Medicare Enrolled
Dr. Er-Kai Gao, M.D.
Neurology · La Mesa, CA
Practice pattern: Clinical Cardiology
— Primarily office-based clinical cardiology
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. Gao 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. Gao
Dr. Er-Kai Gao is a neurology specialist in La Mesa, CA, with 19 years of NPI registration. Based on federal Medicare data, Dr. Gao performed 4,436 Medicare services across 1,871 unique beneficiaries.
Between the years covered by Open Payments, Dr. Gao received a total of $38,795 from 87 pharmaceutical and/or device companies across 1125 individual payments. These payments are legal, publicly disclosed under the federal Sunshine Act, and common in neurology. 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. Gao 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.
✓ 19 years in practice
▲ Top 16% volume in CA
$38,795 industry payments
Medicare Practice Summary
Medicare Utilization ↗4,436
Medicare services
Top 16% in CA for neurology
1,871
Unique beneficiaries
$111
Avg. Medicare payment
Medicare patients only (65+ / disabled) · How to read this →
~233 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Nursing facility visit, moderate complexity A follow-up visit by a healthcare provider at a nursing facility for an established patient. The visit involves moderate medical decision making and takes at least 30 minutes. |
1,744 | $87 | $150 |
| 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. |
952 | $98 | $290 |
| 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. |
440 | $144 | $393 |
| Initial nursing facility care, high complexity An initial visit by a healthcare provider to a patient in a nursing facility involving a high level of medical decision making, lasting at least 45 minutes. |
300 | $150 | $300 |
| 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. |
188 | $98 | $215 |
| New patient office visit, complex (60-74 min) | 121 | $167 | $479 |
| Electromyography of arm or leg muscles A test that measures the electrical activity in the muscles of the arm or leg using a needle electrode. It helps evaluate the health of muscles and the nerve cells that control them. |
103 | $87 | $230 |
| Telephone medical discussion, 21-30 minutes A telephone conversation with a physician lasting between 21 and 30 minutes. This code covers the time spent discussing medical matters over the phone. |
90 | $74 | $200 |
| Nerve conduction studies, 11-12 A diagnostic test that measures how well nerves send electrical signals. It involves performing 11 to 12 separate nerve conduction studies. |
77 | $211 | $566 |
| EEG brain wave test, 61-119 minutes This procedure measures electrical activity in the brain using electrodes placed on the scalp. It records brain wave patterns for a duration between 61 and 119 minutes. |
70 | $381 | $1,003 |
| Nerve conduction study, 9-10 studies A diagnostic test that measures how well nerves send electrical signals. It involves performing 9 to 10 separate nerve conduction studies to evaluate nerve function. |
65 | $186 | $487 |
| Neuropsychological test evaluation, first hour A professional assessment of cognitive and behavioral functioning using standardized tests. This service covers the initial hour of the evaluation process. |
57 | $101 | $278 |
| Psychological or neuropsychological test, first 30 minutes Administration of psychological or neuropsychological testing for the first 30 minutes. |
57 | $35 | $102 |
| 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. |
45 | $69 | $199 |
| EEG brain wave monitoring, 41-60 minutes This procedure involves monitoring and recording electrical activity in the brain using electrodes placed on the scalp for a duration of 41 to 60 minutes. |
38 | $300 | $813 |
| Smoking cessation counseling, more than 10 minutes Intensive counseling session focused on helping patients quit smoking and tobacco use, lasting more than 10 minutes. |
36 | $29 | $58 |
| 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 | $416 |
| 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. |
16 | $124 | $362 |
| Electromyography of 2 extremities A test that measures the electrical activity in the muscles of two arms or legs. It helps evaluate nerve and muscle function. |
11 | $143 | $377 |
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 ↗$38,795
Total received (2018-2024)
Avg $5,542/year across 7 years
Top 10% in CA for neurology
A higher payment rank reflects disclosed industry relationships (consulting, research, speaking) common among subspecialists — not wrongdoing.
87
Companies
1,125
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
$30,799 (79.4%)
Speaking / Promotional
Speaker programs, honoraria, and industry-sponsored educational events
$7,996 (20.6%)
Payment trend by year
Annual totals from pharmaceutical and medical device companies.
2024
$6,632
2023
$4,371
2022
$4,352
2021
$2,684
2020
$4,282
2019
$7,196
2018
$9,277
Payments by company (2024)
Consulting
Speaking
Meals & Travel
Research
UCB, Inc.
$1,357
ABBVIE INC.
$449
MDD US Operations, LLC
$379
Alexion Pharmaceuticals, Inc.
$343
EDW Pharma, Inc.
$331
Lilly USA, LLC
$303
Teva Pharmaceuticals USA, Inc.
$265
Lundbeck LLC
$242
Neurelis, Inc.
$239
Takeda Pharmaceuticals U.S.A., Inc.
$229
Eisai Inc.
$220
Neurocrine Biosciences, Inc.
$218
Alnylam Pharmaceuticals Inc.
$206
Amneal Pharmaceuticals LLC
$190
SK Life Science, Inc.
$187
PFIZER INC.
$178
ACADIA Pharmaceuticals Inc
$141
Genentech, Inc.
$135
Janssen Pharmaceuticals, Inc
$125
TG Therapeutics, Inc.
$113
ARGENX US, INC.
$112
Biogen, Inc.
$81
Genentech USA, Inc.
$68
Grifols USA, LLC
$64
Kyowa Kirin, Inc.
$64
Amgen Inc.
$59
CATALYST PHARMACEUTICALS, INC.
$50
MITSUBISHI TANABE PHARMA AMERICA, INC.
$43
LivaNova USA, Inc.
$42
Novartis Pharmaceuticals Corporation
$33
Otsuka America Pharmaceutical, Inc.
$30
InSightec,Inc
$27
Merz Pharmaceuticals, LLC
$26
Octapharma USA, Inc.
$22
AstraZeneca Pharmaceuticals LP
$22
Abbott Laboratories
$21
CSL Behring
$18
Top 3 companies account for 32.9% of 2024 payments
All-time payments by company (2018-2024) ›
Sunovion Pharmaceuticals Inc.
$8,152
UCB, Inc.
$3,189
LivaNova USA, Inc.
$2,846
Boston Scientific Corporation
$1,146
ABBVIE INC.
$1,044
Biogen, Inc.
$1,034
Alexion Pharmaceuticals, Inc.
$964
Neurelis, Inc.
$929
Teva Pharmaceuticals USA, Inc.
$896
Lilly USA, LLC
$891
Janssen Pharmaceuticals, Inc
$881
Alnylam Pharmaceuticals Inc.
$788
Novartis Pharmaceuticals Corporation
$784
SK Life Science, Inc.
$770
Amgen Inc.
$740
Neurocrine Biosciences, Inc.
$659
AstraZeneca Pharmaceuticals LP
$620
Eisai Inc.
$573
Lundbeck LLC
$573
Kyowa Kirin, Inc.
$571
Horizon Therapeutics plc
$490
MDD US Operations, LLC
$487
EMD Serono, Inc.
$475
Genentech USA, Inc.
$428
GENZYME CORPORATION
$428
ARGENX US, INC.
$394
GE HEALTHCARE
$388
ACADIA Pharmaceuticals Inc
$375
Biohaven Pharmaceutical Holding Company Ltd.
$371
Takeda Pharmaceuticals U.S.A., Inc.
$352
EDW Pharma, Inc.
$331
CSL Behring
$330
Abbott Laboratories
$303
AbbVie Inc.
$302
PFIZER INC.
$301
EISAI INC.
$299
Amneal Pharmaceuticals LLC
$291
Grifols USA, LLC
$280
Adamas Pharmaceuticals, Inc.
$277
Allergan, Inc.
$267
Medtronic, Inc.
$214
PORTOLA PHARMACEUTICALS, INC.
$194
Otsuka America Pharmaceutical, Inc.
$183
Supernus Pharmaceuticals, Inc.
$182
Acorda Therapeutics, Inc
$172
TG THERAPEUTICS, INC.
$149
BOSTON SCIENTIFIC CORPORATION
$145
Greenwich Biosciences, Inc.
$144
Genentech, Inc.
$135
JAZZ PHARMACEUTICALS INC.
$122
AbbVie, Inc.
$113
TG Therapeutics, Inc.
$113
US WorldMeds, LLC
$109
MITSUBISHI TANABE PHARMA AMERICA, INC.
$108
BANNER LIFE SCIENCES, LLC
$100
Assertio Therapeutics, Inc.
$95
Chiesi USA, Inc.
$91
Akcea Therapeutics, Inc.
$89
ARBOR PHARMACEUTICALS, INC.
$83
CATALYST PHARMACEUTICALS, INC.
$75
Daiichi Sankyo Inc.
$74
SANOFI-AVENTIS U.S. LLC
$70
Vertical Pharmaceuticals, LLC
$67
Vanda Pharmaceuticals Inc.
$65
Mitsubishi Tanabe Pharma America, Inc.
$62
Boehringer Ingelheim Pharmaceuticals, Inc.
$61
Avanir Pharmaceuticals, Inc.
$60
Almatica Pharma LLC
$44
Jazz Pharmaceuticals Inc.
$39
Banner Life Sciences, LLC
$34
Celgene Corporation
$28
Medtronic USA, Inc.
$27
InSightec,Inc
$27
Ipsen Biopharmaceuticals, Inc
$27
Catalyst Pharmaceuticals, Inc.
$26
Merz Pharmaceuticals, LLC
$26
Biohaven Pharmaceuticals, Inc.
$25
Amylyx Pharmaceuticals, Inc.
$24
Promius Pharma LLC
$23
Octapharma USA, Inc.
$22
Novo Nordisk Inc
$22
GRT US Holding, Inc.
$21
Medtronic Vascular, Inc.
$21
Avion Pharmaceuticals
$21
Arbor Pharmaceuticals, Inc.
$13
Strongbridge US INC.
$13
Impax Laboratories, Inc.
$12
Top 3 companies account for 36.6% of all-time payments
Associated products mentioned in payments ›
ADUHELM · AIMOVIG · AJOVY · AMPYRA · AMVUTTRA · AMYVID · ANDEXXA · APOKYN · APTIOM · AUBAGIO · AUSTEDO · Activase · Aimovig · Austedo XR · BAFIERTAM · BOTOX · BRILINTA · BRIUMVI · Briviact · CAMBIA · CLEVIPREX · COPAXONE · CREXONT · Cambia · DUOPA · Dayvigo · Dhivy · Duopa · Dysport · EMGALITY · EPIDIOLEX · Epidiolex · Exablate · FARXIGA · FIRDAPSE · FYCOMPA · Fintepla · Fycompa · GAMMAGARD · GENERAL DBS · GENERAL DBS · GENERAL - DBS · GILENYA · GOCOVRI · GRALISE · Gamunex-C · General - DBS · Gocovri · Gralise · HETLIOZ · HYQVIA · Hetlioz · Hizentra · Horizant · INBRIJA · INFINITY · INGREZZA · INJECTAFER · INTELLIS · Infinity DBS Pulse Generators · KESIMPTA · KEVEYIS · KISUNLA · KYNMOBI · LEMTRADA · LEQEMBI · LEQVIO · LINQ II · Leqembi · MAYZENT · MYOBLOC · Mavenclad · NORTHERA · NOURIANZ · NUEDEXTA · NUPLAZID · NURTEC ODT · Nayzilam · Neupro · Nourianz · OCREVUS · OCTAGAM IMMUNE GLOBULIN (HUMAN) · ONFI · ONGENTYS · ONPATTRO · OSMOLEX ER · OXTELLAR XR · Ocrevus · Ocrevus Zunovo · Ongentys · PANZYGA · PRADAXA · Ponvory · Privigen · QULIPTA · Qutenza · RADICAVA · RELEXXII · RELYVRIO · REVEAL LINQ · REXULTI · RYTARY · Radicava · Rebif · Repatha · Reveal LINQ · Rybelsus · Rystiggo · SOLIRIS · SPINRAZA · Soliris · TEGSEDI · TROKENDI XR · TYSABRI · Tiglutik · UBRELVY · ULTOMIRIS · UPLIZNA · VALTOCO · VERCISE · VNS THERAPY SENTIVA MODEL 1000 GENERATOR · VNS Therapy · VRAYLAR · VUMERITY · VYEPTI · VYVGART · VYVGART HYTRULO · Vimpat · WATCHMAN · XARELTO · XCOPRI · Xadago · Xeomin · ZEMBRACE SYMTOUCH · ZEPOSIA · Zilbrysq
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 (79%) are for meals and travel — low-value interactions that are common across virtually all practicing physicians. Total industry engagement is in the top 10% for neurology in CA.
Geographic Context
Neurologists within 10 mi
176
Per 100K population
5.4
County median income
$102,285
Nearest hospital
GROSSMONT 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. Gao is a clinical cardiology specialist, with above-average Medicare volume (top 16% in CA), with low-engagement industry engagement in the top 10% of CA peers, with 19 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. Gao experienced with nursing facility visit, moderate complexity?
Based on Medicare claims data, Dr. Gao performed 1,744 nursing facility visit, moderate complexity 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. Gao receive payments from pharmaceutical companies?
Yes. Dr. Gao received a total of $38,795 from 87 companies across 1,125 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. Gao's costs compare to other neurologists in La Mesa?
Dr. Gao's average Medicare payment per service is $111. 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. Gao) 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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