Medicare Enrolled
Dr. Sam Pourbabak, MD
Endocrinology · Lake Forest, 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. Pourbabak 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. Pourbabak
Dr. Sam Pourbabak is an endocrinology specialist in Lake Forest, CA, with 20 years of NPI registration. Based on federal Medicare data, Dr. Pourbabak performed 16,679 Medicare services across 8,822 unique beneficiaries.
Between the years covered by Open Payments, Dr. Pourbabak received a total of $30,848 from 74 pharmaceutical and/or device companies across 1004 individual payments. These payments are legal, publicly disclosed under the federal Sunshine Act, and common in endocrinology. 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. Pourbabak 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 5% volume in CA
$30,848 industry payments
Medicare Practice Summary
Medicare Utilization ↗16,679
Medicare services
Top 5% in CA for endocrinology
8,822
Unique beneficiaries
$24
Avg. Medicare payment
Medicare patients only (65+ / disabled) · How to read this →
~834 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 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. |
771 | $99 | $264 |
| Chronic care management, first 20 min/month This service covers the first 20 minutes of clinical staff time directed by a healthcare professional each calendar month to manage chronic conditions. |
732 | $51 | $123 |
| Blood draw (venipuncture) Insertion of a needle into a vein to collect a blood sample. |
724 | $8 | $20 |
| Thyroid stimulating hormone (TSH) test A blood test that measures the level of thyroid stimulating hormone to evaluate thyroid function. |
719 | $16 | $54 |
| Complete blood count (CBC) with differential An automated laboratory test that measures the levels of red blood cells, white blood cells, and platelets in the blood, including a breakdown of the different types of white blood cells. |
712 | $8 | $30 |
| Free thyroxine (T4) test A blood test that measures the level of free thyroxine, a thyroid hormone, in the bloodstream. |
708 | $9 | $60 |
| Total T3 thyroid hormone test A blood test that measures the total amount of triiodothyronine (T3) hormone in your body. T3 is a thyroid hormone that helps regulate metabolism and energy levels. |
708 | $14 | $45 |
| Basic metabolic blood panel A blood test that measures a group of basic chemicals, including total calcium levels. |
707 | $8 | $42 |
| Lipid panel (cholesterol and triglycerides) A blood test that measures cholesterol and triglyceride levels. |
703 | $13 | $51 |
| Vitamin D level test A blood test to measure the amount of Vitamin D-3 in your body. |
696 | $29 | $95 |
| Parathyroid hormone level test A blood test that measures the amount of parathyroid hormone in your body. This hormone helps regulate calcium levels in the blood and bones. |
696 | $40 | $132 |
| Liver function blood test panel | 695 | $8 | $41 |
| Folic acid level test A blood test that measures the amount of folic acid in the serum. |
681 | $14 | $47 |
| Vitamin B-12 level test A blood test that measures the amount of vitamin B-12 in your body. |
679 | $15 | $53 |
| Magnesium level test A blood test to measure the amount of magnesium in your body. This helps check for magnesium deficiency or excess. |
643 | $7 | $38 |
| Phosphate level test A blood test that measures the amount of phosphate in your body. Phosphate is a mineral that helps keep bones and teeth strong. |
619 | $5 | $33 |
| Hemoglobin A1c test (diabetes monitoring) A blood test that measures your average blood sugar levels over the past two to three months. |
603 | $10 | $32 |
| Microsomal antibody test A blood test that measures the level of microsomal antibodies, which are autoantibodies produced by the immune system. |
550 | $14 | $90 |
| Iron level test | 343 | $6 | $21 |
| Iron binding capacity test A blood test that measures the amount of iron in the blood and the blood's ability to bind and transport iron. |
343 | $9 | $29 |
| Ferritin level test (iron stores) A blood test that measures the level of ferritin, a protein that stores iron in the body. |
341 | $13 | $45 |
| Ultrasound of head and neck soft tissue This procedure uses sound waves to create images of the soft tissues in the head and neck area. It allows for the visualization of structures beneath the skin without using radiation. |
336 | $92 | $253 |
| Diabetes self-management training, individual Individualized education and training for managing diabetes, billed per 30-minute session. |
307 | $45 | $116 |
| Annual alcohol misuse screening, 5 to 15 minutes | 236 | $20 | $39 |
| Follicle stimulating hormone (FSH) level A blood test to measure the level of follicle stimulating hormone, a reproductive hormone. |
190 | $18 | $83 |
| Luteinizing hormone level test A blood test that measures the level of luteinizing hormone, a reproductive hormone. This test helps evaluate hormonal balance and reproductive function. |
190 | $18 | $83 |
| Total estradiol level test A blood test that measures the total amount of estradiol, a form of estrogen, in the body. |
185 | $27 | $85 |
| Total testosterone level test A blood test that measures the total amount of testosterone in your body. This hormone is important for various bodily functions in both men and women. |
184 | $25 | $83 |
| Sex hormone binding globulin level test A blood test that measures the level of sex hormone binding globulin, a protein that binds to sex hormones in the bloodstream. |
182 | $21 | $40 |
| Obesity behavioral counseling, 15 minutes A 15-minute face-to-face session focused on behavioral counseling to help manage obesity. |
134 | $27 | $54 |
| Continuous glucose monitoring, tissue fluid This procedure involves continuous monitoring of blood sugar levels in tissue fluid using a sensor placed under the skin. |
103 | $55 | $138 |
| Total cortisol level test A blood test that measures the total amount of cortisol hormone in your body. Cortisol is a hormone produced by the adrenal glands. |
96 | $16 | $60 |
| 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. |
93 | $139 | $369 |
| Uric acid level test A blood test that measures the level of uric acid in your body. Uric acid is a waste product formed when the body breaks down purines. |
92 | $4 | $21 |
| Drug injection, under skin or into muscle A procedure involving the administration of a medication or substance via injection into the subcutaneous tissue or muscle. |
89 | $11 | $44 |
| Chronic care management, additional 20 min/month This service covers an extra 20 minutes of clinical staff time directed by a healthcare professional for managing two or more chronic conditions each calendar month. |
89 | $39 | $92 |
| DHEA-S hormone level test A blood test that measures the level of dehydroepiandrosterone sulfate (DHEA-S), a hormone produced by the adrenal glands. |
84 | $22 | $40 |
| Creatinine test (kidney function) A blood test that measures the amount of creatinine to assess kidney function or detect muscle injury. |
82 | $5 | $11 |
| Urine microalbumin test (kidney screening) A laboratory test that measures the amount of microalbumin, a small protein, in a urine sample. This test is used to detect early signs of kidney damage. |
81 | $6 | $11 |
| New patient office visit, complex (60-74 min) | 74 | $172 | $463 |
| Vitamin B-12 injection An injection of vitamin B-12 (cyanocobalamin) with a dose of up to 1000 mcg. |
74 | $1 | $12 |
| PSA test (prostate cancer screening) | 68 | $18 | $34 |
| Cardiac enzyme level (CK-MB) test A blood test that measures the total level of creatine kinase, specifically the cardiac enzyme fraction, to help evaluate heart muscle damage. |
67 | $6 | $21 |
| Progesterone level test A blood test that measures the amount of progesterone, a reproductive hormone, in your body. |
59 | $20 | $75 |
| COVID-19 antibody test A blood test that measures antibodies to severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (COVID-19). It detects the presence of immune response markers to the virus. |
51 | $41 | $76 |
| C-peptide level test A blood test that measures the amount of C-peptide, a protein produced along with insulin, to help evaluate insulin production and diabetes management. |
42 | $20 | $66 |
| Blood glucose test using hand-held instrument A test that measures the level of sugar in the blood using a portable device. The result helps monitor blood glucose levels. |
40 | $3 | $5 |
| Flu vaccine administration This procedure involves the administration of the influenza virus vaccine. It covers the process of delivering the vaccine to the patient. |
32 | $23 | $23 |
| Quadrivalent influenza vaccine, cell-culture derived A flu shot containing four strains of influenza virus, produced using cell culture technology rather than eggs. This formulation is free from preservatives and antibiotics. |
30 | $33 | $112 |
| Assessment of emotional or behavioral problems An evaluation to identify and understand emotional or behavioral issues. This process involves reviewing symptoms and behaviors to determine the nature of the concerns. |
16 | $4 | $11 |
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 ↗$30,848
Total received (2018-2024)
Avg $4,407/year across 7 years
Top 10% in CA for endocrinology
A higher payment rank reflects disclosed industry relationships (consulting, research, speaking) common among subspecialists — not wrongdoing.
74
Companies
1,004
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
$15,626 (50.7%)
Meals & Travel
Food, beverages, travel, and lodging — typically low-value
$15,222 (49.3%)
Payment trend by year
Annual totals from pharmaceutical and medical device companies.
2024
$6,150
2023
$4,271
2022
$3,489
2021
$4,426
2020
$3,595
2019
$5,220
2018
$3,697
Payments by company (2024)
Consulting
Speaking
Meals & Travel
Research
ABBVIE INC.
$3,529
Boehringer Ingelheim Pharmaceuticals, Inc.
$319
Novo Nordisk Inc
$269
Amgen Inc.
$191
Antares Pharma, Inc.
$180
Abbott Laboratories
$179
Lilly USA, LLC
$149
Dexcom, Inc.
$143
Otsuka America Pharmaceutical, Inc.
$136
SANOFI-AVENTIS U.S. LLC
$87
OPKO Pharmaceuticals, LLC
$84
Insulet Corporation
$77
Embecta Corp.
$73
Averitas Pharma Inc.
$67
Bayer Healthcare Pharmaceuticals Inc.
$64
Xeris Pharmaceuticals, Inc.
$62
CALLIDITAS THERAPEUTICS US INC.
$57
Verity Pharmaceuticals Inc.
$43
Madrigal Pharmaceuticals
$43
RECORDATI_RARE_DISEASES_INC.
$42
Inari Medical, Inc.
$38
Alexion Pharmaceuticals, Inc.
$37
Esperion Therapeutics, Inc.
$32
Mannkind Corporation
$31
Astellas Pharma US Inc
$30
AstraZeneca Pharmaceuticals LP
$29
Exact Sciences Corporation
$27
Corcept Therapeutics
$25
Novartis Pharmaceuticals Corporation
$23
SCILEX PHARMACEUTICALS INC.
$17
BETA BIONICS, INC.
$17
Rhythm Pharmaceuticals, Inc.
$15
Tolmar, Inc.
$13
Currax Pharmaceuticals LLC
$13
CeQur Corporation
$11
Top 3 companies account for 66.9% of 2024 payments
All-time payments by company (2018-2024) ›
ABBVIE INC.
$6,803
AbbVie, Inc.
$4,504
AbbVie Inc.
$4,318
Lilly USA, LLC
$1,653
Novo Nordisk Inc
$1,335
Boehringer Ingelheim Pharmaceuticals, Inc.
$1,242
AstraZeneca Pharmaceuticals LP
$991
Amgen Inc.
$883
Otsuka America Pharmaceutical, Inc.
$749
SANOFI-AVENTIS U.S. LLC
$734
MannKind Corporation
$691
Abbott Laboratories
$661
Mannkind Corporation
$561
Corcept Therapeutics
$502
Amarin Pharma Inc.
$500
Insulet Corporation
$472
Bayer HealthCare Pharmaceuticals Inc.
$286
Antares Pharma, Inc.
$260
Kowa Pharmaceuticals America, Inc.
$227
Dexcom, Inc.
$221
Xeris Pharmaceuticals, Inc.
$208
Alexion Pharmaceuticals, Inc.
$202
Merck Sharp & Dohme Corporation
$197
Mallinckrodt Hospital Products Inc.
$153
Zealand Pharma US, Inc.
$150
Valeritas, Inc.
$133
OPKO Pharmaceuticals, LLC
$117
Esperion Therapeutics, Inc.
$109
IBSA Pharma Inc.
$108
Embecta Corp.
$100
Novartis Pharmaceuticals Corporation
$98
CeQur Corporation
$97
CALLIDITAS THERAPEUTICS US INC.
$96
Bayer Healthcare Pharmaceuticals Inc.
$93
Calliditas Therapeutics US Inc.
$92
Horizon Therapeutics plc
$87
DEXCOM, INC.
$85
Merck Sharp & Dohme LLC
$74
Averitas Pharma Inc.
$67
Currax Pharmaceuticals LLC
$66
RECORDATI_RARE_DISEASES_INC.
$59
Acerus Pharmaceuticals Corporation
$58
Endo Pharmaceuticals Inc.
$47
Radius Health, Inc.
$45
Alvogen Inc
$44
Verity Pharmaceuticals Inc.
$43
Madrigal Pharmaceuticals
$43
Ultragenyx Pharmaceutical Inc.
$41
Relypsa, Inc.
$40
PFIZER INC.
$38
Inari Medical, Inc.
$38
GlaxoSmithKline, LLC.
$35
Astellas Pharma US Inc
$30
Exact Sciences Corporation
$27
Daiichi Sankyo Inc.
$23
Exeltis, USA Inc.
$23
Takeda Pharmaceuticals U.S.A., Inc.
$22
Becton, Dickinson and Company
$21
Aegerion Pharmaceuticals, Inc.
$21
Biohaven Pharmaceuticals, Inc.
$19
SCILEX PHARMACEUTICALS INC.
$17
BETA BIONICS, INC.
$17
Medtronic MiniMed, Inc.
$16
Kyowa Kirin, Inc.
$16
Boston Scientific Corporation
$16
Alfasigma USA, Inc.
$16
Regeneron Healthcare Solutions, Inc.
$15
Allergan, Inc.
$15
Rhythm Pharmaceuticals, Inc.
$15
Nalpropion Pharmaceuticals LLC
$14
Tolmar, Inc.
$13
Aytu BioScience, Inc
$13
Seqirus USA Inc
$12
Gemini Laboratories, LLC
$12
Top 3 companies account for 50.7% of all-time payments
Associated products mentioned in payments ›
ACTHAR · AFREZZA · AIRSUPRA · APIDRA · Aimovig · Androgel · BAQSIMI · BASAGLAR · BD Nano · BD Nano 2nd Gen Pen Needle · BELSOMRA · BOOSTRIX · BOTOX · CONTRAVE · CRYSVITA · CeQur Simplicity · Cologuard Collection Kit · Creon · DEXCOM CGM · DEXCOM G6 TRANSMITTER · Dexcom CGM · Dexcom G6 Transmitter · EMGALITY · ENTRESTO · EVENITY · FARXIGA · FASENRA · FLOWTRIEVER CATHETER · FREESTYLE LIBRE 3 · Fluad · FreeStyle Libre · FreeStyle Libre blood glucose Flash Monitoring System · GVOKE HYPOPEN · GVOKE PFS · HUMALOG · HUMULIN · IMCIVREE · INJECTAFER · ISTURISA · JANUVIA · JARDIANCE · JATENZO · JYNARQUE · KRYSTEXXA · Kerendia · Korlym · LEQVIO · LICART · LINZESS · LYRICA · LYUMJEV · Livalo · MOUNJARO · MYALEPT · Minimed 670G System · NASCOBAL · NEXLETOL · NO PRODUCT DISCUSSED · NOCDURNA · NURTEC ODT · Natesto · OTREXUP · Omnipod · Ozempic · PRALUENT ALIROCUMAB INJECTION · Prolia · QULIPTA · QUTENZA · RAYALDEE · RAYOS · RECORLEV · RESMETIROM · RYBELSUS · Repatha · Rybelsus · S · SAMSCA · SHINGRIX · SIGNIFOR LAR · SLYND · SOLIQUA · SOLIQUA 100/33 · SOMAVERT · STEGLATRO · STRENSIQ · SYNJARDY · SYNTHROID · Saxenda · Strensiq · Synthroid · TARPEYO · TEPEZZA · TERIPARATIDE · TOUJEO · TRINTELLIX · TRULICITY · TZIELD · Tirosint · Tlando · Tymlos · UBRELVY · UNITHROID · V-GO · V-GO DISPOSABLE INSULIN DELIVERY · VERQUVO · VRAYLAR · Vascepa · Veltassa · Veozah · Victoza · WaveWriter Alpha Prime 16 · Wegovy · XYOSTED · ZEGALOGUE · ZEPBOUND · ZTLido · iLet Bionic Pancreas
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 (51%) are for speaking programs and promotional activities, which reflect participation in industry-sponsored educational or marketing events. This is common in endocrinology and does not inherently indicate bias, but patients may wish to be aware. Total industry engagement is in the top 10% for endocrinology in CA.
Geographic Context
Endocrinologists within 10 mi
97
Per 100K population
3.1
County median income
$113,702
Nearest hospital
PROVIDENCE MISSION HOSPITAL
2.5 mi
2.5 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. Pourbabak is a mixed practice specialist, with above-average Medicare volume (top 5% in CA), with speaking/promotional industry engagement in the top 10% 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. Pourbabak experienced with office visit, established patient (30-39 min)?
Based on Medicare claims data, Dr. Pourbabak performed 771 office visit, established patient (30-39 min) 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. Pourbabak receive payments from pharmaceutical companies?
Yes. Dr. Pourbabak received a total of $30,848 from 74 companies across 1,004 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. Pourbabak's costs compare to other endocrinologists in Lake Forest?
Dr. Pourbabak's average Medicare payment per service is $24. 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. Pourbabak) 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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