Medicare Enrolled
Dr. Norman Chien, MD
Geriatric Medicine (Internal Medicine) Physician · Pasadena, 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. Chien 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. Chien?
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What this data tells you about Dr. Chien
Dr. Norman Chien is a geriatric medicine physician in Pasadena, CA, with 20 years of NPI registration. Based on federal Medicare data, Dr. Chien performed 5,889 Medicare services across 1,422 unique beneficiaries.
Between the years covered by Open Payments, Dr. Chien received a total of $5,151 from 32 pharmaceutical and/or device companies across 201 individual payments. These payments are legal, publicly disclosed under the federal Sunshine Act, and common in geriatric medicine (internal 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. Chien 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 10% volume in CA
$5,151 industry payments
Medicare Practice Summary
Medicare Utilization ↗5,889
Medicare services
Top 10% in CA for geriatric medicine (internal medicine) physician
1,422
Unique beneficiaries
$73
Avg. Medicare payment
Medicare patients only (65+ / disabled) · How to read this →
~294 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Telephone medical discussion, 21-30 minutes A telephone conversation with a physician lasting between 21 and 30 minutes. This code covers the time spent discussing medical matters over the phone. |
1,673 | $79 | $157 |
| Denosumab injection (Prolia/Xgeva) | 960 | $17 | $23 |
| Virtual check-in for established patient A brief communication service provided by a qualified healthcare professional to an established patient via technology, such as a virtual check-in. |
726 | $9 | $50 |
| Home visit, established patient, high complexity A home visit for an established patient involving high-level medical decision making, lasting at least 60 minutes. |
476 | $151 | $251 |
| 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. |
448 | $147 | $207 |
| Home visit, established patient, moderate complexity A home visit for an established patient involving moderate medical decision making. The visit requires at least 40 minutes of time if time is used to determine the level of service. |
343 | $105 | $181 |
| Nursing facility visit, moderate complexity A follow-up visit by a healthcare provider at a nursing facility for an established patient. The visit involves moderate medical decision making and takes at least 30 minutes. |
319 | $88 | $129 |
| Blood draw (venipuncture) Insertion of a needle into a vein to collect a blood sample. |
126 | $4 | $5 |
| Telephone medical discussion, 11-20 minutes A phone conversation with a physician lasting between 11 and 20 minutes. |
99 | $55 | $111 |
| Home health plan of care re-certification A physician reviews the patient's status and contacts the home health agency to re-certify the plan of care without the patient being present. |
92 | $35 | $60 |
| Assessment of and care planning for patient with impaired thought processing, typically 60 minutes | 77 | $227 | $347 |
| 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. |
62 | $100 | $146 |
| Office visit for established patient An office visit for an existing patient that may not require the healthcare professional to be present. |
59 | $19 | $30 |
| Flu vaccine, high-dose High-dose seasonal influenza vaccine for adults aged 65 and older. Contains four times the antigen of standard-dose flu vaccines (60 mcg per strain), split-virus formulation, preservative-free, single-dose syringe. |
50 | $72 | $80 |
| Flu vaccine administration This procedure involves the administration of the influenza virus vaccine. It covers the process of delivering the vaccine to the patient. |
50 | $33 | $50 |
| Home health plan of care certification Certification by a physician or allowed practitioner for Medicare-covered home health services under a home health plan of care. This includes contacting the home health agency and reviewing reports of patient status required by physicians. |
44 | $45 | $77 |
| Neuropsychological test evaluation, first hour A professional assessment of cognitive and behavioral functioning using standardized tests. This service covers the initial hour of the evaluation process. |
36 | $110 | $230 |
| Psychological test administration, first 30 minutes A technician administers psychological or neuropsychological testing for the first 30 minutes. |
36 | $31 | $59 |
| 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. |
33 | $145 | $285 |
| 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. |
22 | $96 | $157 |
| Annual wellness visit, follow-up A follow-up annual wellness visit that includes a personalized prevention plan of service. |
21 | $140 | $177 |
| New patient office visit, complex (60-74 min) | 20 | $173 | $294 |
| Nursing facility visit, high complexity A follow-up visit by a healthcare provider at a nursing facility for an established patient. The visit involves a high level of medical decision making and takes at least 45 minutes. |
20 | $130 | $192 |
| Advance care planning consultation, first 30 min A session focused on discussing and documenting future healthcare preferences and goals. This service covers the initial 30 minutes of the planning discussion. |
20 | $69 | $101 |
| Home visit, new patient, high complexity A home visit for a new patient involving high-level medical decision making, lasting at least 75 minutes. |
19 | $162 | $311 |
| Ear wax removal A procedure to remove impacted ear wax from the ear canal. |
16 | $41 | $105 |
| Drug injection, under skin or into muscle A procedure involving the administration of a medication or substance via injection into the subcutaneous tissue or muscle. |
16 | $12 | $37 |
| Initial nursing facility care, high complexity An initial visit by a healthcare provider to a patient in a nursing facility involving a high level of medical decision making, lasting at least 45 minutes. |
13 | $150 | $234 |
| Home visit, new patient, moderate complexity A home visit for a new patient involving moderate medical decision making, lasting at least 60 minutes. |
13 | $121 | $257 |
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 ↗$5,151
Total received (2018-2024)
Avg $736/year across 7 years
Top 13% in CA for geriatric medicine (internal medicine) physician
A higher payment rank reflects disclosed industry relationships (consulting, research, speaking) common among subspecialists — not wrongdoing.
32
Companies
201
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
$5,151 (100.0%)
Payment trend by year
Annual totals from pharmaceutical and medical device companies.
2024
$858
2023
$1,057
2022
$1,047
2021
$364
2020
$331
2019
$717
2018
$778
Payments by company (2024)
Consulting
Speaking
Meals & Travel
Research
Vanda Pharmaceuticals Inc.
$330
Neurocrine Biosciences, Inc.
$191
Teva Pharmaceuticals USA, Inc.
$135
Almatica Pharma LLC
$58
Acella Pharmaceuticals, LLC
$31
Boehringer Ingelheim Pharmaceuticals, Inc.
$30
Radius Health, Inc.
$26
AIMMUNE THERAPEUTICS, INC.
$21
Lilly USA, LLC
$20
PFIZER INC.
$16
Top 3 companies account for 76.5% of 2024 payments
All-time payments by company (2018-2024) ›
Vanda Pharmaceuticals Inc.
$1,246
Amarin Pharma Inc.
$743
Teva Pharmaceuticals USA, Inc.
$555
Neurocrine Biosciences, Inc.
$468
Sunovion Pharmaceuticals Inc.
$328
Sumitomo Pharma America, Inc.
$286
Avanir Pharmaceuticals, Inc.
$281
Novartis Pharmaceuticals Corporation
$183
Lundbeck LLC
$182
Lilly USA, LLC
$121
AbbVie, Inc.
$82
UCB, Inc.
$76
ACADIA Pharmaceuticals Inc
$60
Almatica Pharma LLC
$58
Allergan Inc.
$50
AbbVie Inc.
$48
Linus Health, Inc.
$47
SANOFI PASTEUR INC.
$36
Janssen Pharmaceuticals, Inc
$35
Acella Pharmaceuticals, LLC
$31
Boehringer Ingelheim Pharmaceuticals, Inc.
$30
Radius Health, Inc.
$26
ABBVIE INC.
$23
AIMMUNE THERAPEUTICS, INC.
$21
Otsuka America Pharmaceutical, Inc.
$20
Abbott Laboratories
$19
BOSTON SCIENTIFIC CORPORATION
$18
Smith+Nephew, Inc.
$16
Azurity Pharmaceuticals, Inc.
$16
PFIZER INC.
$16
Allergan, Inc.
$14
Philips Electronics North America Corporation
$14
Top 3 companies account for 49.4% of all-time payments
Associated products mentioned in payments ›
(8876) Vest Therapy Und · ADACEL · AMYVID · APTIOM · AUSTEDO · Adthyza · Austedo XR · BAQSIMI · BYSTOLIC · Briviact · COLLAGENASE SANTYL · CORE COGNITIVE EVALUATION · Creon · ENTRESTO · FANAPT · FORTEO · GEMTESA · GENERAL PAIN MANAGEMENT · HETLIOZ · INGREZZA · INVOKANA · KYNMOBI · LINZESS · LONHALA MAGNAIR · LOREEV XR · MOUNJARO · Mitra Clip system · NORTHERA · NP Thyroid 60 · NUEDEXTA · NUPLAZID · Nayzilam · Nuedexta · PAXLOVID · REXULTI · Tymlos · UBRELVY · UTIBRON NEOHALER · VOWST · VRAYLAR · Vascepa · 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 (100%) are for meals and travel — low-value interactions that are common across virtually all practicing physicians.
Geographic Context
Geriatric medicine physicians within 10 mi
139
Per 100K population
1.4
County median income
$87,760
Nearest hospital
GLENDALE ADVENTIST MEDICAL CENTER
3.1 mi
3.1 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. Chien is a mixed practice specialist, with above-average Medicare volume (top 10% in CA), with low-engagement industry engagement in the top 13% of CA peers, 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. Chien experienced with telephone medical discussion, 21-30 minutes?
Based on Medicare claims data, Dr. Chien performed 1,673 telephone medical discussion, 21-30 minutes 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. Chien receive payments from pharmaceutical companies?
Yes. Dr. Chien received a total of $5,151 from 32 companies across 201 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. Chien's costs compare to other geriatric medicine physicians in Pasadena?
Dr. Chien's average Medicare payment per service is $73. 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. Chien) 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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