.1% high complexity
14.9% medium
84.9% routine
Industry Payment Transparency
Open Payments through 2024 ↗$7,709
Total received (2018-2024)
Avg $1,101/year across 7 years
Top 13% in CA for nephrology
A higher payment rank reflects disclosed industry relationships (consulting, research, speaking) common among subspecialists — not wrongdoing.
36
Companies
264
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
$7,271 (94.3%)
Speaking / Promotional
Speaker programs, honoraria, and industry-sponsored educational events
$438 (5.7%)
Payment trend by year
Annual totals from pharmaceutical and medical device companies.
2024
$2,149
2023
$1,888
2022
$1,785
2021
$970
2020
$64
2019
$430
2018
$422
Payments by company (2024)
Consulting
Speaking
Meals & Travel
Research
AstraZeneca Pharmaceuticals LP
$414
Amgen Inc.
$370
Ardelyx, Inc.
$274
Mallinckrodt Hospital Products Inc.
$231
Aurinia Pharma U.S., Inc.
$172
Bayer Healthcare Pharmaceuticals Inc.
$135
Vifor Pharma, Inc.
$108
CALLIDITAS THERAPEUTICS US INC.
$91
Otsuka America Pharmaceutical, Inc.
$72
Boehringer Ingelheim Pharmaceuticals, Inc.
$54
Novo Nordisk Inc
$40
Travere Therapeutics, Inc.
$38
Alnylam Pharmaceuticals Inc.
$37
OPKO Pharmaceuticals, LLC
$35
Lilly USA, LLC
$33
Novartis Pharmaceuticals Corporation
$27
Fresenius USA Marketing, Inc.
$17
Top 3 companies account for 49.2% of 2024 payments
All-time payments by company (2018-2024) ›
AstraZeneca Pharmaceuticals LP
$1,270
Horizon Therapeutics plc
$581
Aurinia Pharma U.S., Inc.
$570
Amgen Inc.
$487
Mallinckrodt Hospital Products Inc.
$445
Alexion Pharmaceuticals, Inc.
$443
Bayer HealthCare Pharmaceuticals Inc.
$419
GastroKlenz, Inc. DBA CloudCath
$400
Vifor Pharma, Inc.
$308
Ardelyx, Inc.
$289
Bayer Healthcare Pharmaceuticals Inc.
$287
OPKO Pharmaceuticals, LLC
$255
Fresenius USA Marketing, Inc.
$222
GlaxoSmithKline, LLC.
$201
Calliditas Therapeutics US Inc.
$181
Otsuka America Pharmaceutical, Inc.
$168
Boston Scientific Corporation
$160
CALLIDITAS THERAPEUTICS US INC.
$120
Novo Nordisk Inc
$115
Lilly USA, LLC
$105
ZOLL Services LLC (A/K/A ZOLL LifeCor Corp)
$100
Relypsa, Inc.
$88
Travere Therapeutics, Inc.
$64
Boehringer Ingelheim Pharmaceuticals, Inc.
$54
Mallinckrodt Enterprises LLC
$43
Amarin Pharma Inc.
$42
Novartis Pharmaceuticals Corporation
$40
Alnylam Pharmaceuticals Inc.
$37
AKEBIA THERAPEUTICS INC
$36
Takeda Pharmaceuticals U.S.A., Inc.
$36
BARD PERIPHERAL VASCULAR, INC.
$32
Daiichi Sankyo Inc.
$29
Kyowa Kirin, Inc.
$28
Mallinckrodt LLC
$23
Horizon Pharma plc
$20
Keryx Biopharmaceuticals, Inc.
$13
Top 3 companies account for 31.4% of all-time payments
Associated products mentioned in payments ›
ACTHAR · AMVUTTRA · AURYXIA · Amitiza · Auryxia · BENLYSTA · EMGALITY · ENTRESTO · FARXIGA · Fabhalta · IBSRELA · INJECTAFER · JARDIANCE · JYNARQUE · KRYSTEXXA · Kerendia · Korsuva · LOKELMA · LUPKYNIS · LifeVest · Ozempic · Parsabiv · RAYALDEE · Rayaldee · Rybelsus · SOLIRIS · TARPEYO · TAVNEOS · ULTOMIRIS · Uloric · Vascepa · Velphoro · Veltassa · WATCHMAN · WATCHMAN Access System · XPHOZAH 30 MG
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 (94%) are for meals and travel — low-value interactions that are common across virtually all practicing physicians.
Geographic Context
Nephrologists within 10 mi
6
Per 100K population
3.3
County median income
$56,393
Nearest hospital
EL CENTRO REGIONAL MEDICAL CENTER
9.6 mi
9.6 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. Afshar is a remote monitoring specialist, with above-average Medicare volume (top 5% in CA), with low-engagement industry engagement in the top 13% 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. Afshar experienced with remote patient monitoring management, 20 min/month?
Based on Medicare claims data, Dr. Afshar performed 2,458 remote patient monitoring management, 20 min/month 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. Afshar receive payments from pharmaceutical companies?
Yes. Dr. Afshar received a total of $7,709 from 36 companies across 264 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. Afshar's costs compare to other nephrologists in Imperial?
Dr. Afshar's average Medicare payment per service is $75. 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. Afshar) 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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