Medicare Enrolled
Dr. Sandy Kuo, M.D.
Procedural Dermatology Physician · Long Beach, 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. Kuo 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. Kuo
Dr. Sandy Kuo is a procedural dermatology physician in Long Beach, CA, with 11 years of NPI registration. Based on federal Medicare data, Dr. Kuo performed 5,683 Medicare services across 2,693 unique beneficiaries.
Between the years covered by Open Payments, Dr. Kuo received a total of $9,135 from 47 pharmaceutical and/or device companies across 406 individual payments. These payments are legal, publicly disclosed under the federal Sunshine Act, and common in procedural dermatology physician. 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. Kuo 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.
✓ 11 years in practice
▲ Top 26% volume in CA
$9,135 industry payments
Medicare Practice Summary
Medicare Utilization ↗5,683
Medicare services
Top 26% in CA for procedural dermatology physician
2,693
Unique beneficiaries
$46
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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Destruction of precancerous skin growths, 2-14 This procedure involves the removal or destruction of two to fourteen precancerous skin lesions. It is performed to eliminate abnormal skin cells that have the potential to develop into cancer. |
2,451 | $6 | $34 |
| 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. |
932 | $71 | $132 |
| Destruction of precancerous skin growth, 1 Removal of a single precancerous skin growth. This procedure destroys abnormal skin cells to prevent them from developing into cancer. |
710 | $44 | $149 |
| 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. |
417 | $102 | $197 |
| Skin biopsy, tangential A procedure to remove a sample of the first identified skin growth for laboratory examination. |
367 | $81 | $181 |
| Destruction of skin growths (warts/lesions), 1-14 This procedure involves the removal or destruction of one to fourteen skin growths. It is a minor surgical intervention performed on the skin surface. |
345 | $98 | $184 |
| Destruction of 15 or more precancerous skin growths This procedure involves the removal or destruction of fifteen or more precancerous skin lesions. It is performed to treat abnormal skin cells that have the potential to develop into cancer. |
94 | $148 | $453 |
| Additional skin growth biopsy Removal of a sample of an additional skin growth for laboratory examination. This code is used for each extra lesion biopsied during the same session. |
79 | $46 | $98 |
| New patient office visit (30-44 min) An initial office visit for a new patient lasting between 30 and 44 minutes. This code is used when the total time spent on the date of the encounter falls within this range. |
44 | $80 | $198 |
| Tissue pathology examination, moderate complexity A laboratory test where a pathologist examines tissue samples under a microscope to analyze cellular details. This intermediate complexity procedure involves specialized techniques to identify abnormalities in the tissue. |
42 | $63 | $159 |
| Intermediate wound repair, 2.6-7.5 cm A medical procedure to close a wound on the scalp, underarms, trunk, arms, or legs that measures between 2.6 and 7.5 centimeters. This type of repair involves cleaning the wound and stitching it closed to promote healing. |
37 | $272 | $568 |
| Steroid injection (triamcinolone) A 10 mg injection of triamcinolone acetonide, a corticosteroid medication. This code specifies the drug and dosage administered. |
37 | $1 | $3 |
| Office visit, established patient (10-19 min) An office visit for an existing patient lasting 10 to 19 minutes. The visit involves medical evaluation and management of the patient's condition. |
35 | $44 | $81 |
| Injection into skin growths, 1-7 A procedure involving the injection of medication into one to seven skin growths. |
33 | $35 | $104 |
| 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. |
25 | $129 | $299 |
| Surgical removal of skin cancer, 1.1-2.0 cm Surgical excision of a cancerous skin growth measuring between 1.1 and 2.0 centimeters on the body, arms, or legs. |
22 | $112 | $456 |
| Ear tissue biopsy A procedure to remove a small sample of tissue from the ear for laboratory examination. |
13 | $55 | $170 |
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 ↗$9,135
Total received (2018-2024)
Avg $1,305/year across 7 years
Top 24% in CA for procedural dermatology physician
A higher payment rank reflects disclosed industry relationships (consulting, research, speaking) common among subspecialists — not wrongdoing.
47
Companies
406
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
$9,015 (98.7%)
Speaking / Promotional
Speaker programs, honoraria, and industry-sponsored educational events
$120 (1.3%)
Payment trend by year
Annual totals from pharmaceutical and medical device companies.
2024
$2,520
2023
$3,095
2022
$1,299
2021
$437
2020
$213
2019
$1,395
2018
$176
Payments by company (2024)
Consulting
Speaking
Meals & Travel
Research
ABBVIE INC.
$516
GENZYME CORPORATION
$462
Janssen Biotech, Inc.
$181
Lilly USA, LLC
$151
UCB, Inc.
$140
LEO Pharma Inc.
$129
STRATA Skin Sciences, Inc.
$112
Amgen Inc.
$110
Novartis Pharmaceuticals Corporation
$100
MERZ NORTH AMERICA, INC.
$86
Almirall LLC
$75
Regeneron Healthcare Solutions, Inc.
$57
Galderma Laboratories, L.P.
$57
E.R. Squibb & Sons, L.L.C.
$54
PFIZER INC.
$51
Incyte Corporation
$51
Arcutis Biotherapeutics, Inc.
$44
SUN PHARMACEUTICAL INDUSTRIES INC.
$44
Boehringer Ingelheim Pharmaceuticals, Inc.
$31
Sandoz Inc.
$27
Fresenius Kabi USA, LLC
$21
Solta Medical, a division of Bausch Health US, LLC
$19
Top 3 companies account for 46.0% of 2024 payments
All-time payments by company (2018-2024) ›
ABBVIE INC.
$1,406
GENZYME CORPORATION
$1,026
Novartis Pharmaceuticals Corporation
$698
Janssen Biotech, Inc.
$578
LEO Pharma Inc.
$501
Regeneron Healthcare Solutions, Inc.
$432
PFIZER INC.
$416
Lilly USA, LLC
$344
UCB, Inc.
$321
Amgen Inc.
$242
Almirall LLC
$240
Incyte Corporation
$221
Merz North America, Inc.
$181
Allergan Inc.
$175
Galderma Laboratories, L.P.
$165
Genentech USA, Inc.
$164
Sun Pharmaceutical Industries Inc.
$157
Biofrontera Inc.
$154
Boehringer Ingelheim Pharmaceuticals, Inc.
$147
Dermavant Sciences, Inc.
$136
Celgene Corporation
$123
STRATA Skin Sciences, Inc.
$112
MERZ NORTH AMERICA, INC.
$104
Allergan, Inc.
$93
E.R. Squibb & Sons, L.L.C.
$84
Mayne Pharma Inc.
$82
Fresenius Kabi USA, LLC
$77
DUSA Pharmaceuticals, Inc.
$72
Arcutis Biotherapeutics, Inc.
$67
SUN PHARMACEUTICAL INDUSTRIES INC.
$67
Journey Medical Corporation
$63
MAYNE PHARMA COMMERCIAL LLC
$49
AbbVie Inc.
$45
AbbVie, Inc.
$45
Verrica Pharmaceuticals Inc.
$43
Solta Medical, a division of Bausch Health US, LLC
$39
Helsinn Therapeutics (U.S.), Inc.
$34
PruGen, Inc. Pharmaceuticals
$33
Blueprint Medicines Corporation
$29
Sandoz Inc.
$27
Lifenet Health
$26
Aclaris Therapeutics, Inc.
$25
Kyowa Kirin, Inc.
$24
MAYNE PHARMA INC.
$18
VYNE Pharmaceuticals Inc.
$17
Merck Sharp & Dohme Corporation
$17
Teva Pharmaceuticals USA, Inc.
$16
Top 3 companies account for 34.3% of all-time payments
Associated products mentioned in payments ›
20% · ADBRY · AJOVY · AKLIEF · AMELUZ · AMZEEQ · AYVAKIT · Ameluz · BLU-U · BOTOX COSMETIC · Bimzelx · CIBINQO · COSENTYX · Cimzia · Clear & Brilliant · DORYX · DUPIXENT · ENSTILAR · EPIDUO FORTE · EUCRISA · Erivedge · HUMIRA · HYRIMOZ · IDACIO · Klisyri · LEVULAN KERASTICK · LIBTAYO · Levulan Kerastick (aminolevulinic acid HCl) for Topical Solution · ODOMZO · OPZELURA · Odomzo · Otezla · Poteligeo · QBREXZA · REMICADE · RHOFADE · RINVOQ · SIVEXTRO · SKYRIZI · SPEVIGO · Seysara · Skyrizi · Sotyktu · TALTZ · TREMFYA · TheraGenesis Wound Matrix · VALCHLOR · VTAMA · Winlevi · XTRAC · Xeomin · Xolegel · YCANTH · Zoryve
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 (99%) are for meals and travel — low-value interactions that are common across virtually all practicing physicians.
Geographic Context
Procedural dermatology physicians within 10 mi
22
Per 100K population
0.2
County median income
$87,760
Nearest hospital
VA LONG BEACH HEALTHCARE SYSTEM
1.2 mi
1.2 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. Kuo is a clinical cardiology specialist, with above-average Medicare volume (top 26% in CA), with low-engagement industry engagement.
This summary is auto-generated from federal data, describing data availability and patterns. Read our methodology →
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Dr. Kuo experienced with destruction of precancerous skin growths, 2-14?
Based on Medicare claims data, Dr. Kuo performed 2,451 destruction of precancerous skin growths, 2-14 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. Kuo receive payments from pharmaceutical companies?
Yes. Dr. Kuo received a total of $9,135 from 47 companies across 406 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. Kuo's costs compare to other procedural dermatology physicians in Long Beach?
Dr. Kuo's average Medicare payment per service is $46. 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. Kuo) 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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