Medicare Enrolled
Dr. Sten Kramer, MD
Interventional Pain Medicine Physician · Newport Beach, CA
Practice pattern: Clinical Cardiology
— Primarily office-based clinical cardiology
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. Kramer 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. Kramer
Dr. Sten Kramer is an interventional pain medicine physician in Newport Beach, CA, with 19 years of NPI registration. Based on federal Medicare data, Dr. Kramer performed 3,607 Medicare services across 2,108 unique beneficiaries.
Between the years covered by Open Payments, Dr. Kramer received a total of $11,400 from 49 pharmaceutical and/or device companies across 302 individual payments. These payments are legal, publicly disclosed under the federal Sunshine Act, and common in interventional pain medicine 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. Kramer 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 16% volume in CA
$11,400 industry payments
Medicare Practice Summary
Medicare Utilization ↗3,607
Medicare services
Top 16% in CA for interventional pain medicine physician
2,108
Unique beneficiaries
$71
Avg. Medicare payment
Medicare patients only (65+ / disabled) · How to read this →
~190 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Joint lubricant injection (TriVisc) An injection of hyaluronan or a derivative into a joint space. The dose specified is 1 milligram. |
577 | $7 | $15 |
| 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. |
505 | $105 | $240 |
| 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. |
494 | $73 | $160 |
| 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. |
261 | $154 | $320 |
| Sacral spine nerve root injection with imaging guidance An injection of anesthetic and/or steroid medication into a sacral spine nerve root. The procedure uses imaging guidance to ensure accurate placement. |
219 | $115 | $403 |
| Betamethasone steroid injection An injection containing a combination of betamethasone acetate and betamethasone sodium phosphate. |
155 | $5 | $15 |
| X-ray of lower and sacral spine, minimum of 4 views An X-ray imaging test of the lower back and sacrum using at least four different angles to visualize the bones and joints. |
152 | $46 | $108 |
| 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. |
143 | $130 | $366 |
| Pelvis X-ray, 1-2 views An X-ray imaging test of the pelvic area using one to two different angles to visualize the bones and joints. |
105 | $24 | $65 |
| Spine facet joint injection with imaging guidance, single level An injection is administered into a single facet joint of the lower or sacral spine while using imaging guidance to ensure accurate placement. |
76 | $93 | $495 |
| Fluoroscopic guidance for needle placement Use of real-time X-ray imaging to guide the precise placement of a needle during a medical procedure. |
68 | $105 | $200 |
| Injection of anesthetic or steroid into sacroiliac joint with imaging guidance This procedure involves injecting an anesthetic or steroid medication into the joint connecting the lower spine and hip bone. Imaging guidance is used to ensure accurate placement of the injection. |
59 | $81 | $391 |
| Facet joint injection, second level, with imaging guidance An injection into a lower or sacral spine facet joint using imaging guidance for the second level treated. |
59 | $57 | $181 |
| X-ray of lower and sacral spine, 2-3 views An X-ray imaging test that captures 2 to 3 views of the lower back and sacral spine to visualize the bones and joints in this area. |
57 | $34 | $80 |
| X-ray of upper spine, 4-5 views An X-ray imaging test of the upper spine using 4 to 5 different views to visualize the bones and structures in that area. |
56 | $46 | $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. |
53 | $88 | $200 |
| Joint injection, major joint Removal of fluid from a large joint and/or injection of medication into the joint space. |
52 | $55 | $150 |
| Knee X-ray, 4 or more views An imaging test using X-rays to create multiple pictures of the knee joint from different angles. |
47 | $39 | $90 |
| Spine facet joint injection with imaging guidance, single level An injection is administered into a single facet joint of the upper or middle spine while using imaging guidance to ensure accurate placement. |
46 | $91 | $250 |
| Shoulder X-ray, 2+ views An X-ray imaging test of the shoulder joint using at least two different angles to visualize the bones and surrounding structures. |
44 | $30 | $65 |
| Hip X-ray, 2-3 views An X-ray imaging test of the hip joint using two to three different angles to visualize the bones and surrounding structures. |
42 | $40 | $85 |
| Facet joint injection, second level, with imaging An injection into a second spinal facet joint in the upper or middle spine, guided by imaging to ensure accurate placement. |
40 | $49 | $134 |
| Facet joint nerve destruction, single joint A procedure to destroy nerves in a single lower or sacral spinal facet joint using imaging guidance to target pain signals. |
37 | $205 | $585 |
| MRI of lower spine, without contrast A magnetic resonance imaging scan of the lower spinal canal that does not use contrast dye to create detailed images of the spine. |
37 | $59 | $350 |
| Facet joint nerve destruction, additional joint This procedure uses imaging guidance to destroy nerves in an additional lower or sacral spinal facet joint. |
35 | $62 | $283 |
| Additional sacral spine nerve root injection with imaging An injection of anesthetic and/or steroid medication into an additional sacral spine nerve root level, guided by imaging. |
31 | $43 | $150 |
| Spinal injection with imaging guidance A procedure where medication is injected into the middle or upper part of the spinal canal. Imaging technology is used to guide the needle to the correct location. |
30 | $90 | $500 |
| X-ray of middle spine, 2 views An X-ray imaging test that produces two views of the middle section of the spine to visualize the bones and joints. |
30 | $30 | $90 |
| Electronic analysis of implanted neurostimulator with complex programming This procedure involves the electronic evaluation of an implanted neurostimulator generator. It includes complex programming of spinal cord or peripheral nerve stimulators. |
29 | $47 | $120 |
| Facet joint nerve destruction, single joint This procedure uses imaging guidance to destroy the nerves supplying a single upper or middle spinal facet joint. It is performed to interrupt pain signals from that specific joint. |
15 | $162 | $500 |
| Ultrasound guidance for needle placement Use of ultrasound imaging to guide the precise placement of a needle during a medical procedure. |
15 | $52 | $350 |
| Facet joint nerve destruction, additional joint This procedure uses imaging guidance to destroy nerves in an additional upper or middle spinal facet joint. |
13 | $56 | $250 |
| New patient office visit, complex (60-74 min) | 13 | $188 | $456 |
| 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. |
12 | $37 | $80 |
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 ↗$11,400
Total received (2018-2024)
Avg $1,629/year across 7 years
Top 18% in CA for interventional pain medicine physician
A higher payment rank reflects disclosed industry relationships (consulting, research, speaking) common among subspecialists — not wrongdoing.
49
Companies
302
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
$11,400 (100.0%)
Payment trend by year
Annual totals from pharmaceutical and medical device companies.
2024
$1,748
2023
$1,418
2022
$2,350
2021
$790
2020
$1,124
2019
$1,959
2018
$2,011
Payments by company (2024)
Consulting
Speaking
Meals & Travel
Research
Abbott Laboratories
$400
MML US, Inc.
$341
Boston Scientific Corporation
$323
BIOTRONIK NRO, Inc.
$287
Miach Orthopaedics, Inc.
$126
PAINTEQ LLC
$106
Stryker Corporation
$59
Averitas Pharma Inc.
$30
Curonix LLC
$25
Vericel Corporation
$20
SI-BONE, INC.
$19
Forte Bio-Pharma LLC
$13
Top 3 companies account for 60.9% of 2024 payments
All-time payments by company (2018-2024) ›
Abbott Laboratories
$4,180
Spinal Simplicity, LLC
$1,232
Medtronic USA, Inc.
$848
Nevro Corp.
$728
Boston Scientific Corporation
$536
DePuy Synthes Sales Inc.
$400
MML US, Inc.
$341
BIOTRONIK NRO, Inc.
$309
Flexion Therapeutics, Inc.
$257
PAINTEQ LLC
$248
Curonix LLC
$246
PFIZER INC.
$215
Vertos Medical, Inc.
$213
BOSTON SCIENTIFIC CORPORATION
$167
Miach Orthopaedics, Inc.
$126
SCILEX PHARMACEUTICALS INC.
$101
Bioventus LLC
$90
Kowa Pharmaceuticals America, Inc.
$74
Horizon Therapeutics plc
$69
Horizon Pharma plc
$65
Forte Bio-Pharma LLC
$64
SANOFI-AVENTIS U.S. LLC
$61
Stryker Corporation
$59
FIDIA PHARMA USA INC.
$58
Pacira Pharmaceuticals Incorporated
$57
Zyla Life Sciences
$51
Stimwave Technologies Incorporated
$51
ARBOR PHARMACEUTICALS, INC.
$50
SI-BONE, Inc.
$43
Orthogenrx Inc.
$40
Scilex Pharmaceuticals Inc.
$34
Vericel Corporation
$34
SI-BONE, INC.
$34
Averitas Pharma Inc.
$30
BREG, INC
$25
IBSA Pharma Inc.
$25
Linvatec Corporation
$24
Allergan Inc.
$22
Zimmer Biomet Holdings, Inc.
$22
DJO, LLC
$21
Assertio Therapeutics, Inc.
$19
ASSERTIO THERAPEUTICS, INC.
$18
GRT US Holding, Inc.
$18
Fidia Pharma USA Inc.
$17
ASSERTIO THERAPEUTICS, Inc.
$17
Relievant Medsystems, Inc.
$17
Ferring Pharmaceuticals Inc.
$17
Collegium Pharmaceutical, Inc.
$14
Iroko Pharmaceuticals, LLC
$13
Top 3 companies account for 54.9% of all-time payments
Associated products mentioned in payments ›
ALPHAVENT · AUTOFILL · Axium INS DRG IPG · BIOTRONIK · BOTOX THERAPEUTIC · Breg VPULSE · DONJOY · DRG IPGs · ETERNA · EUFLEXXA · Exogen · Exogen Ultrasound Bone Healing System · Exparel · FLECTOR · GELSYN 3 · GELSYN-3 · GENERAL PAIN MANAGEMENT · GenVisc 850 · HA MINUTEMAN G3-R · HYMOVIS · Horizant · Hymovis · IFUSE IMPLANT · INTELLIS · Infinion 16 · Intracept · Knee Creations Brand · LINVATEC SHOULDER ARTHROSCOPY · LYRICA · Licart · MACI · MONOVISC · N'VISION · NALOCET · Nalocet · ORTHOVISC · Omnia · PAINTEQ · PENNSAID · PENTA · PNS FREEDOM-4A PERMANENT NEUROSTIMULATOR RECEIVER KIT CHANNEL A · PROCLAIM · Penta SCS Leads · PlasmaFlow · PolarCareWave · Proclaim Family of SCS IPGs · Proclaim IPG · Prodigy Family of SCS IPGs · Prospera · Protege Family of SCS IPGs · QUTENZA · Qutenza · ReActiv8 · SCS IPGs · SEGLENTIS · SUPERION · SYNVISC-ONE · Senza · Senza Spinal Cord Stimulation System · StimQ Receiver Stimulator Kit Channel A US w/Receiver · Superion · VIMOVO · VIVLODEX · WaveWriter Alpha Prime 16 · XTAMPZA · ZORVOLEX · ZTLido · ZTLido 30 POUCH in 1 CARTON 1 PATCH in 1 POUCH · Zilretta · Zipsor · iFuse Implant · mild Device Kit
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
Interventional pain medicine physicians within 10 mi
20
Per 100K population
0.6
County median income
$113,702
Nearest hospital
COLLEGE HOSPITAL COSTA MESA
2.8 mi
2.8 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. Kramer is a clinical cardiology specialist, with above-average Medicare volume (top 16% in CA), with low-engagement industry engagement in the top 18% of CA peers, 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. Kramer experienced with joint lubricant injection (trivisc)?
Based on Medicare claims data, Dr. Kramer performed 577 joint lubricant injection (trivisc) 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. Kramer receive payments from pharmaceutical companies?
Yes. Dr. Kramer received a total of $11,400 from 49 companies across 302 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. Kramer's costs compare to other interventional pain medicine physicians in Newport Beach?
Dr. Kramer's average Medicare payment per service is $71. 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. Kramer) 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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