Medicare Enrolled
Dr. Spencer Brown, M.D.
Vascular Surgery Physician · 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. Brown 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. Brown
Dr. Spencer Brown is a vascular surgery physician in Los Angeles, CA, with 18 years of NPI registration. Based on federal Medicare data, Dr. Brown performed 4,494 Medicare services across 902 unique beneficiaries.
Between the years covered by Open Payments, Dr. Brown received a total of $536 from 8 pharmaceutical and/or device companies across 17 individual payments. These payments are legal, publicly disclosed under the federal Sunshine Act, and common in vascular surgery 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. Brown 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.
✓ 18 years in practice
▲ Top 3% volume in CA
$536 industry payments
Medicare Practice Summary
Medicare Utilization ↗4,494
Medicare services
Top 3% in CA for vascular surgery physician
902
Unique beneficiaries
$65
Avg. Medicare payment
Medicare patients only (65+ / disabled) · How to read this →
~250 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. |
3,490 | $0 | $1 |
| Ultrasound of arm or leg veins An ultrasound exam of the veins in the arm or leg. The test uses sound waves to check blood flow and may include compression and other maneuvers. |
164 | $27 | $280 |
| Ultrasound of hemodialysis access An ultrasound imaging test used to evaluate the blood flow and structure of a hemodialysis access site. |
97 | $116 | $300 |
| 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. |
96 | $75 | $250 |
| Hemodialysis circuit intervention with balloon dilation A procedure to insert a needle or tube into a hemodialysis circuit and dilate the dialysis segment using a balloon, with radiological review. |
81 | $1,123 | $3,563 |
| Removal of tunneled central venous tube This procedure involves the removal of a catheter that has been surgically placed under the skin and threaded into a large vein. |
59 | $114 | $366 |
| Balloon dilation of dialysis access with radiologist review A minimally invasive procedure to widen a narrowed section of a dialysis access vessel using a balloon catheter. The procedure includes review by a radiologist to ensure proper placement and effectiveness. |
49 | $555 | $1,731 |
| Hemodialysis circuit intervention with stent placement A radiologist inserts a needle or tube into the hemodialysis circuit and places a stent in the dialysis segment while reviewing the procedure. |
48 | $259 | $807 |
| Additional blood vessel ultrasound evaluation An ultrasound exam of a blood vessel that includes a radiologist's review. This code applies to each additional vessel evaluated beyond the initial one. |
37 | $156 | $487 |
| 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. |
37 | $94 | $309 |
| 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. |
36 | $85 | $353 |
| Ultrasound of blood vessel, initial vessel An ultrasound exam of a blood vessel that includes a radiologist's review of the initial vessel. |
35 | $914 | $2,850 |
| Pre-op ultrasound of artery and vein blood flow for hemodialysis access An ultrasound exam to assess blood flow in the arteries and veins on both sides of the body before surgery for hemodialysis access. |
34 | $230 | $384 |
| Ultrasound of leg arteries or grafts An imaging test that uses sound waves to create pictures of the blood vessels in the legs or any surgical grafts present. |
29 | $31 | $125 |
| Sedation by physician, initial 15 minutes Administration of a drug to induce depression of consciousness by the physician performing a procedure. This code covers the initial 15 minutes of sedation for patients aged 5 years or older. |
28 | $47 | $147 |
| Arteriovenous graft creation for hemodialysis Surgical procedure to create a connection between an artery and a vein using a synthetic tube graft to provide access for hemodialysis. |
24 | $532 | $1,700 |
| Hemodialysis clot removal, balloon dilation, and stent placement This procedure involves removing or dissolving a blood clot within the hemodialysis circuit, dilating the dialysis segment with a balloon, and placing a stent, all under radiological review. |
24 | $421 | $1,312 |
| Fluoroscopic guidance for central vein access device Use of live X-ray imaging to guide the placement or removal of a central vein access device. |
22 | $15 | $48 |
| Ultrasound of head and neck blood flow, bilateral An ultrasound exam that uses sound waves to visualize and assess blood flow in the vessels of both the head and the neck. |
20 | $32 | $700 |
| Ultrasound of arm or leg veins An ultrasound exam of the veins in one arm or leg using compression and other maneuvers to assess blood flow and check for blockages. |
17 | $108 | $450 |
| Hemodialysis circuit clot removal and vessel dilation This procedure involves removing or dissolving a blood clot within the hemodialysis circuit and using a balloon to widen the dialysis access segment, with imaging review by a radiologist. |
16 | $2,139 | $6,737 |
| Radiologist review of arm or leg artery image A radiologist reviews images of the arteries in the arm or leg. This process involves analyzing the visual data to assess the blood vessels. |
16 | $69 | $215 |
| Relocation of major arm vein to artery for hemodialysis A surgical procedure to move a large vein in the upper arm and connect it to an artery. This creates a vascular access point for hemodialysis treatment. |
12 | $548 | $1,794 |
| Needle or tube insertion into hemodialysis circuit with radiologist review A procedure involving the insertion of a needle or tube into a hemodialysis circuit, accompanied by a review of the procedure by a radiologist. |
12 | $644 | $2,071 |
| Ultrasound guidance for blood vessel access Use of ultrasound imaging to help locate and access a blood vessel. This guidance assists healthcare providers in performing procedures such as inserting IV lines or drawing blood. |
11 | $36 | $114 |
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.
1.6% high complexity
91.9% medium
6.5% routine
Industry Payment Transparency
Open Payments through 2023 ↗$536
Total received (2018-2023)
Avg $107/year across 5 years
Bottom 26% in CA for vascular surgery physician
8
Companies
17
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
$536 (100.0%)
Payment trend by year
Annual totals from pharmaceutical and medical device companies.
2023
$15
2022
$177
2020
$43
2019
$61
2018
$240
Payments by company (2023)
Consulting
Speaking
Meals & Travel
Research
Becton, Dickinson and Company
$15
Top 3 companies account for 100.0% of 2023 payments
All-time payments by company (2018-2023) ›
BAXTER HEALTHCARE
$210
Philips Electronics North America Corporation
$140
Bard Peripheral Vascular, Inc.
$54
BIOTRONIK INC.
$40
AngioDynamics, Inc.
$32
Cardiovascular Systems Inc.
$23
Integra LifeSciences Corporation
$22
Becton, Dickinson and Company
$15
Top 3 companies account for 75.3% of all-time payments
Associated products mentioned in payments ›
(5027) Intact Vascular Und · (6577) Visions 014 · AURYON LASER SYSTEM 100-120 VAC · Fluency Endovascular Stent Graft · IGT Devices Und · IGT Devices _ Undivided · Image Guided Therapy Devices _ Peripheral · Integra · Passeo-18 · Peripheral Orbital Atherectomy System · Renal - PD
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
Vascular surgery physicians within 10 mi
112
Per 100K population
1.1
County median income
$87,760
Nearest hospital
KAISER FOUNDATION HOSPITAL - WEST LA
2.0 mi
2.0 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 2023 |
| 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. Brown is a mixed practice specialist, with above-average Medicare volume (top 3% in CA), with low-engagement industry engagement, with 18 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. Brown experienced with contrast dye for imaging (iodine-based)?
Based on Medicare claims data, Dr. Brown performed 3,490 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. Brown receive payments from pharmaceutical companies?
Yes. Dr. Brown received a total of $536 from 8 companies across 17 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. Brown's costs compare to other vascular surgery physicians in Los Angeles?
Dr. Brown's average Medicare payment per service is $65. 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. Brown) 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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