Medicare Enrolled
Dr. Jorge Gonzalez, M.D.
Cardiovascular Disease · La Jolla, 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. Gonzalez 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. Gonzalez
Dr. Jorge Gonzalez is a cardiovascular disease specialist in La Jolla, CA, with 17 years of NPI registration. Based on federal Medicare data, Dr. Gonzalez performed 27,182 Medicare services across 3,061 unique beneficiaries.
Between the years covered by Open Payments, Dr. Gonzalez received a total of $8,628 from 27 pharmaceutical and/or device companies across 101 individual payments. These payments are legal, publicly disclosed under the federal Sunshine Act, and common in cardiovascular disease. 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. Gonzalez 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 1% volume in CA
$8,628 industry payments
Medicare Practice Summary
Medicare Utilization ↗27,182
Medicare services
Top 1% in CA for cardiovascular disease
3,061
Unique beneficiaries
$10
Avg. Medicare payment
Medicare patients only (65+ / disabled) · How to read this →
~1,599 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Contrast dye for imaging (iodine-based) A contrast agent containing 300-399 mg/ml of iodine used to enhance imaging studies. It is administered per milliliter to improve the visibility of internal structures. |
17,493 | $0 | $3 |
| MRI contrast dye injection (gadobutrol) | 6,400 | $0 | $1 |
| Echocardiogram, transthoracic An ultrasound of the heart that uses color to show blood flow, rate, direction, and valve function. |
753 | $100 | $490 |
| 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. |
359 | $137 | $491 |
| Heart muscle strain imaging | 345 | $32 | $154 |
| Perflutren lipid microspheres injection Injection of perflutren lipid microspheres, measured per milliliter. |
308 | $34 | $138 |
| Regadenoson injection (Lexiscan) for heart stress test An injection of regadenoson, a medication used to stress the heart during diagnostic testing. |
244 | $44 | $203 |
| CT scan of heart blood vessels and grafts with contrast A CT scan that uses contrast dye to create detailed images of the heart's blood vessels and any surgical grafts. |
115 | $240 | $1,665 |
| 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. |
113 | $101 | $350 |
| CT scan of heart with contrast A computed tomography scan that uses contrast dye to create detailed images of the heart's structure. |
89 | $179 | $1,365 |
| Follow-up heart ultrasound An ultrasound of the heart performed to monitor or reassess a previously identified condition or treatment progress. |
89 | $53 | $254 |
| Intravenous drug injection A procedure involving the administration of a medication or substance directly into a vein. |
88 | $33 | $136 |
| 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. |
84 | $65 | $187 |
| 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. |
72 | $138 | $453 |
| Follow-up ultrasound of heart blood flow, valves and chambers An ultrasound exam that follows up on the heart's blood flow, valves, and chambers. It uses sound waves to create images of the heart's structure and function. |
70 | $14 | $68 |
| Echocardiogram with color Doppler An ultrasound of the heart that uses color imaging to visualize blood flow, measure flow rate, and assess valve function. |
70 | $15 | $69 |
| Exercise or drug-induced heart stress test with ECG A heart stress test performed using exercise or medication while monitoring the electrocardiogram under physician supervision and review. |
66 | $55 | $279 |
| Unclassified drug A medication that does not fit into standard HCPCS or CPT classification categories. |
56 | $1 | $68 |
| Routine 12-lead electrocardiogram (ECG) A test that records the electrical activity of the heart using at least 12 leads to produce a tracing. |
40 | $5 | $25 |
| MRI of heart with and without contrast A magnetic resonance imaging scan of the heart performed both before and after the administration of a contrast dye to enhance image detail. |
36 | $335 | $2,260 |
| External EKG monitoring, 8-15 days Continuous external electrocardiogram recording and review over a period of 8 to 15 days to monitor heart rhythm. |
35 | $21 | $100 |
| Transesophageal echocardiogram An ultrasound of the heart performed using a probe inserted into the esophagus to obtain detailed images of heart structures and function. |
31 | $85 | $401 |
| 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. |
28 | $107 | $354 |
| Stress echocardiogram with ECG monitoring An ultrasound of the heart performed while monitoring heart rhythm during rest, exercise, or medication-induced stress, followed by a review and report of the findings. |
27 | $197 | $947 |
| Initial hospital admission, high complexity Initial hospital inpatient or observation care for a new patient involving high-level medical decision making, with at least 75 minutes total time on the date of the encounter. |
26 | $143 | $520 |
| 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. |
23 | $6 | $31 |
| Initial hospital admission, low complexity Initial hospital inpatient or observation care for a new patient involving straightforward or low-level medical decision making, with at least 40 minutes total time on the date of the encounter. |
23 | $68 | $262 |
| Continuous external EKG monitoring, 8-15 days This procedure involves recording heart rhythm continuously using an external EKG device over a period of 8 to 15 days. |
22 | $11 | $58 |
| New patient office visit, complex (60-74 min) | 22 | $133 | $598 |
| 3D ultrasound of heart for congenital heart defects This procedure uses three-dimensional ultrasound imaging to evaluate the structure of the heart during an assessment for congenital heart defects. |
15 | $18 | $241 |
| 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. |
14 | $98 | $269 |
| Hospital discharge management, 30+ min This service covers the care provided by a physician or qualified healthcare professional on the day a patient is discharged from the hospital. It requires more than 30 minutes of total time spent on the day of discharge. |
14 | $95 | $279 |
| Ultrasound of heart with contrast injection An ultrasound of the heart is performed while injecting an X-ray contrast agent to improve the clarity of the images. |
12 | $31 | $135 |
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.
3.0% high complexity
93.5% medium
3.4% routine
Industry Payment Transparency
Open Payments through 2024 ↗$8,628
Total received (2018-2024)
Avg $1,233/year across 7 years
Top 30% in CA for cardiovascular disease
A higher payment rank reflects disclosed industry relationships (consulting, research, speaking) common among subspecialists — not wrongdoing.
27
Companies
101
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
$5,625 (65.2%)
Meals & Travel
Food, beverages, travel, and lodging — typically low-value
$3,003 (34.8%)
Payment trend by year
Annual totals from pharmaceutical and medical device companies.
2024
$78
2023
$254
2022
$266
2021
$60
2020
$795
2019
$3,237
2018
$3,938
Payments by company (2024)
Consulting
Speaking
Meals & Travel
Research
iRhythm Technologies, Inc.
$40
Boston Scientific Corporation
$19
ViiV Healthcare Company
$18
Top 3 companies account for 100.0% of 2024 payments
All-time payments by company (2018-2024) ›
Boston Scientific Corporation
$5,699
Eko Devices, Inc.
$648
iRhythm Technologies, Inc.
$553
Novartis Pharmaceuticals Corporation
$228
ZOLL Services LLC (A/K/A ZOLL LifeCor Corp)
$208
E.R. Squibb & Sons, L.L.C.
$208
Amgen Inc.
$154
BIOTRONIK INC.
$148
AstraZeneca Pharmaceuticals LP
$127
Janssen Pharmaceuticals, Inc
$122
HeartFlow, Inc.
$108
Braemar Manufacturing, LLC
$70
PFIZER INC.
$54
Lantheus Medical Imaging, Inc.
$47
Amarin Pharma Inc.
$41
Medtronic Vascular, Inc.
$41
Bayer HealthCare Pharmaceuticals Inc.
$27
PORTOLA PHARMACEUTICALS, INC.
$19
Otsuka America Pharmaceutical, Inc.
$19
ViiV Healthcare Company
$18
Preventice Services, LLC
$16
SANOFI-AVENTIS U.S. LLC
$14
Sanofi Pasteur Inc.
$13
Relypsa, Inc.
$13
Merck Sharp & Dohme Corporation
$12
Duchesnay USA Incorporated
$12
United Therapeutics Corporation
$11
Top 3 companies account for 80.0% of all-time payments
Associated products mentioned in payments ›
ANDEXXA · Bonjesta · CABENUVA · Cardiac Monitoring Suite · Corlanor · Definity · ELIQUIS · ENTRESTO · FLUZONE HIGH-DOSE · Kyleena · LEQVIO · LUX-Dx Insertable Cardiac Monitor · LifeVest · ORENITRAM · PRALUENT · PREVNAR 13 · Repatha · Reveal LINQ · SAMSCA · Vascepa · Veltassa · WATCHMAN · WATCHMAN Access System · WATCHMAN FLX · XARELTO · ZIO Patch · ZIO XT Patch · ZOSTAVAX
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 (65%) are for speaking programs and promotional activities, which reflect participation in industry-sponsored educational or marketing events. This is common in cardiovascular disease and does not inherently indicate bias, but patients may wish to be aware.
Geographic Context
Cardiologists within 10 mi
248
Per 100K population
7.6
County median income
$102,285
Nearest hospital
SCRIPPS MEMORIAL HOSPITAL LA JOLLA
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. Gonzalez is a mixed practice specialist, with above-average Medicare volume (top 1% in CA), with speaking/promotional industry engagement, 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. Gonzalez experienced with contrast dye for imaging (iodine-based)?
Based on Medicare claims data, Dr. Gonzalez performed 17,493 contrast dye for imaging (iodine-based) 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. Gonzalez receive payments from pharmaceutical companies?
Yes. Dr. Gonzalez received a total of $8,628 from 27 companies across 101 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. Gonzalez's costs compare to other cardiologists in La Jolla?
Dr. Gonzalez's average Medicare payment per service is $10. 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. Gonzalez) 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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