Medicare Enrolled
Dr. Nikunj Patel, M.D.
Radiation Oncology · La Jolla, CA
Practice pattern: Cardiac Imaging
— Practice with significant diagnostic imaging and stress testing
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. Patel 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. Patel?
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What this data tells you about Dr. Patel
Dr. Nikunj Patel is a radiation oncology specialist in La Jolla, CA, with 20 years of NPI registration. Based on federal Medicare data, Dr. Patel performed 4,013 Medicare services across 1,607 unique beneficiaries.
Between the years covered by Open Payments, Dr. Patel received a total of $38,902 from 36 pharmaceutical and/or device companies across 135 individual payments. These payments are legal, publicly disclosed under the federal Sunshine Act, and common in radiation oncology. 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. Patel 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.
✓ 20 years in practice
▲ Top 36% volume in CA
$38,902 industry payments
Medicare Practice Summary
Medicare Utilization ↗4,013
Medicare services
Top 36% in CA for radiation oncology
1,607
Unique beneficiaries
$190
Avg. Medicare payment
Medicare patients only (65+ / disabled) · How to read this →
~201 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. |
1,938 | $0 | $3 |
| Technetium Tc-99m tetrofosmin diagnostic injection A diagnostic injection of Technetium Tc-99m tetrofosmin used for imaging studies. |
344 | $76 | $389 |
| Piflufolastat F-18 diagnostic injection A diagnostic injection of the radioactive tracer piflufolastat F-18 used for imaging. The dose specified is 1 millicurie. |
234 | $489 | $1,852 |
| Fluorodeoxyglucose f-18 fdg, diagnostic, per study dose, up to 45 millicuries | 214 | $281 | $875 |
| Nuclear medicine scan from skull base to mid-thigh with CT A nuclear medicine imaging study covering the area from the base of the skull to the middle of the thighs, performed alongside a CT scan. |
200 | $1,454 | $9,332 |
| Nuclear stress test of heart muscle A nuclear medicine imaging test that evaluates blood flow to the heart muscle at rest and during stress using a special camera. |
172 | $398 | $2,645 |
| 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. |
121 | $7 | $47 |
| Rubidium rb-82, diagnostic, per study dose, up to 60 millicuries | 86 | $408 | $1,823 |
| Exercise or drug-induced heart stress test with ECG A heart stress test performed using exercise or medication while an electrocardiogram is monitored under physician supervision. |
74 | $17 | $80 |
| 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. |
61 | $28 | $187 |
| Nuclear medicine bone and joint scan A nuclear medicine imaging test that uses a radioactive tracer to examine multiple areas of the bones and joints. |
60 | $32 | $209 |
| Whole body bone and joint nuclear medicine scan A nuclear medicine imaging test that uses a radioactive tracer to create pictures of the entire skeleton and joints. This scan helps evaluate bone health and detect abnormalities throughout the body. |
47 | $30 | $215 |
| Whole body nuclear medicine scan with CT A combined imaging procedure using nuclear medicine and CT scans to visualize the entire body. |
46 | $1,464 | $9,381 |
| Nuclear medicine lung circulation study A nuclear medicine test that uses a small amount of radioactive material to create images of blood flow through the lungs. |
45 | $29 | $187 |
| Nuclear stress test with CT scan A nuclear medicine imaging test that evaluates blood flow in the heart muscle at rest and during stress, performed alongside a concurrent CT scan. |
42 | $1,660 | $10,599 |
| Radioactive drug therapy through a vein Administration of a radioactive medication directly into the bloodstream via an intravenous line. |
42 | $74 | $506 |
| Lymphatic system nuclear medicine study A nuclear medicine imaging test used to evaluate the structure and function of the lymphatic system. |
26 | $46 | $322 |
| 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. |
24 | $29 | $195 |
| Wrist X-ray, minimum 3 views An imaging test using X-rays to capture at least three different angles of the wrist bones and joints. |
24 | $36 | $241 |
| 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. |
21 | $31 | $220 |
| Parathyroid nuclear medicine study with SPECT/CT A nuclear medicine imaging test that uses a radioactive tracer to visualize the parathyroid glands, combined with SPECT and CT scans for detailed anatomical localization. |
21 | $58 | $395 |
| X-ray of lower and sacral spine, 2-3 views An X-ray imaging test that captures 2 to 3 views of the lower back and sacral spine to visualize the bones and joints in this area. |
19 | $31 | $223 |
| 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. |
19 | $34 | $229 |
| CT scan of chest, without contrast A computed tomography scan of the chest area that uses X-rays to create detailed images without the use of contrast dye. |
17 | $103 | $796 |
| Abdominal X-ray, 1 view An X-ray image of the abdomen taken from a single angle to visualize internal structures. |
17 | $7 | $47 |
| X-ray of hand, minimum of 3 views An X-ray imaging test of the hand that captures at least three different angles to visualize the bones and joints. |
16 | $34 | $240 |
| 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. |
16 | $36 | $292 |
| SPECT/CT scan, single area A nuclear medicine imaging study that combines single-photon emission computed tomography (SPECT) with a concurrent CT scan to create detailed images of a single body area. |
15 | $411 | $2,711 |
| Technetium Tc-99m pyrophosphate diagnostic injection A diagnostic injection of Technetium Tc-99m pyrophosphate used for imaging studies. The dose administered is up to 25 millicuries. |
15 | $45 | $200 |
| Knee X-ray, 4 or more views An imaging test using X-rays to create multiple pictures of the knee joint from different angles. |
14 | $40 | $483 |
| CT scan of abdomen and pelvis with contrast A CT scan that uses dye to create detailed images of the abdomen and pelvis. This imaging test helps doctors examine internal organs and structures in these areas. |
12 | $289 | $1,884 |
| Pelvis X-ray, 1-2 views An X-ray imaging test of the pelvic area using one to two different angles to visualize the bones and joints. |
11 | $7 | $46 |
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 ↗$38,902
Total received (2018-2024)
Avg $5,557/year across 7 years
Top 4% in CA for radiation oncology
A higher payment rank reflects disclosed industry relationships (consulting, research, speaking) common among subspecialists — not wrongdoing.
36
Companies
135
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
$38,881 (99.9%)
Speaking / Promotional
Speaker programs, honoraria, and industry-sponsored educational events
$21 (0.1%)
Payment trend by year
Annual totals from pharmaceutical and medical device companies.
2024
$3,406
2023
$29,868
2022
$273
2021
$273
2020
$159
2019
$589
2018
$4,334
Payments by company (2024)
Consulting
Speaking
Meals & Travel
Research
Telix Pharmaceuticals
$2,216
GE HEALTHCARE
$462
Barco, Inc.
$174
Philips North America LLC
$150
Siemens Medical Solutions USA, Inc.
$140
Novartis Pharmaceuticals Corporation
$121
Daiichi Sankyo Inc.
$44
United Imaging Healthcare North America LLC
$35
TerSera Therapeutics LLC
$35
Avid Radiopharmaceuticals, Inc.
$30
Top 3 companies account for 83.7% of 2024 payments
All-time payments by company (2018-2024) ›
Siemens Medical Solutions USA, Inc.
$13,356
Philips Electronics North America Corporation
$10,402
GE HealthCare
$10,298
Telix Pharmaceuticals
$2,243
GE HEALTHCARE
$471
FUJIFILM Healthcare Americas Corporation
$265
Barco, Inc.
$174
Philips North America LLC
$150
Novartis Pharmaceuticals Corporation
$139
Edwards Lifesciences Corporation
$132
PORTOLA PHARMACEUTICALS, LLC
$126
Biohaven Pharmaceutical Holding Company Ltd.
$125
SI-BONE, INC.
$121
Biohaven Pharmaceuticals, Inc.
$118
Boston Scientific Corporation
$117
Merck Sharp & Dohme Corporation
$107
Celgene Corporation
$59
E.R. Squibb & Sons, L.L.C.
$52
EISAI INC.
$45
Daiichi Sankyo Inc.
$44
Eisai Inc.
$36
United Imaging Healthcare North America LLC
$35
TerSera Therapeutics LLC
$35
Avid Radiopharmaceuticals, Inc.
$30
Progenics Pharmaceuticals, Inc.
$25
Bayer HealthCare Pharmaceuticals Inc.
$24
Alexion Pharmaceuticals, Inc.
$24
AMAG Pharmaceuticals, Inc.
$21
Pharmacyclics LLC, An AbbVie Company
$18
Takeda Pharmaceuticals U.S.A., Inc.
$18
AstraZeneca Pharmaceuticals LP
$17
Foundation Medicine, Inc.
$17
Sun Pharmaceutical Industries Inc.
$16
Boehringer Ingelheim Pharmaceuticals, Inc.
$15
CSL Behring
$15
Advanced Accelerator Applications
$12
Top 3 companies account for 87.5% of all-time payments
Associated products mentioned in payments ›
(4539) CT AMI Und · (8306) Azurion 7 B20 · (9547) IGT Systems Undivided · (O47) EI IntelliSpace PACS value add options · (U94) EI iSite PACS · ANDEXXA · ARTIS icono biplane · AZEDRA · Abraxane · Artis icono floor · Biograph mCT · Biograph mCT Flow · CC&HI Other · COSENTYX · Edwards SAPIEN 3 Transcatheter Heart Valve · FERAHEME · FOUNDATIONONE · GILOTRIF · IFUSE IMPLANT · ILLUCCIX · IMFINZI · INJECTAFER · Imbruvica · JADENU · KEYTRUDA · LENVIMA · LUTATHERA (lutetium Lu 177 dotatate) · Lenvima · MAGNETOM Aera · MAGNETOM Free.Max · MAGNETOM Sola · NURTEC ODT · Nexavar · OASIS · ODOMZO (sonidegib) capsules · OPDIVO · SCENARIA VIEW · SOMATOM Perspective · SOMATOM X.cite · ULTOMIRIS · US Options and Upgds · Vanflyta · WATCHMAN Access System · Xermelo · iSite PACS · uMI
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 4% for radiation oncology in CA.
Geographic Context
Radiation oncologists within 10 mi
438
Per 100K population
13.3
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. Patel is a cardiac imaging specialist, with moderate Medicare volume, with low-engagement industry engagement in the top 4% of CA peers, with 20 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. Patel experienced with contrast dye for imaging (iodine-based)?
Based on Medicare claims data, Dr. Patel performed 1,938 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. Patel receive payments from pharmaceutical companies?
Yes. Dr. Patel received a total of $38,902 from 36 companies across 135 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. Patel's costs compare to other radiation oncologists in La Jolla?
Dr. Patel's average Medicare payment per service is $190. 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. Patel) 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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