Medicare Enrolled
Dr. Azad Ghassemi, M.D
Neuroradiology Physician · Sacramento, 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. Ghassemi 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. Ghassemi
Dr. Azad Ghassemi is a neuroradiology physician in Sacramento, CA, with 18 years of NPI registration. Based on federal Medicare data, Dr. Ghassemi performed 49,055 Medicare services across 4,332 unique beneficiaries.
Between the years covered by Open Payments, Dr. Ghassemi received a total of $1,061 from 8 pharmaceutical and/or device companies across 11 individual payments. These payments are legal, publicly disclosed under the federal Sunshine Act, and common in neuroradiology 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. Ghassemi 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.
✓ 18 years in practice
▲ Top 2% volume in CA
$1,061 industry payments
Medicare Practice Summary
Medicare Utilization ↗49,055
Medicare services
Top 2% in CA for neuroradiology physician
4,332
Unique beneficiaries
$10
Avg. Medicare payment
Medicare patients only (65+ / disabled) · How to read this →
~2,725 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| MRI contrast dye injection (gadobutrol) | 35,278 | $0 | $2 |
| Contrast dye for imaging (iodine-based) A contrast agent containing 300-399 mg/ml of iodine used to enhance imaging studies. It is administered per milliliter to improve the visibility of internal structures. |
9,930 | $0 | $1 |
| MRI of lower spine, without contrast A magnetic resonance imaging scan of the lower spinal canal that does not use contrast dye to create detailed images of the spine. |
683 | $149 | $1,513 |
| MRI scan of brain, without contrast A magnetic resonance imaging test of the brain that does not use contrast dye. This procedure creates detailed images of the brain's structure using magnetic fields and radio waves. |
333 | $160 | $1,673 |
| MRI of brain with and without contrast An MRI scan of the brain using contrast dye both before and after administration to provide detailed images of brain structures. |
321 | $258 | $2,273 |
| MRI of upper spine without contrast An MRI scan of the upper spinal canal that does not use contrast dye. This imaging test uses magnetic fields and radio waves to create detailed pictures of the spine. |
303 | $134 | $1,477 |
| 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. |
263 | $29 | $155 |
| Chest X-ray, 1 view An X-ray image of the chest taken from a single angle. This imaging test is used to visualize the structures within the chest cavity. |
237 | $7 | $37 |
| CT scan of head/brain, without contrast A CT scan uses X-rays to create detailed images of the head or brain without the use of contrast dye. |
196 | $77 | $597 |
| 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. |
175 | $76 | $589 |
| 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. |
120 | $29 | $151 |
| Ultrasound of head and neck blood flow, bilateral An ultrasound exam that uses sound waves to visualize and assess blood flow in the vessels of both the head and the neck. |
118 | $139 | $964 |
| MRI of middle spinal canal, without contrast This procedure uses magnetic resonance imaging to create detailed pictures of the middle section of the spinal canal. It is performed without the use of contrast dye. |
114 | $129 | $1,939 |
| 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. |
108 | $106 | $884 |
| 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. |
85 | $29 | $218 |
| CT scan of lower spine, without contrast A computed tomography scan that creates detailed images of the lower spine using X-rays without the use of contrast dye. |
81 | $92 | $984 |
| Chest X-ray, 2 views An X-ray imaging test of the chest that captures two different angles to visualize the lungs, heart, and chest wall. |
75 | $25 | $136 |
| CT scan of neck soft tissue with contrast A computed tomography scan that uses contrast dye to create detailed images of the soft tissues in the neck. |
74 | $153 | $1,398 |
| MRI of lower spine with and without contrast An MRI scan of the lower spinal canal performed both before and after the administration of contrast dye to enhance image detail. |
70 | $269 | $2,823 |
| X-ray of entire middle and lower spine, 2-3 views An X-ray imaging test that captures 2 to 3 views of the entire middle and lower spine to visualize the bones and structures in these areas. |
55 | $57 | $330 |
| CT scan of upper spine, without contrast A CT scan uses X-rays to create detailed images of the upper spine. This procedure is performed without the use of contrast dye. |
52 | $103 | $1,037 |
| 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. |
41 | $28 | $135 |
| MRI of eye socket, face, and/or neck with and without contrast This procedure uses magnetic resonance imaging to create detailed pictures of the bones in the eye socket, face, and neck. It is performed both before and after the administration of a contrast dye to enhance the images. |
39 | $296 | $2,876 |
| MRI of upper spine with and without contrast An MRI scan of the upper spinal canal performed both before and after the administration of contrast dye to enhance image detail. |
33 | $266 | $2,922 |
| 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. |
31 | $25 | $181 |
| MRI of head blood vessels without contrast An MRI scan that creates detailed images of the blood vessels in the head without using contrast dye. |
26 | $151 | $1,937 |
| X-ray of middle spine, 3 views An X-ray imaging test that captures three different views of the middle section of the spine to evaluate its structure. |
26 | $26 | $168 |
| X-ray of lower and sacral spine, 2-3 views with bending An X-ray imaging test of the lower back and sacrum using 2 to 3 views, including bending positions. |
25 | $31 | $223 |
| CT scan of head, without contrast A CT scan uses X-rays to create detailed images of the brain and skull. This specific scan is performed without the use of contrast dye. |
22 | $131 | $1,198 |
| CT scan of neck blood vessels with contrast A computed tomography scan that uses dye to visualize the blood vessels in the neck. This imaging test helps examine the structure and flow within the neck's vascular system. |
19 | $160 | $1,997 |
| MRI of spinal canal with and without contrast A magnetic resonance imaging scan of the central spinal canal performed both before and after the administration of contrast dye to enhance image detail. |
18 | $287 | $2,701 |
| CT scan of head blood vessels with contrast A CT scan that uses contrast dye to create detailed images of the blood vessels in the head. |
16 | $211 | $1,961 |
| CT scan of middle spine, without contrast A CT scan of the middle spine performed without the use of contrast dye. This imaging test uses X-rays to create detailed pictures of the vertebrae and surrounding structures. |
16 | $99 | $1,002 |
| CT scan of lower spine with contrast A computed tomography scan of the lower spine using a contrast dye to enhance the images. This imaging test provides detailed views of the spinal structures. |
15 | $40 | $290 |
| CT scan of middle spine with contrast A CT scan of the middle spine using contrast dye to create detailed images of the area. |
12 | $43 | $290 |
| Abdominal X-ray, 1 view An X-ray image of the abdomen taken from a single angle to visualize internal structures. |
12 | $7 | $32 |
| CT scan of head/brain with and without contrast A CT scan of the head or brain performed using contrast dye both before and after its administration to capture detailed images. |
11 | $118 | $995 |
| MRI of neck blood vessels with contrast An MRI scan that uses a contrast dye to create detailed images of the blood vessels in the neck. |
11 | $212 | $2,583 |
| 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. |
11 | $46 | $304 |
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 2023 ↗$1,061
Total received (2018-2023)
Avg $212/year across 5 years
Top 36% in CA for neuroradiology physician
A higher payment rank reflects disclosed industry relationships (consulting, research, speaking) common among subspecialists — not wrongdoing.
8
Companies
11
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
$1,061 (100.0%)
Payment trend by year
Annual totals from pharmaceutical and medical device companies.
2023
$67
2021
$119
2020
$159
2019
$580
2018
$135
Payments by company (2023)
Consulting
Speaking
Meals & Travel
Research
GE HealthCare
$39
Bracco Diagnostics Inc.
$28
Top 3 companies account for 100.0% of 2023 payments
All-time payments by company (2018-2023) ›
Siemens Medical Solutions USA, Inc.
$421
Monteris Medical Corporation
$159
Elekta, Inc.
$135
Bayer HealthCare Pharmaceuticals Inc.
$123
Medtronic USA, Inc.
$80
EISAI INC.
$75
GE HealthCare
$39
Bracco Diagnostics Inc.
$28
Top 3 companies account for 67.5% of all-time payments
Associated products mentioned in payments ›
ARTIS icono biplane · Fycompa · Gadavist · Lumason · MAGNETOM Sola · Neuroblate · SOMATOM Force · TRIUX · VISUALASE
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
Neuroradiology physicians within 10 mi
18
Per 100K population
1.1
County median income
$88,724
Nearest hospital
SUTTER MEDICAL CENTER, SACRAMENTO
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 2023 |
| 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. Ghassemi is a mixed practice specialist, with above-average Medicare volume (top 2% in CA), with low-engagement industry engagement, with 18 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. Ghassemi experienced with mri contrast dye injection (gadobutrol)?
Based on Medicare claims data, Dr. Ghassemi performed 35,278 mri contrast dye injection (gadobutrol) 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. Ghassemi receive payments from pharmaceutical companies?
Yes. Dr. Ghassemi received a total of $1,061 from 8 companies across 11 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. Ghassemi's costs compare to other neuroradiology physicians in Sacramento?
Dr. Ghassemi's average Medicare payment per service is $10. 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. Ghassemi) 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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