Medicare Enrolled
Dr. Absalom Hepner, M.D.
Nuclear Cardiology Physician · Mission Viejo, CA
Practice pattern: Clinical Cardiology
— Primarily office-based clinical cardiology
Consulting-driven
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. Hepner 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. Hepner
Dr. Absalom Hepner is a nuclear cardiology physician in Mission Viejo, CA, with 19 years of NPI registration. Based on federal Medicare data, Dr. Hepner performed 8,555 Medicare services across 5,391 unique beneficiaries.
Between the years covered by Open Payments, Dr. Hepner received a total of $8,357 from 29 pharmaceutical and/or device companies across 183 individual payments. These payments are legal, publicly disclosed under the federal Sunshine Act, and common in nuclear cardiology physician. The majority of payments are for consulting, which typically reflects recognized clinical expertise sought by manufacturers. Patients may wish to discuss these relationships with their provider.
The Data Coverage level for Dr. Hepner 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 19% volume in CA
$8,357 industry payments
Medicare Practice Summary
Medicare Utilization ↗8,555
Medicare services
Top 19% in CA for nuclear cardiology physician
5,391
Unique beneficiaries
$52
Avg. Medicare payment
Medicare patients only (65+ / disabled) · How to read this →
~450 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| EKG interpretation and report A standard electrocardiogram test that records the heart's electrical activity using at least 12 leads. The service includes a professional interpretation of the results and a written report. |
1,593 | $6 | $22 |
| 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. |
899 | $102 | $345 |
| Electrocardiogram (EKG), 12-lead A standard heart rhythm test using at least 12 leads to record electrical activity. A healthcare provider interprets the results and provides a written report. |
458 | $12 | $39 |
| Remote cardiac rhythm monitor evaluation, up to 30 days Review and analysis of data from a remote cardiac rhythm monitoring system over a period of up to 30 days. |
445 | $21 | $69 |
| Remote monitoring of implantable heart rhythm device Evaluation of data transmitted remotely from an implantable cardiovascular monitor, such as a loop recorder or subcutaneous cardiac rhythm monitor, over a period up to 30 days. |
392 | $51 | $79 |
| Echocardiogram, transthoracic An ultrasound of the heart that uses color to show blood flow, rate, direction, and valve function. |
377 | $164 | $565 |
| Heart muscle strain imaging | 369 | $34 | $108 |
| Prothrombin time test (blood clotting) A laboratory test that measures how long it takes for blood to clot. This procedure evaluates the body's coagulation process. |
360 | $4 | $32 |
| Blood draw (venipuncture) Insertion of a needle into a vein to collect a blood sample. |
292 | $8 | $13 |
| Nuclear stress test of heart muscle A nuclear medicine imaging test that evaluates blood flow to the heart muscle at rest and during stress using a special camera. |
249 | $402 | $1,302 |
| Office visit for established patient An office visit for an existing patient that may not require the healthcare professional to be present. |
243 | $20 | $65 |
| Regadenoson injection (Lexiscan) for heart stress test An injection of regadenoson, a medication used to stress the heart during diagnostic testing. |
212 | $44 | $512 |
| Comprehensive metabolic blood panel A blood test that measures a group of chemicals, including glucose, electrolytes, and kidney and liver function markers. |
196 | $10 | $32 |
| 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. |
195 | $8 | $43 |
| Lipid panel (cholesterol and triglycerides) A blood test that measures cholesterol and triglyceride levels. |
191 | $13 | $43 |
| Technetium Tc-99m tetrofosmin diagnostic injection A diagnostic injection of Technetium Tc-99m tetrofosmin used for imaging studies. |
181 | $76 | $222 |
| Hospital follow-up visit, moderate complexity Follow-up hospital visit for an existing patient involving moderate medical decision making. The visit requires at least 35 minutes of time spent on the date of service. |
172 | $65 | $185 |
| Remote pacemaker/defibrillator monitoring, 90 days Remote evaluation of a pacemaker or implantable defibrillator system within 90 days of the last check. |
145 | $20 | $68 |
| Remote pacemaker monitoring, 90 days Remote assessment of a pacemaker system, including single, dual, multiple lead, or leadless devices, performed up to 90 days apart. |
103 | $23 | $79 |
| 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. |
98 | $69 | $245 |
| Pacemaker programming, dual lead system Adjustment and configuration of a dual-lead pacemaker device to ensure proper operation and settings. |
96 | $65 | $230 |
| CT scan of heart blood vessels and grafts with contrast A CT scan that uses contrast dye to create detailed images of the heart's blood vessels and any surgical grafts. |
86 | $89 | $658 |
| Natriuretic peptide level test A blood test that measures the level of natriuretic peptide, a protein produced by the heart and blood vessels. |
80 | $38 | $86 |
| Follow-up ultrasound of heart blood flow, valves and chambers An ultrasound exam that follows up on the heart's blood flow, valves, and chambers. It uses sound waves to create images of the heart's structure and function. |
68 | $6 | $75 |
| Echocardiogram with color Doppler An ultrasound of the heart that uses color imaging to visualize blood flow, measure flow rate, and assess valve function. |
68 | $3 | $188 |
| 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. |
68 | $128 | $447 |
| Basic metabolic blood panel A blood test that measures a group of basic chemicals, including total calcium levels. |
63 | $8 | $24 |
| Exercise or drug-induced heart stress test with ECG A heart stress test performed using exercise or medication while monitoring the electrocardiogram under physician supervision and review. |
62 | $55 | $197 |
| Transesophageal echocardiogram An ultrasound of the heart performed using a probe inserted into the esophagus to obtain detailed images of heart structures and function. |
50 | $86 | $735 |
| External EKG monitoring, 8-15 days Continuous external electrocardiogram recording and review over a period of 8 to 15 days to monitor heart rhythm. |
48 | $20 | $70 |
| CT coronary angiography data analysis Review of CT scan data to assess the severity of heart artery disease and examine anatomical details. |
45 | $31 | $98 |
| Continuous external EKG monitoring, 8-15 days This procedure involves recording heart rhythm continuously using an external EKG device over a period of 8 to 15 days. |
45 | $10 | $41 |
| Remote evaluation of implantable defibrillator system Remote assessment of a single, dual, or multiple lead implantable defibrillator system within 90 days of the previous evaluation. |
45 | $29 | $98 |
| Continuous EKG monitoring review, 48-7 days Review and interpretation of continuous external EKG recordings lasting more than 48 hours up to 7 days. |
42 | $18 | $64 |
| Continuous external EKG monitoring, 48 hours to 7 days This procedure involves recording the heart's electrical activity continuously using an external device for a period exceeding 48 hours but not more than 7 days. |
41 | $10 | $41 |
| Initial hospital admission, moderate complexity Initial hospital inpatient or observation care for a new patient involving moderate-level medical decision making, with at least 55 minutes total time on the date of the encounter. |
38 | $109 | $350 |
| Thyroid stimulating hormone (TSH) test A blood test that measures the level of thyroid stimulating hormone to evaluate thyroid function. |
37 | $16 | $48 |
| Stress echocardiogram with ECG monitoring An ultrasound of the heart performed while monitoring heart rhythm during rest, exercise, or medication-induced stress, followed by a review and report of the findings. |
34 | $200 | $686 |
| Technetium Tc-99m sestamibi diagnostic injection A diagnostic injection of technetium Tc-99m sestamibi used for imaging studies. |
33 | $19 | $354 |
| Programming of dual lead implantable defibrillator system Adjustment and testing of the settings for an implanted heart device with two leads to ensure proper function. |
30 | $81 | $280 |
| 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. |
27 | $100 | $266 |
| Hemoglobin A1c test (diabetes monitoring) A blood test that measures your average blood sugar levels over the past two to three months. |
25 | $10 | $32 |
| Perflutren lipid microspheres injection Injection of perflutren lipid microspheres, measured per milliliter. |
24 | $33 | $138 |
| Urinalysis with microscopic exam A urine test performed manually that includes examining the sample under a microscope to check for abnormalities. |
22 | $3 | $13 |
| Follow-up heart ultrasound An ultrasound of the heart performed to monitor or reassess a previously identified condition or treatment progress. |
22 | $21 | $320 |
| SPECT nuclear medicine scan, 1 area A nuclear medicine imaging test using a single photon emission computed tomography (SPECT) scan to create detailed images of one specific area of the body. |
19 | $330 | $1,057 |
| 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. |
19 | $6 | $39 |
| Creatinine test (kidney function) A blood test that measures the amount of creatinine to assess kidney function or detect muscle injury. |
19 | $5 | $18 |
| Exercise or drug-induced heart stress test with ECG A heart stress test performed using exercise or medication while an electrocardiogram is monitored under physician supervision. |
19 | $18 | $57 |
| Exercise or drug-induced heart stress test with ECG A heart stress test performed using exercise or medication while monitoring the electrocardiogram, with physician review of the results. |
19 | $12 | $38 |
| External shock to heart to regulate heart beat A procedure that delivers an electric shock to the heart from outside the body to restore a normal heart rhythm. |
18 | $86 | $428 |
| Programming of multiple lead implantable defibrillator system Adjustment and testing of the settings for an implanted heart device with multiple leads to ensure proper function. |
18 | $95 | $302 |
| Technetium Tc-99m pyrophosphate diagnostic injection A diagnostic injection of Technetium Tc-99m pyrophosphate used for imaging studies. The dose administered is up to 25 millicuries. |
16 | $38 | $49 |
| Continuous ECG monitoring, up to 30 days Continuous heart rhythm monitoring for up to 30 days, including professional review and reporting of the results. |
14 | $21 | $68 |
| 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. |
14 | $154 | $485 |
| 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. |
11 | $10 | $145 |
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.
10.3% high complexity
17.1% medium
72.6% routine
Industry Payment Transparency
Open Payments through 2024 ↗$8,357
Total received (2018-2024)
Avg $1,194/year across 7 years
Top 24% in CA for nuclear cardiology physician
A higher payment rank reflects disclosed industry relationships (consulting, research, speaking) common among subspecialists — not wrongdoing.
29
Companies
183
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.
Consulting
Expert advisory fees, typically reflecting recognized clinical expertise
$5,427 (64.9%)
Meals & Travel
Food, beverages, travel, and lodging — typically low-value
$2,930 (35.1%)
Payment trend by year
Annual totals from pharmaceutical and medical device companies.
2024
$5,929
2023
$492
2022
$656
2021
$169
2020
$101
2019
$516
2018
$494
Payments by company (2024)
Consulting
Speaking
Meals & Travel
Research
Edwards Lifesciences Corporation
$5,427
E.R. Squibb & Sons, L.L.C.
$149
iRhythm Technologies, Inc.
$111
Merck Sharp & Dohme LLC
$77
Boston Scientific Corporation
$70
Novartis Pharmaceuticals Corporation
$41
HEARTFLOW, INC.
$30
PFIZER INC.
$24
Top 3 companies account for 95.9% of 2024 payments
All-time payments by company (2018-2024) ›
Edwards Lifesciences Corporation
$5,444
Novartis Pharmaceuticals Corporation
$478
PFIZER INC.
$388
Amgen Inc.
$369
Merck Sharp & Dohme LLC
$289
SANOFI-AVENTIS U.S. LLC
$261
E.R. Squibb & Sons, L.L.C.
$205
Boston Scientific Corporation
$157
iRhythm Technologies, Inc.
$111
Boehringer Ingelheim Pharmaceuticals, Inc.
$96
Janssen Pharmaceuticals, Inc
$71
Abbott Laboratories
$42
Amarin Pharma Inc.
$41
Esperion Therapeutics, Inc.
$40
Kowa Pharmaceuticals America, Inc.
$36
Celgene Corporation
$34
ZOLL Services LLC (A/K/A ZOLL LifeCor Corp)
$33
Astellas Pharma US Inc
$32
Regeneron Healthcare Solutions, Inc.
$31
HEARTFLOW, INC.
$30
HeartFlow, Inc.
$26
Novo Nordisk Inc
$24
Ethicon US, LLC
$23
Medtronic USA, Inc.
$20
Impulse Dynamics (USA) Inc.
$17
Medtronic, Inc.
$17
Medtronic Vascular, Inc.
$16
Actelion Pharmaceuticals US, Inc.
$14
Gilead Sciences, Inc.
$12
Top 3 companies account for 75.5% of all-time payments
Associated products mentioned in payments ›
AQUAMANTYS · AVVIGO Guidance System · CAMZYOS · CARDIOMEMS · CHANTIX · Corlanor · EDWARDS SAPIEN 3 TRANSCATHETER HEART VALVE (THV) · ELIQUIS · ENTRESTO · FFRct · JARDIANCE · LEQVIO · LEXISCAN · LINQ II · LUX-Dx Insertable Cardiac Monitor · LifeVest · Livalo · MULTAQ · Mitra Clip system · NEXLETOL · NEXLIZET · OPSUMIT MACITENTAN · Optimizer · Ozempic · PRADAXA · PRALUENT · PRALUENT ALIROCUMAB INJECTION · Repatha · Reveal LINQ · SURGICEL Family of Absorbable Hemostats · VERQUVO · VYNDAQEL · Vascepa · WATCHMAN Access System · WATCHMAN FLX · XARELTO · ZIO XT Patch · Zio monitor
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 (65%) are consulting fees, which typically reflect recognized clinical expertise sought by manufacturers.
Geographic Context
Nuclear cardiology physicians within 10 mi
6
Per 100K population
0.2
County median income
$113,702
Nearest hospital
PROVIDENCE MISSION HOSPITAL
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. Hepner is a clinical cardiology specialist, with above-average Medicare volume (top 19% in CA), with consulting-driven 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. Hepner experienced with ekg interpretation and report?
Based on Medicare claims data, Dr. Hepner performed 1,593 ekg interpretation and report 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. Hepner receive payments from pharmaceutical companies?
Yes. Dr. Hepner received a total of $8,357 from 29 companies across 183 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. Hepner's costs compare to other nuclear cardiology physicians in Mission Viejo?
Dr. Hepner's average Medicare payment per service is $52. 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. Hepner) 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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