Medicare Enrolled
Dr. Narasimha Rao, M.D.
Cardiovascular Disease · Palm Springs, 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. Rao 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 →
Are you Dr. Rao?
Request a correction or review of any data shown here. Provider portal →
What this data tells you about Dr. Rao
Dr. Narasimha Rao is a cardiovascular disease specialist in Palm Springs, CA, with 20 years of NPI registration. Based on federal Medicare data, Dr. Rao performed 4,778 Medicare services across 1,575 unique beneficiaries.
Between the years covered by Open Payments, Dr. Rao received a total of $7,605 from 33 pharmaceutical and/or device companies across 383 individual payments. These payments are legal, publicly disclosed under the federal Sunshine Act, and common in cardiovascular disease. 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. Rao 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.
✓ 20 years in practice
▲ Top 21% volume in CA
$7,605 industry payments
Medicare Practice Summary
Medicare Utilization ↗4,778
Medicare services
Top 21% in CA for cardiovascular disease
1,575
Unique beneficiaries
$26
Avg. Medicare payment
Medicare patients only (65+ / disabled) · How to read this →
~239 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Adenosine injection, 1 mg Administration of a 1 mg dose of adenosine medication. This code is specifically for adenosine and excludes adenosine phosphate compounds. |
2,724 | $0 | $5 |
| 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. |
451 | $10 | $23 |
| 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. |
431 | $92 | $201 |
| 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. |
310 | $7 | $22 |
| Echocardiogram, transthoracic An ultrasound of the heart that uses color to show blood flow, rate, direction, and valve function. |
177 | $144 | $316 |
| Technetium Tc-99m sestamibi diagnostic injection A diagnostic injection of technetium Tc-99m sestamibi used for imaging studies. |
134 | $33 | $125 |
| 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. |
80 | $123 | $261 |
| 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. |
66 | $367 | $713 |
| 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. |
66 | $45 | $113 |
| Pacemaker system evaluation Assessment of a pacemaker device, including single, dual, multiple lead, or leadless systems. |
58 | $17 | $32 |
| 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. |
47 | $17 | $35 |
| 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. |
47 | $11 | $23 |
| 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. |
37 | $16 | $39 |
| 2-day continuous ECG with review and report A two-day continuous electrocardiogram recording that includes a professional review and written report of the results. |
33 | $52 | $118 |
| 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. |
28 | $27 | $59 |
| Pacemaker programming, dual lead system Adjustment and configuration of a dual-lead pacemaker device to ensure proper operation and settings. |
26 | $36 | $57 |
| 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. |
25 | $165 | $374 |
| 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. |
23 | $10 | $19 |
| Ultrasound of arm and leg arteries This procedure uses sound waves to create images of the blood vessels in the arms and legs. It allows healthcare providers to examine the structure and blood flow within these arteries. |
15 | $10 | $127 |
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.
5.5% high complexity
66.7% medium
27.8% routine
Industry Payment Transparency
Open Payments through 2024 ↗$7,605
Total received (2018-2024)
Avg $1,086/year across 7 years
Top 32% in CA for cardiovascular disease
A higher payment rank reflects disclosed industry relationships (consulting, research, speaking) common among subspecialists — not wrongdoing.
33
Companies
383
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
$7,485 (98.4%)
Speaking / Promotional
Speaker programs, honoraria, and industry-sponsored educational events
$120 (1.6%)
Payment trend by year
Annual totals from pharmaceutical and medical device companies.
2024
$82
2023
$417
2022
$1,227
2021
$2,009
2020
$1,349
2019
$890
2018
$1,631
Payments by company (2024)
Consulting
Speaking
Meals & Travel
Research
Boston Scientific Corporation
$61
PFIZER INC.
$21
Top 3 companies account for 100.0% of 2024 payments
All-time payments by company (2018-2024) ›
Novartis Pharmaceuticals Corporation
$1,242
Janssen Pharmaceuticals, Inc
$946
Amgen Inc.
$526
Boehringer Ingelheim Pharmaceuticals, Inc.
$490
AstraZeneca Pharmaceuticals LP
$418
Cardiovascular Systems Inc.
$415
E.R. Squibb & Sons, L.L.C.
$375
Abbott Laboratories
$344
SANOFI-AVENTIS U.S. LLC
$326
Amarin Pharma Inc.
$285
Esperion Therapeutics, Inc.
$231
Merck Sharp & Dohme LLC
$219
Terumo Medical Corporation
$215
PFIZER INC.
$211
Boston Scientific Corporation
$208
Medtronic, Inc.
$202
Kowa Pharmaceuticals America, Inc.
$147
Medtronic Vascular, Inc.
$132
Edwards Lifesciences Corporation
$94
ZOLL Services LLC (A/K/A ZOLL LifeCor Corp)
$90
BOSTON SCIENTIFIC CORPORATION
$87
Novo Nordisk Inc
$82
Merck Sharp & Dohme Corporation
$66
ZOLL Circulation Inc
$52
Bayer HealthCare Pharmaceuticals Inc.
$38
PORTOLA PHARMACEUTICALS, INC.
$30
Allergan Inc.
$29
Kiniksa Pharmaceuticals, Ltd.
$23
Aegerion Pharmaceuticals, Inc.
$21
SUN PHARMACEUTICAL INDUSTRIES INC.
$21
Bardy Diagnostics, Inc.
$16
Chiesi USA, Inc.
$15
Itamar Medical Inc
$9
Top 3 companies account for 35.7% of all-time payments
Associated products mentioned in payments ›
ANDEXXA · AZURE XT DR MRI SURESCAN · Azure · BEVYXXA · BRILINTA · BYSTOLIC · CAMZYOS · CLEVIPREX · CareLink · Carnation Ambulatory Monitor · Coronary Orbital Atherectomy System · ELIQUIS · ENTRESTO · Ensite Cardiac Mapping System · FARXIGA · JARDIANCE · JUXTAPID · KAPSPARGO · Kerendia · LEQVIO · LUX DX · LUX-DX · LUX-Dx Insertable Cardiac Monitor · LifeVest · Livalo · MERLIN@HOME · MICRA · MULTAQ · Merlin Connectivity and Remote · Micra · MitraClip System · NEXLETOL · NEXLIZET · Optitorque · Ozempic · PRADAXA · PRALUENT · Pacemakers · Perclose ProGlide suture mediated closure system · Repatha · Reveal LINQ · Rybelsus · SAPIEN 3 Ultra RESILIA · Temperature Management System · VERQUVO · Vascepa · WATCHMAN · WATCHMAN Access System · WatchPAT · XARELTO
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
Cardiologists within 10 mi
36
Per 100K population
1.5
County median income
$89,672
Nearest hospital
DESERT REGIONAL 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. Rao is a mixed practice specialist, with above-average Medicare volume (top 21% in CA), with low-engagement industry engagement, with 20 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. Rao experienced with adenosine injection, 1 mg?
Based on Medicare claims data, Dr. Rao performed 2,724 adenosine injection, 1 mg 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. Rao receive payments from pharmaceutical companies?
Yes. Dr. Rao received a total of $7,605 from 33 companies across 383 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. Rao's costs compare to other cardiologists in Palm Springs?
Dr. Rao's average Medicare payment per service is $26. 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. Rao) 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 →
Explore related providers
Same specialty & city
Cardiologists in Palm Springs
Browse cardiologists in Palm Springs ranked by procedure volume and transparency data.
Highest volume
Top Cardiologists in CA
Cardiologists ranked by total Medicare services performed statewide.
Industry payments
Pharma Payments to Cardiologists in CA
Which CA cardiologists receive the most from drug and device companies.
By company
Novartis Pharmaceuticals Corporation Payments to Doctors
See all physicians who received payments from Novartis Pharmaceuticals Corporation.
By company
Janssen Pharmaceuticals, Inc Payments to Doctors
See all physicians who received payments from Janssen Pharmaceuticals, Inc.
By company
Amgen Inc. Payments to Doctors
See all physicians who received payments from Amgen Inc.
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.
Provider corrections: Provider portal · Privacy questions: Privacy Policy · Terms: Terms of Use · Methodology: Methodology