Dr. Michael Cho, MD
What this data tells you about Dr. Cho
Dr. Michael Cho is an otolaryngology specialist in Mission Viejo, CA, with 19 years of NPI registration. Based on federal Medicare data, Dr. Cho performed 3,366 Medicare services across 2,561 unique beneficiaries.
Between the years covered by Open Payments, Dr. Cho received a total of $2,076 from 25 pharmaceutical and/or device companies across 73 individual payments. These payments are legal, publicly disclosed under the federal Sunshine Act, and common in otolaryngology. 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. Cho 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.
Medicare Practice Summary
Medicare Utilization ↗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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 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. |
824 | $106 | $288 |
| Nasal endoscopy A diagnostic procedure that uses a thin, lighted tube to examine the inside of the nasal passages. |
642 | $172 | $423 |
| Impacted earwax removal by physician Removal of impacted earwax from one or both ears by a physician on the same day as audiologic testing. |
453 | $34 | $116 |
| Microscopic ear examination A detailed visual inspection of the ear using a specialized microscope to examine the ear canal and eardrum. |
355 | $26 | $63 |
| 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. |
301 | $133 | $370 |
| CT scan of face, without contrast A computed tomography scan that creates detailed images of the facial structures. This procedure is performed without the use of intravenous contrast dye. |
212 | $120 | $580 |
| 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. |
133 | $144 | $401 |
| Vocal cord movement assessment with endoscope This procedure uses an endoscope to examine the movement of the vocal cords. It allows for the visual assessment of how the vocal cord flaps function. |
85 | $176 | $438 |
| Flexible laryngoscopy A diagnostic exam of the voice box using a flexible endoscope to visualize the larynx. |
84 | $114 | $285 |
| New patient office visit, complex (60-74 min) | 63 | $172 | $490 |
| Simple removal of skin debris and drainage of mastoid cavity This procedure involves the simple removal of skin debris and the drainage of a mastoid cavity. |
62 | $66 | $248 |
| Head repositioning exercises for dizziness A series of exercises performed to reposition the head, used to treat dizziness. The procedure is administered on a daily basis. |
33 | $37 | $85 |
| 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. |
29 | $76 | $203 |
| Endoscopic nasal polyp biopsy or removal A procedure to remove or sample nasal polyps or tissue using an endoscope. The endoscope allows the provider to view the nasal passages during the procedure. |
28 | $286 | $819 |
| 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. |
20 | $97 | $250 |
| Complex control of nose bleed | 18 | $225 | $581 |
| Computer-assisted neurosurgery outside brain covering A surgical procedure using computer guidance to operate on areas outside the membrane covering the brain. |
12 | $144 | $525 |
| Ear wax removal A procedure to remove impacted ear wax from the ear canal. |
12 | $28 | $115 |
Industry Payment Transparency
Open Payments through 2024 ↗Payment profile
Industry payments classified by relationship type. Not all payments are equal — research and consulting reflect different relationships than speaking programs or meals.
Payment trend by year
Annual totals from pharmaceutical and medical device companies.
Payments by company (2024)
All-time payments by company (2018-2024) ›
Associated products mentioned in payments ›
Most payments (100%) are for meals and travel — low-value interactions that are common across virtually all practicing physicians.
Geographic Context
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. Cho is a clinical cardiology specialist, with above-average Medicare volume (top 6% 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
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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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