Medicare Enrolled
Dr. Walter Burnham Jr., MD
Orthopaedic Surgery of the Spine Physician · Pasadena, CA
Practice pattern: Clinical Cardiology
— Primarily office-based clinical cardiology
Mixed 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. Burnham Jr. 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. Burnham Jr.
Dr. Walter Burnham Jr. is an orthopaedic surgery of the spine physician in Pasadena, CA, with 19 years of NPI registration. Based on federal Medicare data, Dr. Burnham Jr. performed 2,125 Medicare services across 1,217 unique beneficiaries.
Between the years covered by Open Payments, Dr. Burnham Jr. received a total of $436,397 from 15 pharmaceutical and/or device companies across 66 individual payments. These payments are legal, publicly disclosed under the federal Sunshine Act, and common in orthopaedic surgery of the spine physician. The majority of payments are classified as financial or ownership interests (royalties, licensing fees, or investment interests). Patients may wish to discuss these relationships with their provider.
The Data Coverage level for Dr. Burnham Jr. 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 11% volume in CA
$436,397 industry payments
Medicare Practice Summary
Medicare Utilization ↗2,125
Medicare services
Top 11% in CA for orthopaedic surgery of the spine physician
1,217
Unique beneficiaries
$76
Avg. Medicare payment
Medicare patients only (65+ / disabled) · How to read this →
~112 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Betamethasone steroid injection An injection containing a combination of betamethasone acetate and betamethasone sodium phosphate. |
504 | $5 | $15 |
| Dexamethasone injection (steroid) An injection of dexamethasone sodium phosphate, a corticosteroid medication, administered in a dose of 1 milligram. |
253 | $0 | $15 |
| 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. |
131 | $27 | $90 |
| Lidocaine HCl injection for IV infusion, 10 mg Administration of a 10 mg dose of lidocaine hydrochloride via intravenous infusion. |
129 | $0 | $15 |
| Ultrasound guidance for needle placement Use of ultrasound imaging to guide the precise placement of a needle during a medical procedure. |
125 | $47 | $130 |
| 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. |
122 | $69 | $185 |
| 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. |
105 | $105 | $275 |
| 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. |
97 | $23 | $60 |
| 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. |
75 | $152 | $375 |
| 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. |
71 | $43 | $150 |
| X-ray of upper spine, 2-3 views An X-ray imaging test of the upper spine using two to three different angles to visualize the bones and structures. |
46 | $30 | $75 |
| 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. |
40 | $47 | $120 |
| 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. |
38 | $143 | $350 |
| Office visit, established patient (10-19 min) An office visit for an existing patient lasting 10 to 19 minutes. The visit involves medical evaluation and management of the patient's condition. |
31 | $38 | $125 |
| 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. |
28 | $26 | $70 |
| Ketorolac injection, per 15 mg An injection of ketorolac tromethamine, a nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug, administered in doses measured per 15 mg. |
23 | $0 | $15 |
| X-ray of middle and lower spine, 2 views An X-ray imaging test that captures two views of the middle and lower sections of the spine to visualize the bones and joints. |
22 | $24 | $75 |
| Lower spine bone and disc removal A surgical procedure involving the incision or removal of a segment of bone from the lower spine along with the removal of a spinal disc. |
21 | $1,269 | $3,000 |
| Anterior lumbar interbody fusion with partial disc removal A surgical procedure to fuse the lower spine bones by accessing the area through the abdomen and partially removing a spinal disc. |
21 | $490 | $2,700 |
| Orthopedic device training, each 15 minutes Follow-up training on how to use an orthopedic device or artificial limb. The session lasts for 15-minute increments. |
21 | $46 | $120 |
| Additional spine bone and disc removal This procedure involves the incision or removal of an additional segment of spine bone along with the removal of the associated disc. |
20 | $293 | $825 |
| Spinal puncture with injection, upper spine A needle is inserted into the upper spine to inject a substance. The procedure involves accessing the spinal area to deliver medication or other agents. |
20 | $98 | $300 |
| 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. |
19 | $87 | $250 |
| X-ray of upper spine, 6 or more views An X-ray imaging test of the upper spine using six or more separate views to capture detailed images of the bones and structures in that area. |
17 | $52 | $125 |
| X-ray of entire middle and lower spine, minimum of 6 views An X-ray imaging procedure that captures at least six views of the entire middle and lower spine to visualize the bones and structures in these regions. |
17 | $79 | $200 |
| Anterior spinal fusion with partial disc removal, each additional disc This procedure involves fusing spine bones together through an incision in the front of the body, with partial removal of the disc, for each additional disc treated. |
16 | $178 | $762 |
| Fusion of spine in lower back | 16 | $804 | $2,700 |
| Spinal fusion of additional segment A surgical procedure to join an additional section of the spine to the existing fusion. This is performed as a separate or subsequent step to stabilize more of the spinal column. |
16 | $318 | $975 |
| Spinal stabilization device placement, 2-3 segments Surgical placement of a device to stabilize the front of two to three spinal segments. |
16 | $591 | $1,475 |
| Spinal stabilization device placement, 3-6 segments Surgical placement of a device to stabilize three to six vertebrae in the back. |
15 | $621 | $1,400 |
| Partial removal of spine bone with nerve release, 1 segment A surgical procedure involving the partial removal of a bone segment in the spine to relieve pressure on the spinal cord or nerves. This is performed on a single spinal segment. |
13 | $738 | $2,146 |
| 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. |
13 | $123 | $400 |
| 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. |
13 | $54 | $285 |
| X-ray of lower and sacral spine, minimum 6 views An X-ray imaging test that captures at least six views of the lower back and sacral spine to evaluate bone structure and alignment. |
11 | $57 | $135 |
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.
9.3% high complexity
44.8% medium
45.9% routine
Industry Payment Transparency
Open Payments through 2024 ↗$436,397
Total received (2018-2024)
Avg $62,342/year across 7 years
Top 15% in CA for orthopaedic surgery of the spine physician
A higher payment rank reflects disclosed industry relationships (consulting, research, speaking) common among subspecialists — not wrongdoing.
15
Companies
66
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.
Financial / Ownership
Ownership or investment interests, royalties, and licensing fees
$384,158 (88.0%)
Speaking / Promotional
Speaker programs, honoraria, and industry-sponsored educational events
$39,272 (9.0%)
Consulting
Expert advisory fees, typically reflecting recognized clinical expertise
$10,866 (2.5%)
Meals & Travel
Food, beverages, travel, and lodging — typically low-value
$2,102 (0.5%)
Payment trend by year
Annual totals from pharmaceutical and medical device companies.
2024
$641
2023
$37,809
2022
$53,226
2021
$71,499
2020
$69,614
2019
$101,994
2018
$101,614
Payments by company (2024)
Consulting
Speaking
Meals & Travel
Research
Highridge Medical LLC
$551
Boston Scientific Corporation
$73
GlaxoSmithKline, LLC.
$17
Top 3 companies account for 100.0% of 2024 payments
All-time payments by company (2018-2024) ›
Farallon Surgical, LLC
$421,929
NuVasive, Inc.
$5,396
Cerapedics Inc.
$3,402
Zimmer Biomet Holdings, Inc.
$2,284
Cerapedics, Inc.
$1,500
ZIMVIE INC.
$810
Highridge Medical LLC
$551
SPINEFRONTIER, INC.
$212
Dynasplint Systems Inc.
$80
Boston Scientific Corporation
$73
Abbott Laboratories
$69
Globus Medical, Inc.
$37
Surgalign Spine Technologies, Inc.
$23
GlaxoSmithKline, LLC.
$17
PROVIDENCE MEDICAL TECHNOLOGY, INC.
$12
Top 3 companies account for 98.7% of all-time payments
Associated products mentioned in payments ›
12.5MM X 50MM · ALIF · Dynasplint · ExcelsiusGPS Robotic Navigation System · I-FACTOR PEPTIDE ENHANCED BONE GRAFT · Inspan · Mobi-C · NUCALA · Proclaim IPG · SIMMETRY IMPLANT · Timberline · TrellOss · Vital · WaveWriter Alpha Prime 16 · XLIF · i-FACTOR Putty
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 →
Payments are distributed across multiple categories with no single dominant type.
Geographic Context
Orthopaedic surgery of the spine physicians within 10 mi
74
Per 100K population
0.8
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. Burnham Jr. is a clinical cardiology specialist, with above-average Medicare volume (top 11% in CA), with mixed engagement industry engagement in the top 15% 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. Burnham Jr. experienced with betamethasone steroid injection?
Based on Medicare claims data, Dr. Burnham Jr. performed 504 betamethasone steroid injection 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. Burnham Jr. receive payments from pharmaceutical companies?
Yes. Dr. Burnham Jr. received a total of $436,397 from 15 companies across 66 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. Burnham Jr.'s costs compare to other orthopaedic surgery of the spine physicians in Pasadena?
Dr. Burnham Jr.'s average Medicare payment per service is $76. 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. Burnham Jr.) 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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