Dr. Christopher Walz, M.D.
What this data tells you about Dr. Walz
Dr. Christopher Walz is an otolaryngology specialist in Rancho Mirage, CA, with 19 years of NPI registration. Based on federal Medicare data, Dr. Walz performed 7,894 Medicare services across 4,846 unique beneficiaries.
Between the years covered by Open Payments, Dr. Walz received a total of $1,492 from 10 pharmaceutical and/or device companies across 21 individual payments. These payments are legal, publicly disclosed under the federal Sunshine Act, and common in otolaryngology. 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. Walz 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.
Medicare Practice Summary
Medicare Utilization ↗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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 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. |
1,167 | $70 | $152 |
| Nasal endoscopy A diagnostic procedure that uses a thin, lighted tube to examine the inside of the nasal passages. |
1,164 | $157 | $328 |
| Ear wax removal A procedure to remove impacted ear wax from the ear canal. |
1,016 | $28 | $80 |
| Allergy skin test A diagnostic test performed to identify specific allergies by applying or introducing allergenic extracts to the body. The procedure measures the patient's immune response to various potential allergens. |
912 | $3 | $7 |
| 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. |
819 | $98 | $214 |
| Flexible laryngoscopy A diagnostic exam of the voice box using a flexible endoscope to visualize the larynx. |
767 | $72 | $224 |
| Skin allergy test A test where small amounts of potential allergens are injected into the skin to check for allergic reactions. |
550 | $6 | $14 |
| 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. |
231 | $83 | $188 |
| Ultrasound of head and neck soft tissue This procedure uses sound waves to create images of the soft tissues in the head and neck area. It allows for the visualization of structures beneath the skin without using radiation. |
229 | $90 | $194 |
| 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. |
209 | $121 | $279 |
| 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. |
185 | $41 | $96 |
| CT scan of face, without contrast A computed tomography scan that creates detailed images of the facial structures. This procedure is performed without the use of intravenous contrast dye. |
139 | $112 | $229 |
| Microscopic ear examination A detailed visual inspection of the ear using a specialized microscope to examine the ear canal and eardrum. |
106 | $24 | $50 |
| Endoscopic nasal polyp biopsy or removal A procedure to remove or sample nasal polyps or tissue using an endoscope. The endoscope allows the provider to view the nasal passages during the procedure. |
57 | $274 | $568 |
| Ultrasound-guided fine needle aspiration biopsy, first lesion A biopsy procedure where a thin needle is used to collect tissue samples from a growth, guided by ultrasound imaging. This code applies to the first lesion or mass sampled during the session. |
56 | $107 | $232 |
| Removal of foreign body in ear canal | 48 | $59 | $155 |
| Endoscopic control of nosebleed A procedure to stop bleeding in the nose using an endoscope to visualize the area. |
35 | $197 | $428 |
| Nasal growth removal or destruction This procedure involves the removal or destruction of a growth located in the nose using an approach through the nostrils. |
34 | $526 | $1,703 |
| Complex removal of skin debris and drainage of mastoid cavity This procedure involves the intricate removal of accumulated skin debris and the drainage of fluid from the mastoid cavity. |
32 | $192 | $405 |
| Endoscopic sinus dilation A procedure that widens the nasal sinuses using an endoscope to improve drainage and airflow. |
24 | $1,090 | $3,854 |
| Endoscopic dilation of sphenoid and frontal sinuses A procedure using an endoscope to widen the sphenoid and frontal sinuses. |
22 | $2,641 | $7,538 |
| 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. |
21 | $142 | $300 |
| Simple removal of skin debris and drainage of mastoid cavity This procedure involves the simple removal of skin debris and the drainage of a mastoid cavity. |
18 | $53 | $145 |
| Eardrum incision with tube insertion A small cut is made in the eardrum to insert a ventilation tube, performed under local or topical anesthesia. |
14 | $178 | $363 |
| New patient office visit, 15-29 minutes An initial office visit for a new patient lasting 15 to 29 minutes. This code is used when the total time spent on the date of the encounter meets this duration threshold. |
14 | $56 | $122 |
| Computer-assisted neurosurgery outside brain covering A surgical procedure using computer guidance to operate on areas outside the membrane covering the brain. |
13 | $132 | $287 |
| Destruction of nasal passage soft tissue A procedure to destroy abnormal or excess soft tissue within the nasal passages. |
12 | $94 | $383 |
Industry Payment Transparency
Open Payments through 2024 ↗Payment profile
Industry payments classified by relationship type. Not all payments are equal — research and consulting reflect different relationships than speaking programs or meals.
Payment trend by year
Annual totals from pharmaceutical and medical device companies.
Payments by company (2024)
All-time payments by company (2018-2024) ›
Associated products mentioned in payments ›
Most payments (100%) are for meals and travel — low-value interactions that are common across virtually all practicing physicians.
Geographic Context
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. Walz is a clinical cardiology specialist, with above-average Medicare volume (top 1% in CA), with low-engagement 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
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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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