Medicare Enrolled
Dr. Shaun Cho, MD
Cardiovascular Disease · Palo Alto, CA
Practice pattern: Electrophysiology & Remote
— Practice combining electrophysiology and remote services
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. Cho 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. Cho?
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What this data tells you about Dr. Cho
Dr. Shaun Cho is a cardiovascular disease specialist in Palo Alto, CA, with 19 years of NPI registration. Based on federal Medicare data, Dr. Cho performed 3,986 Medicare services across 3,050 unique beneficiaries.
Between the years covered by Open Payments, Dr. Cho received a total of $14,352 from 10 pharmaceutical and/or device companies across 41 individual payments. These payments are legal, publicly disclosed under the federal Sunshine Act, and common in cardiovascular disease. 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. 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.
✓ 19 years in practice
▲ Top 26% volume in CA
$14,352 industry payments
Medicare Practice Summary
Medicare Utilization ↗3,986
Medicare services
Top 26% in CA for cardiovascular disease
3,050
Unique beneficiaries
$74
Avg. Medicare payment
Medicare patients only (65+ / disabled) · How to read this →
~210 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Remote pacemaker/defibrillator monitoring, 90 days Remote evaluation of a pacemaker or implantable defibrillator system within 90 days of the last check. |
521 | $23 | $126 |
| 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. |
520 | $7 | $61 |
| 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. |
441 | $159 | $489 |
| 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. |
423 | $13 | $83 |
| 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. |
412 | $24 | $150 |
| 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. |
301 | $111 | $364 |
| Pacemaker programming, dual lead system Adjustment and configuration of a dual-lead pacemaker device to ensure proper operation and settings. |
154 | $78 | $299 |
| 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. |
136 | $22 | $98 |
| 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. |
134 | $59 | $108 |
| New patient office visit, complex (60-74 min) | 132 | $202 | $697 |
| 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. |
115 | $31 | $292 |
| External EKG monitoring, 8-15 days Continuous external electrocardiogram recording and review over a period of 8 to 15 days to monitor heart rhythm. |
111 | $23 | $101 |
| 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. |
108 | $13 | $63 |
| Atrial fibrillation ablation with pulmonary vein isolation A procedure to treat atrial fibrillation by mapping the heart's electrical activity and destroying tissue causing irregular contractions. This is done by isolating the pulmonary veins using catheter-based destruction. |
78 | $529 | $2,826 |
| 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. |
71 | $4 | $25 |
| Hospital discharge day management, 30 minutes or less This service covers the final day of hospital care when the patient is being discharged. It includes coordination of care and instructions for the patient within a time frame of 30 minutes or less. |
62 | $75 | $252 |
| Heart chamber tissue destruction via catheter A procedure that destroys tissue in the upper heart chamber using a tube to treat abnormal heart rhythm. |
56 | $260 | $1,197 |
| 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. |
39 | $98 | $987 |
| Pacemaker programming, single lead Adjustment and testing of a single-lead pacemaker to ensure it functions correctly. |
23 | $62 | $251 |
| Office visit for established patient An office visit for an existing patient that may not require the healthcare professional to be present. |
21 | $22 | $74 |
| Pacemaker insertion with heart chamber electrodes A surgical procedure to implant a pacemaker device and place electrodes into the upper and lower chambers of the heart to regulate heart rhythm. |
20 | $452 | $2,395 |
| 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. |
18 | $99 | $379 |
| Radiofrequency ablation for supraventricular tachycardia A procedure to locate and destroy abnormal heart tissue in the upper chambers of the heart that causes a rapid heart rate. |
18 | $709 | $2,462 |
| Catheter ablation for abnormal heart rhythm A procedure where catheters are inserted to destroy tissue causing irregular heartbeats. |
17 | $241 | $1,116 |
| 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 | $160 | $704 |
| 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. |
15 | $110 | $365 |
| Heart rhythm stimulator programming after drug infusion Adjustment of a heart rhythm stimulation device following a drug infusion. This procedure involves reprogramming the device settings to ensure proper function after the medication has been administered. |
13 | $80 | $639 |
| Removal and replacement of dual lead permanent pacemaker This procedure involves removing an existing permanent pacemaker with two leads and replacing it with a new device. It is performed to update or repair the heart rhythm management system. |
12 | $307 | $1,316 |
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.
36.6% high complexity
0.0% medium
63.4% routine
Industry Payment Transparency
Open Payments through 2024 ↗$14,352
Total received (2018-2024)
Avg $2,050/year across 7 years
Top 22% in CA for cardiovascular disease
A higher payment rank reflects disclosed industry relationships (consulting, research, speaking) common among subspecialists — not wrongdoing.
10
Companies
41
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
$13,200 (92.0%)
Meals & Travel
Food, beverages, travel, and lodging — typically low-value
$1,152 (8.0%)
Payment trend by year
Annual totals from pharmaceutical and medical device companies.
2024
$375
2023
$200
2022
$223
2021
$17
2020
$21
2019
$2,677
2018
$10,839
Payments by company (2024)
Consulting
Speaking
Meals & Travel
Research
ATRICURE, INC.
$149
Biosense Webster, Inc.
$126
Abbott Laboratories
$44
ZOLL Services LLC (A/K/A ZOLL LifeCor Corp)
$31
Penumbra, Inc.
$26
Top 3 companies account for 84.9% of 2024 payments
All-time payments by company (2018-2024) ›
Medical Device Business Services, Inc.
$13,200
Biosense Webster, Inc.
$456
Abbott Laboratories
$337
ATRICURE, INC.
$149
Medtronic Vascular, Inc.
$69
ZOLL Services LLC (A/K/A ZOLL LifeCor Corp)
$57
Penumbra, Inc.
$26
Terumo Medical Corporation
$22
CardioFocus, Inc.
$20
Merit Medical Systems Inc
$16
Top 3 companies account for 97.5% of all-time payments
Associated products mentioned in payments ›
Advisor Catheter · Aspire Home Drainage Catheter · Azure · CARTO 3 · Carto 3 System · Confirm Rx · ENSITE · ENSITE PRECISION · EPI-SENSE GUIDED COAGULATION SYSTEM WITH VISITRAX · EnSite Precision Cardiac Mapping System · Ensite Cardiac Mapping System · GLIDESHEATH SLENDER · Indigo System · LifeVest · OCTARAY MAPPING CATHETER · PERCLOSE PROSTYLE · QDOT MICRO Catheter · VANTAGEVIEW · ViewFlex Xtra ICE Catheter · Visia AF
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 (92%) are consulting fees, which typically reflect recognized clinical expertise sought by manufacturers.
Geographic Context
Cardiologists within 10 mi
260
Per 100K population
13.7
County median income
$159,674
Nearest hospital
STANFORD HEALTH CARE
2.1 mi
2.1 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 an electrophysiology & remote specialist, with above-average Medicare volume (top 26% 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. Cho experienced with remote pacemaker/defibrillator monitoring, 90 days?
Based on Medicare claims data, Dr. Cho performed 521 remote pacemaker/defibrillator monitoring, 90 days 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. Cho receive payments from pharmaceutical companies?
Yes. Dr. Cho received a total of $14,352 from 10 companies across 41 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. Cho's costs compare to other cardiologists in Palo Alto?
Dr. Cho's average Medicare payment per service is $74. 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. Cho) 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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