Medicare Enrolled
Dr. Stephen Sacks, MD
Urology 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. Sacks 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. Sacks
Dr. Stephen Sacks is an urology physician in Los Angeles, CA, with 19 years of NPI registration. Based on federal Medicare data, Dr. Sacks performed 83,174 Medicare services across 23,560 unique beneficiaries.
Between the years covered by Open Payments, Dr. Sacks received a total of $3,947 from 36 pharmaceutical and/or device companies across 145 individual payments. These payments are legal, publicly disclosed under the federal Sunshine Act, and common in urology 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. Sacks 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 2% volume in CA
$3,947 industry payments
Medicare Practice Summary
Medicare Utilization ↗83,174
Medicare services
Top 2% in CA for urology physician
23,560
Unique beneficiaries
$17
Avg. Medicare payment
Medicare patients only (65+ / disabled) · How to read this →
~4,378 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Testosterone injection An injection of testosterone cypionate, a form of testosterone hormone. The dose is measured in milligrams. |
21,200 | $0 | $0 |
| BCG treatment for bladder cancer | 4,051 | $2 | $16 |
| 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. |
3,700 | $0 | $3 |
| 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. |
2,742 | $100 | $400 |
| Manual urinalysis with microscopic examination A urine test performed manually without automated equipment. The sample is examined under a microscope to check for abnormalities. |
2,640 | $4 | $35 |
| Creatinine test (kidney function) A blood test that measures the amount of creatinine to assess kidney function or detect muscle injury. |
2,639 | $5 | $30 |
| Blood draw (venipuncture) Insertion of a needle into a vein to collect a blood sample. |
2,039 | $8 | $20 |
| 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. |
2,006 | $25 | $95 |
| Kidney function blood test panel | 2,004 | $9 | $50 |
| PSA test (prostate cancer screening) | 2,000 | $18 | $70 |
| 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. |
1,993 | $8 | $25 |
| Liver function blood test panel | 1,981 | $8 | $30 |
| Thyroid stimulating hormone (TSH) test A blood test that measures the level of thyroid stimulating hormone to evaluate thyroid function. |
1,976 | $16 | $50 |
| Free thyroxine (T4) test A blood test that measures the level of free thyroxine, a thyroid hormone, in the bloodstream. |
1,974 | $9 | $50 |
| 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. |
1,972 | $4 | $25 |
| 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. |
1,952 | $21 | $95 |
| Total estradiol level test A blood test that measures the total amount of estradiol, a form of estrogen, in the body. |
1,951 | $27 | $90 |
| Follicle stimulating hormone (FSH) level A blood test to measure the level of follicle stimulating hormone, a reproductive hormone. |
1,948 | $18 | $70 |
| Prolactin level test A blood test that measures the amount of prolactin, a hormone produced by the pituitary gland that stimulates milk production, in the body. |
1,938 | $19 | $70 |
| 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. |
1,930 | $18 | $50 |
| Cholesterol level test A blood test that measures the amount of cholesterol in your body. |
1,915 | $4 | $34 |
| HDL cholesterol level test A blood test that measures the amount of high-density lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol in your blood. HDL is often referred to as 'good' cholesterol. |
1,915 | $8 | $34 |
| Hemoglobin A1c test (diabetes monitoring) A blood test that measures your average blood sugar levels over the past two to three months. |
1,869 | $9 | $50 |
| Limited retroperitoneal ultrasound A focused ultrasound exam of the area behind the abdominal cavity to evaluate specific structures. |
1,373 | $47 | $300 |
| Free PSA test A blood test that measures the amount of unbound prostate-specific antigen in the blood. |
1,151 | $18 | $90 |
| Tumor marker analysis A laboratory test that analyzes a sample to detect the presence of tumor markers. These markers are substances that may be found in the blood, urine, or body tissues. |
1,061 | $20 | $90 |
| Complete pelvic ultrasound An imaging test using sound waves to create pictures of the organs and structures within the pelvis. |
1,058 | $95 | $425 |
| Infectious disease DNA/RNA test A laboratory test that uses a specific technique to detect the genetic material of an organism. This method amplifies the target DNA or RNA to identify the presence of the organism. |
1,040 | $34 | $100 |
| Limited ultrasound of pelvis A focused ultrasound exam of the pelvic area to evaluate specific structures. This procedure provides images of the pelvis to assist in medical assessment. |
960 | $42 | $424 |
| High osmolar contrast material, 250-299 mg/ml iodine concentration, per ml | 800 | $0 | $2 |
| 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. |
605 | $12 | $49 |
| Urine culture, bacterial colony count A laboratory test that measures the number of bacteria growing in a urine sample to help identify infections. |
505 | $8 | $30 |
| Injection, tobramycin sulfate, up to 80 mg | 454 | $2 | $29 |
| Complete ultrasound of retroperitoneum An ultrasound examination of the structures located behind the abdominal cavity. |
421 | $93 | $425 |
| Urethral dilation using endoscope A procedure to widen the urethra using a thin, lighted tube called an endoscope. This helps to open a narrowed urethral passage. |
363 | $292 | $1,202 |
| Unclassified drug A medication that does not fit into standard HCPCS or CPT classification categories. |
361 | $83 | $253 |
| Bacterial culture, aerobic A laboratory test that grows and identifies bacteria capable of surviving in oxygen. The results help determine the presence of specific aerobic microorganisms. |
336 | $8 | $40 |
| Antimicrobial drug evaluation Assessment of the patient's response to antibiotic, antifungal, or antiviral therapy. |
224 | $7 | $27 |
| Leuprolide acetate (for depot suspension), 7.5 mg | 153 | $136 | $625 |
| 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. |
145 | $73 | $228 |
| Transrectal ultrasound of the pelvis An ultrasound imaging procedure where a probe is inserted into the rectum to visualize pelvic structures. |
130 | $126 | $300 |
| Bladder instillation of anti-cancer drug A procedure where an anti-cancer medication is introduced directly into the bladder. This method delivers the treatment locally to the bladder tissue. |
101 | $71 | $499 |
| Office visit for established patient An office visit for an existing patient that may not require the healthcare professional to be present. |
91 | $20 | $98 |
| Immunologic organism identification test A laboratory test that uses immunologic methods to identify specific organisms in a sample, excluding immunofluorescence techniques. |
89 | $5 | $15 |
| 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. |
88 | $123 | $500 |
| Yeast/candida DNA test A laboratory test that uses an amplified probe technique to detect the presence of Candida species, a type of yeast, in a patient sample. |
80 | $34 | $100 |
| Chlamydia trachomatis nucleic acid amplification test A laboratory test that uses nucleic acid amplification to detect the presence of Chlamydia trachomatis bacteria in a sample. |
80 | $34 | $100 |
| Mycoplasma genitalium DNA/RNA test A laboratory test that uses DNA or RNA probes to detect the presence of Mycoplasma genitalium bacteria in a sample. |
80 | $34 | $100 |
| Gonorrhea nucleic acid amplification test A laboratory test that uses amplified probe techniques to detect the genetic material of gonorrhea bacteria. This method identifies the presence of the infection by analyzing nucleic acids from the sample. |
80 | $34 | $100 |
| Staphylococcus aureus DNA test A laboratory test that uses DNA amplification to detect the presence of Staphylococcus aureus bacteria in a sample. |
80 | $34 | $100 |
| Group B Strep DNA test A laboratory test that uses DNA amplification to detect the presence of Group B Streptococcus bacteria. |
80 | $34 | $100 |
| Trichomonas vaginalis nucleic acid test A laboratory test that uses an amplified probe technique to detect the genetic material of the Trichomonas vaginalis parasite. This method identifies the presence of the organism responsible for trichomoniasis. |
80 | $34 | $100 |
| Bladder irrigation and/or instillation This procedure involves flushing the bladder with fluid to clear it or introducing medication directly into the bladder. |
76 | $55 | $226 |
| Hormone pellet insertion under the skin A small hormone pellet is placed just beneath the skin to release medication slowly over time. |
61 | $83 | $500 |
| Subcutaneous or intramuscular chemotherapy injection This procedure involves administering anti-cancer hormonal medication through an injection into the tissue under the skin or into a muscle. |
56 | $31 | $150 |
| Lipid panel (cholesterol and triglycerides) A blood test that measures cholesterol and triglyceride levels. |
49 | $13 | $90 |
| CT scan of abdomen and pelvis, without contrast A computed tomography scan that creates detailed images of the abdominal and pelvic organs. The procedure is performed without the use of intravenous contrast dye. |
48 | $90 | $1,200 |
| VRE nucleic acid detection test A laboratory test that uses amplified probe techniques to detect vancomycin-resistant Enterococcus (VRE) DNA in a patient sample. |
40 | $34 | $100 |
| MRSA nucleic acid detection test A laboratory test that uses amplified probe techniques to detect the genetic material of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) bacteria. |
40 | $34 | $100 |
| CT scan of abdomen and pelvis with contrast A CT scan of the abdomen and pelvis using contrast dye before and after administration to visualize internal structures. |
37 | $243 | $1,500 |
| Ertapenem sodium injection, 500 mg An injection of ertapenem sodium, an antibiotic medication, administered at a dose of 500 mg. |
33 | $11 | $200 |
| Complicated insertion of bladder tube | 30 | $118 | $273 |
| Injection to cause erection A procedure involving an injection administered to induce an erection. |
25 | $76 | $300 |
| Ultrasound guidance for needle placement Use of ultrasound imaging to guide the precise placement of a needle during a medical procedure. |
25 | $52 | $425 |
| Prostate gland biopsy A procedure to remove small samples of tissue from the prostate gland for laboratory examination. |
24 | $214 | $990 |
| 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. |
24 | $46 | $250 |
| Radiologist review of urinary bladder image A radiologist examines and interprets images of the urinary bladder to assess its structure and function. |
21 | $36 | $250 |
| Voiding cystourethrogram An imaging procedure that uses X-rays to visualize the bladder and urethra while urine is being passed. |
20 | $184 | $850 |
| CT scan of pelvis, without contrast A CT scan that uses X-rays to create detailed images of the pelvic area without the use of contrast dye. |
20 | $81 | $575 |
| Hospital follow-up visit, low complexity Follow-up hospital visit for an established patient with straightforward or low-level medical decision making. The visit requires at least 25 minutes of time spent on the day of service. |
19 | $41 | $184 |
| Imaging of urinary tract with contrast An imaging test of the urinary tract performed after a contrast agent is injected to enhance visibility of the structures. |
18 | $20 | $275 |
| Ultrasound of penis artery and vein blood flow An ultrasound exam that uses sound waves to visualize and assess blood flow through the arteries and veins of the penis. |
15 | $104 | $473 |
| 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. |
15 | $128 | $527 |
| Electronic assessment of bladder emptying A test that uses electronic monitoring to evaluate how well the bladder empties urine. |
14 | $9 | $200 |
| Ultrasound of scrotum An imaging test that uses sound waves to create pictures of the scrotum and its contents. It helps evaluate the testicles and surrounding structures. |
13 | $93 | $292 |
| Laparoscopic partial prostate removal A minimally invasive surgical procedure to remove part of the prostate gland using a laparoscope. |
12 | $134 | $2,400 |
| CT scan of chest with and without contrast A computed tomography scan of the chest performed using both intravenous contrast dye and without it to provide detailed images of internal structures. |
12 | $68 | $725 |
| 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. |
12 | $141 | $500 |
| Endoscopic removal of foreign body, stone, or stent from urethra or bladder A procedure to remove a foreign object, stone, or stent from the urethra or bladder using an endoscope. The endoscope is a thin tube with a camera inserted into the urinary tract to locate and extract the item. |
11 | $286 | $900 |
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 ↗$3,947
Total received (2018-2024)
Avg $564/year across 7 years
Top 39% in CA for urology physician
A higher payment rank reflects disclosed industry relationships (consulting, research, speaking) common among subspecialists — not wrongdoing.
36
Companies
145
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
$3,847 (97.5%)
Speaking / Promotional
Speaker programs, honoraria, and industry-sponsored educational events
$100 (2.5%)
Payment trend by year
Annual totals from pharmaceutical and medical device companies.
2024
$630
2023
$568
2022
$536
2021
$440
2020
$128
2019
$495
2018
$1,150
Payments by company (2024)
Consulting
Speaking
Meals & Travel
Research
PFIZER INC.
$166
ABBVIE INC.
$149
Blue Earth Diagnostics Limited
$90
Ferring Pharmaceuticals Inc.
$67
Laborie Medical Technologies Corp.
$43
UROGEN PHARMA, INC.
$32
Sumitomo Pharma America, Inc.
$24
Merck Sharp & Dohme LLC
$21
PROGENICS PHARMACEUTICALS, INC.
$19
Telix Pharmaceuticals
$18
Top 3 companies account for 64.3% of 2024 payments
All-time payments by company (2018-2024) ›
PFIZER INC.
$576
Dendreon Pharmaceuticals LLC
$454
Janssen Biotech, Inc.
$436
ABBVIE INC.
$288
Blue Earth Diagnostics Limited
$204
Amgen Inc.
$163
Augmenix, Inc.
$156
MEDIVATION FIELD SOLUTIONS LLC
$139
AbbVie Inc.
$130
Bayer Healthcare Pharmaceuticals Inc.
$124
Myovant Sciences Inc.
$106
AbbVie, Inc.
$104
Janssen Products, LP
$100
Profound Medical Corp.
$88
Merck Sharp & Dohme LLC
$83
Boston Scientific Corporation
$72
Ferring Pharmaceuticals Inc.
$67
Sumitomo Pharma America, Inc.
$65
Bayer HealthCare Pharmaceuticals Inc.
$65
Astellas Pharma US Inc
$57
Progenics Pharmaceuticals, Inc.
$55
AstraZeneca Pharmaceuticals LP
$55
Laborie Medical Technologies Corp.
$43
Avadel Specialty Pharmaceuticals, LLC
$34
KARL STORZ Endoscopy-America
$34
UROGEN PHARMA, INC.
$32
Myriad Genetic Laboratories, Inc.
$30
Teleflex LLC
$28
Axonics, Inc.
$22
Tolmar, Inc.
$22
TOLMAR Pharmaceuticals, Inc.
$20
Allergan, Inc.
$20
PROGENICS PHARMACEUTICALS, INC.
$19
Merck Sharp & Dohme Corporation
$19
Telix Pharmaceuticals
$18
BOSTON SCIENTIFIC CORPORATION
$14
Top 3 companies account for 37.2% of all-time payments
Associated products mentioned in payments ›
16 FR. FLEXIBLE VIDEO CYSTOSCOPE · ADSTILADRIN · AMS · Axumin · BOTOX · BRACAnalysis CDx · Bulkamid · ELIGARD · ERLEADA · Erleada · GEMTESA · GENERAL BPH · GREENLIGHT · ILLUCCIX · JELMYTO · KEYTRUDA · LUPRON DEPOT · LYNPARZA · Lupron · Noctiva · Nubeqa · ORGOVYX · Optilume BPH Drug Coated Balloon Catheter · POSLUMA · PROVENGE · PYLARIFY · Prolaris · Prolia · SpaceOAR · TOVIAZ · Tulsa-Pro · UroLift System · XTANDI · ZYTIGA
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 (98%) are for meals and travel — low-value interactions that are common across virtually all practicing physicians.
Geographic Context
Urology physicians within 10 mi
385
Per 100K population
3.9
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. Sacks is a mixed practice specialist, with above-average Medicare volume (top 2% in CA), with low-engagement industry engagement, 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. Sacks experienced with testosterone injection?
Based on Medicare claims data, Dr. Sacks performed 21,200 testosterone injection 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. Sacks receive payments from pharmaceutical companies?
Yes. Dr. Sacks received a total of $3,947 from 36 companies across 145 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. Sacks's costs compare to other urology physicians in Los Angeles?
Dr. Sacks's average Medicare payment per service is $17. 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. Sacks) 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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