Medicare Enrolled
Dr. Benjamin Kretzmann, M.D.
Rheumatology · Los Angeles, CA
Practice pattern: Mixed Practice
— Diverse clinical practice across multiple procedure types
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. Kretzmann 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. Kretzmann
Dr. Benjamin Kretzmann is a rheumatology specialist in Los Angeles, CA, with 16 years of NPI registration. Based on federal Medicare data, Dr. Kretzmann performed 46,681 Medicare services across 3,608 unique beneficiaries.
Between the years covered by Open Payments, Dr. Kretzmann received a total of $1,129 from 9 pharmaceutical and/or device companies across 48 individual payments. These payments are legal, publicly disclosed under the federal Sunshine Act, and common in rheumatology. 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. Kretzmann 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.
✓ 16 years in practice
▲ Top 10% volume in CA
$1,129 industry payments
Medicare Practice Summary
Medicare Utilization ↗46,681
Medicare services
Top 10% in CA for rheumatology
3,608
Unique beneficiaries
$14
Avg. Medicare payment
Medicare patients only (65+ / disabled) · How to read this →
~2,918 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Certolizumab injection (Cimzia) An injection of certolizumab pegol administered under the direct supervision of a physician. |
22,800 | $4 | $12 |
| Denosumab injection (Prolia/Xgeva) | 7,393 | $19 | $60 |
| Golimumab infusion (Simponi Aria) Administration of golimumab medication directly into a vein. This code specifies the dosage amount of 1 milligram for intravenous delivery. |
5,750 | $11 | $60 |
| Infliximab infusion (Remicade) An injection of infliximab, excluding biosimilar versions, administered in a 10 mg dose. |
2,062 | $26 | $100 |
| Steroid injection (triamcinolone) A 10 mg injection of triamcinolone acetonide, a corticosteroid medication. This code specifies the drug and dosage administered. |
1,113 | $1 | $10 |
| 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. |
680 | $106 | $375 |
| Blood draw (venipuncture) Insertion of a needle into a vein to collect a blood sample. |
526 | $8 | $15 |
| Erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR) test A blood test that measures how quickly red blood cells settle in a test tube to detect inflammation in the body. This specific method is performed manually rather than using an automated machine. |
390 | $4 | $20 |
| C-reactive protein test (inflammation marker) A blood test that measures the level of C-reactive protein to detect the presence of infection or inflammation in the body. |
390 | $5 | $42 |
| 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. |
386 | $8 | $45 |
| Comprehensive metabolic blood panel A blood test that measures a group of chemicals, including glucose, electrolytes, and kidney and liver function markers. |
384 | $10 | $105 |
| Normal saline infusion, 250 cc Administration of 250 cubic centimeters of normal saline solution into a vein. This procedure involves the intravenous delivery of a sterile saltwater fluid. |
349 | $1 | $45 |
| Non-hormonal chemotherapy injection This procedure involves administering non-hormonal anti-neoplastic chemotherapy medication via injection into the skin or muscle tissue. |
338 | $67 | $185 |
| Complement and antigen measurement A laboratory test to measure levels of complement proteins and antigens in the blood. |
302 | $12 | $51 |
| Complement function test A blood test that measures the activity of complement proteins, which are part of the immune system. |
302 | $12 | $42 |
| Autoimmune disorder antibody test A laboratory test that measures antibodies in the blood to help assess for autoimmune disorders. |
234 | $18 | $75 |
| Intravenous chemotherapy infusion, 1 hour or less Administration of chemotherapy medication directly into a vein. The procedure takes one hour or less to complete. |
214 | $120 | $525 |
| Immunoglobulin level test A blood test that measures the level of gammaglobulins, which are immune system proteins. |
208 | $9 | $35 |
| Intravenous injection of additional new drug or substance Administration of an additional new medication or substance directly into a vein. |
153 | $14 | $150 |
| Intravenous drug injection A procedure involving the administration of a medication or substance directly into a vein. |
148 | $34 | $151 |
| Additional hour of intravenous infusion This code represents each additional hour of intravenous infusion beyond the initial hour for therapy, prevention, or diagnosis. |
145 | $19 | $150 |
| 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. |
144 | $146 | $327 |
| 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. |
142 | $13 | $61 |
| Intravenous infusion, 1 hour or less Administration of medication or fluid directly into a vein for therapeutic, preventive, or diagnostic purposes. The procedure lasts one hour or less. |
139 | $60 | $250 |
| Limited ultrasound of joint or extremity A focused ultrasound exam of a specific joint or other structure in the arm or leg, excluding blood vessels. |
123 | $37 | $97 |
| 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. |
121 | $48 | $125 |
| Ultrasound-guided large joint aspiration or injection This procedure uses ultrasound imaging to guide the removal of fluid from or the injection of medication into a large joint. |
103 | $89 | $190 |
| Normal saline infusion, 500 ml Administration of sterile normal saline solution through an intravenous line. This procedure involves the infusion of a 500 ml unit of the solution. |
97 | $1 | $45 |
| New patient office visit, complex (60-74 min) | 93 | $182 | $575 |
| Additional hour of intravenous chemotherapy This code represents the administration of chemotherapy medication into a vein for each additional hour beyond the initial period. |
87 | $26 | $195 |
| Vitamin D level test A blood test to measure the amount of Vitamin D-3 in your body. |
82 | $28 | $99 |
| Immunoassay substance measurement A laboratory test that uses immunoassay techniques to measure the level of a specific substance in a sample. |
81 | $16 | $52 |
| Ferritin level test (iron stores) A blood test that measures the level of ferritin, a protein that stores iron in the body. |
74 | $13 | $60 |
| Iron level test | 74 | $6 | $25 |
| 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. |
74 | $8 | $45 |
| Intravenous hydration infusion, 31-60 minutes Administration of fluids into a vein to maintain hydration. This procedure involves an infusion lasting between 31 and 60 minutes. |
72 | $30 | $100 |
| 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. |
70 | $77 | $150 |
| Hyaluronan gel injection for joint An injection of hyaluronan gel into a joint to supplement joint fluid. This procedure is administered as a single dose. |
63 | $407 | $1,248 |
| Vitamin B-12 level test A blood test that measures the amount of vitamin B-12 in your body. |
60 | $15 | $30 |
| Thyroid stimulating hormone (TSH) test A blood test that measures the level of thyroid stimulating hormone to evaluate thyroid function. |
51 | $16 | $64 |
| Telephone medical discussion, 11-20 minutes A phone conversation with a physician lasting between 11 and 20 minutes. |
51 | $57 | $125 |
| Zoledronic acid injection, 1 mg An injection of zoledronic acid administered at a dose of 1 mg. |
46 | $7 | $75 |
| 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. |
41 | $6 | $40 |
| Joint injection, major joint Removal of fluid from a large joint and/or injection of medication into the joint space. |
40 | $43 | $175 |
| Tuberculosis test, enumeration of t-cells A blood test that counts T-cells to help detect tuberculosis infection. |
39 | $93 | $205 |
| Rheumatoid arthritis antibody test A blood test to measure antibodies used in assessing rheumatoid arthritis. |
38 | $13 | $39 |
| 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. |
36 | $33 | $125 |
| Rheumatoid factor level | 36 | $6 | $14 |
| Vitamin B-12 injection An injection of vitamin B-12 (cyanocobalamin) with a dose of up to 1000 mcg. |
36 | $1 | $40 |
| Joint fluid aspiration or injection, small joint Removal of fluid from a small joint or injection of medication into a small joint. |
34 | $27 | $125 |
| 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. |
32 | $36 | $125 |
| 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. |
32 | $40 | $115 |
| Autoimmune disorder antibody titer test A blood test that measures the level of specific antibodies to help assess autoimmune disorders. |
28 | $11 | $25 |
| Trigger point injection, 3 or more muscles Injection of medication into three or more specific muscle trigger points to relieve pain. |
23 | $46 | $150 |
| 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. |
22 | $4 | $35 |
| Bone density scan (DEXA) A test that uses low-dose X-rays to measure bone mineral density in the hip, pelvis, and spine. It helps assess bone strength and risk of fractures. |
18 | $45 | $272 |
| 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. |
18 | $142 | $325 |
| Hemoglobin a1c level, by device for home use | 17 | $9 | $42 |
| Telephone medical discussion, 5-10 minutes A phone conversation with a physician lasting between 5 and 10 minutes to discuss medical matters. |
17 | $32 | $100 |
| 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. |
16 | $97 | $175 |
| 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. |
16 | $84 | $172 |
| Folic acid level test A blood test that measures the amount of folic acid in the serum. |
14 | $14 | $30 |
| 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. |
14 | $136 | $350 |
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.
18.9% high complexity
69.9% medium
11.2% routine
Industry Payment Transparency
Open Payments through 2024 ↗$1,129
Total received (2018-2024)
Avg $188/year across 6 years
Bottom 41% in CA for rheumatology
9
Companies
48
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
$1,129 (100.0%)
Payment trend by year
Annual totals from pharmaceutical and medical device companies.
2024
$88
2023
$76
2022
$88
2020
$163
2019
$379
2018
$335
Payments by company (2024)
Consulting
Speaking
Meals & Travel
Research
ABBVIE INC.
$88
Top 3 companies account for 100.0% of 2024 payments
All-time payments by company (2018-2024) ›
Amgen Inc.
$430
Lilly USA, LLC
$201
ABBVIE INC.
$191
PFIZER INC.
$163
E.R. Squibb & Sons, L.L.C.
$63
AbbVie Inc.
$24
Horizon Therapeutics plc
$21
GENZYME CORPORATION
$21
MEDAC PHARMA, INC.
$17
Top 3 companies account for 72.7% of all-time payments
Associated products mentioned in payments ›
EVENITY · Enbrel · FORTEO · KEVZARA · KRYSTEXXA · ORENCIA · Otezla · Prolia · RINVOQ · Rasuvo · SKYRIZI · TALTZ · XELJANZ
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.
Geographic Context
Rheumatologists within 10 mi
204
Per 100K population
2.1
County median income
$87,760
Nearest hospital
CEDARS-SINAI MEDICAL CENTER
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. Kretzmann is a mixed practice specialist, with above-average Medicare volume (top 10% in CA), with low-engagement industry engagement, with 16 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. Kretzmann experienced with certolizumab injection (cimzia)?
Based on Medicare claims data, Dr. Kretzmann performed 22,800 certolizumab injection (cimzia) 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. Kretzmann receive payments from pharmaceutical companies?
Yes. Dr. Kretzmann received a total of $1,129 from 9 companies across 48 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. Kretzmann's costs compare to other rheumatologists in Los Angeles?
Dr. Kretzmann's average Medicare payment per service is $14. 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. Kretzmann) 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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