Medicare Enrolled
Dr. Ashwin Rao, MD
Radiation Oncology · Salinas, 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. Rao 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. Rao?
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What this data tells you about Dr. Rao
Dr. Ashwin Rao is a radiation oncology specialist in Salinas, CA, with 11 years of NPI registration. Based on federal Medicare data, Dr. Rao performed 6,262 Medicare services across 2,558 unique beneficiaries.
Between the years covered by Open Payments, Dr. Rao received a total of $4,781 from 14 pharmaceutical and/or device companies across 58 individual payments. These payments are legal, publicly disclosed under the federal Sunshine Act, and common in radiation oncology. 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. Rao 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.
✓ 11 years in practice
▲ Top 26% volume in CA
$4,781 industry payments
Medicare Practice Summary
Medicare Utilization ↗6,262
Medicare services
Top 26% in CA for radiation oncology
2,558
Unique beneficiaries
$9
Avg. Medicare payment
Medicare patients only (65+ / disabled) · How to read this →
~569 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 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. |
3,600 | $0 | $1 |
| 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. |
1,167 | $7 | $139 |
| Abdominal X-ray, 1 view An X-ray image of the abdomen taken from a single angle to visualize internal structures. |
129 | $7 | $139 |
| CT scan of abdomen and pelvis with contrast A CT scan that uses dye to create detailed images of the abdomen and pelvis. This imaging test helps doctors examine internal organs and structures in these areas. |
91 | $120 | $661 |
| CT scan of chest blood vessels with contrast A CT scan that uses contrast dye to create detailed images of the blood vessels in the chest. |
84 | $65 | $1,316 |
| 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. |
72 | $6 | $121 |
| Hip X-ray, 2-3 views An X-ray imaging test of the hip joint using two to three different angles to visualize the bones and surrounding structures. |
71 | $8 | $212 |
| Ultrasound of arm or leg veins An ultrasound exam of the veins in one arm or leg using compression and other maneuvers to assess blood flow and check for blockages. |
69 | $16 | $418 |
| CT scan of chest with contrast A computed tomography scan of the chest using a contrast dye to enhance the visibility of internal structures. |
66 | $57 | $281 |
| Shoulder X-ray, 2+ views An X-ray imaging test of the shoulder joint using at least two different angles to visualize the bones and surrounding structures. |
59 | $7 | $133 |
| Complete ultrasound of abdomen A diagnostic imaging test that uses sound waves to create detailed pictures of the organs and structures within the abdomen. |
57 | $46 | $217 |
| Swallowing function imaging Imaging used to evaluate how well a person can swallow. This procedure visualizes the swallowing process to assess function. |
39 | $20 | $255 |
| Knee X-ray, 3 views An X-ray imaging test of the knee joint that captures three different angles to evaluate the bones and surrounding structures. |
38 | $7 | $115 |
| Knee X-ray, 1-2 views An X-ray imaging test of the knee joint using one to two different angles to visualize the bones and surrounding structures. |
37 | $6 | $125 |
| Foot X-ray, 3+ views An X-ray imaging test of the foot that captures at least three different views to evaluate the bones and joints. |
37 | $6 | $107 |
| CT scan of abdomen and pelvis, without contrast A computed tomography scan that creates detailed images of the abdominal and pelvic organs. The procedure is performed without the use of intravenous contrast dye. |
37 | $84 | $517 |
| Blood creatinine level test A blood test that measures the amount of creatinine, a waste product from muscle wear and tear, to help assess kidney function. |
36 | $5 | $21 |
| 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. |
32 | $8 | $158 |
| CT scan of abdominal and pelvic blood vessels with contrast A computed tomography scan that uses contrast dye to visualize the blood vessels in the abdomen and pelvis. |
32 | $81 | $1,637 |
| Limited abdominal ultrasound A focused ultrasound examination of the abdomen to evaluate specific organs or areas. This procedure uses sound waves to create images of internal structures. |
32 | $22 | $382 |
| Radiologist review of CT-guided needle placement A radiologist reviews the CT imaging used to guide the placement of a needle. |
32 | $53 | $842 |
| Wrist X-ray, minimum 3 views An imaging test using X-rays to capture at least three different angles of the wrist bones and joints. |
31 | $7 | $110 |
| CT scan of chest, without contrast A computed tomography scan of the chest area that uses X-rays to create detailed images without the use of contrast dye. |
29 | $53 | $229 |
| Ankle X-ray, minimum 3 views An X-ray imaging test of the ankle that captures at least three different angles to evaluate the bones and joints. |
29 | $7 | $112 |
| Complete ultrasound of retroperitoneum An ultrasound examination of the structures located behind the abdominal cavity. |
28 | $27 | $469 |
| X-ray of lower leg, 2 views An X-ray imaging test of the lower leg using two different angles to visualize the bones and surrounding structures. |
27 | $6 | $98 |
| X-ray of hand, minimum of 3 views An X-ray imaging test of the hand that captures at least three different angles to visualize the bones and joints. |
26 | $7 | $107 |
| Ultrasound of head and neck blood flow, one side An ultrasound exam that uses sound waves to visualize and assess blood flow in the vessels on one side of the head and neck. |
23 | $18 | $271 |
| X-ray of thigh bone, minimum 2 views An X-ray imaging test of the thigh bone using at least two different angles to visualize the bone structure. |
22 | $7 | $147 |
| Elbow X-ray, minimum 3 views An X-ray imaging test of the elbow joint that captures at least three different angles to visualize the bones and surrounding structures. |
20 | $6 | $104 |
| Bone marrow biopsy and aspiration A procedure to remove a small sample of bone marrow and liquid for laboratory testing. The sample is analyzed to help diagnose various medical conditions. |
19 | $59 | $1,301 |
| Knee X-ray, 4 or more views An imaging test using X-rays to create multiple pictures of the knee joint from different angles. |
17 | $8 | $149 |
| X-ray of upper arm, minimum of 2 views An X-ray imaging test of the upper arm that captures at least two different views to evaluate the bones and surrounding structures. |
15 | $6 | $105 |
| Screening mammography An X-ray of the breast used to detect breast cancer in women who have no signs or symptoms of the disease. |
15 | $35 | $263 |
| Chest fluid aspiration with imaging guidance This procedure involves removing fluid from the chest cavity using imaging technology to guide the needle placement. |
14 | $83 | $2,137 |
| Abdominal fluid drainage with imaging guidance Removal of fluid from the abdominal cavity using imaging technology to guide the procedure. |
14 | $78 | $1,755 |
| Fluoroscopic guidance for central vein access device Use of live X-ray imaging to guide the placement or removal of a central vein access device. |
14 | $14 | $315 |
| 3D screening mammography (tomosynthesis) A screening imaging test of the breast using 3D technology to detect potential abnormalities. |
14 | $28 | $177 |
| 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. |
13 | $11 | $94 |
| X-ray of forearm, 2 views An X-ray imaging test of the forearm using two different angles to visualize the bones and surrounding structures. |
13 | $6 | $105 |
| Ultrasound guidance for blood vessel access Use of ultrasound imaging to help locate and access a blood vessel. This guidance assists healthcare providers in performing procedures such as inserting IV lines or drawing blood. |
13 | $11 | $211 |
| Ultrasound of leg arteries or grafts An imaging test that uses sound waves to create pictures of the blood vessels in the legs or any surgical grafts present. |
13 | $29 | $705 |
| Ultrasound of leg arteries or grafts An ultrasound exam that uses sound waves to create images of the arteries in one leg or any grafts present in that leg. |
13 | $18 | $358 |
| 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. |
12 | $8 | $158 |
| Ultrasound guidance for needle placement Use of ultrasound imaging to guide the precise placement of a needle during a medical procedure. |
11 | $24 | $364 |
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 ↗$4,781
Total received (2018-2024)
Avg $683/year across 7 years
Top 12% in CA for radiation oncology
A higher payment rank reflects disclosed industry relationships (consulting, research, speaking) common among subspecialists — not wrongdoing.
14
Companies
58
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
$4,781 (100.0%)
Payment trend by year
Annual totals from pharmaceutical and medical device companies.
2024
$793
2023
$972
2022
$760
2021
$443
2020
$79
2019
$1,508
2018
$225
Payments by company (2024)
Consulting
Speaking
Meals & Travel
Research
Stryker Corporation
$292
Inari Medical, Inc.
$188
CONMED Corporation
$165
Salix Pharmaceuticals, a division of Bausch Health US, LLC
$56
Penumbra, Inc.
$47
Boston Scientific Corporation
$44
Top 3 companies account for 81.4% of 2024 payments
All-time payments by company (2018-2024) ›
Boston Scientific Corporation
$1,637
Penumbra, Inc.
$1,184
Inari Medical, Inc.
$466
Stryker Corporation
$334
BOSTON SCIENTIFIC CORPORATION
$237
CONMED Corporation
$203
Ethicon US, LLC
$197
Terumo Medical Corporation
$143
Biocompatibles, Inc.
$133
Covidien LP
$125
Salix Pharmaceuticals, a division of Bausch Health US, LLC
$70
Cook Medical LLC
$21
Medtronic USA, Inc.
$17
Bard Peripheral Vascular, Inc.
$13
Top 3 companies account for 68.8% of all-time payments
Associated products mentioned in payments ›
ANGIO-SEAL · ANGIOJET · APOLLO ESG System · AUGMENT INJECTABLE · Azur CX Detachable · CERTUS 140 MICROWAVE ABLATION SYSTEM · CONMED DILATION · CONMED GENERATORS · CONMED HEMOSTASIS · Emprint · FLOWTRIEVER CATHETER · GENERAL - CRYOPLASTY · INTERLOCK · Indigo System · KYPHON Balloon Kyphoplasty · LUTONIX · NEUWAVE Flex Microwave Ablation System · OMNICURVE · POD · RUBY Coil · S · SPINEJACK · THERASPHERE · THERASPHERE - BIO · THERASPHERE-BIO · TRUSELECT · TheraSphere Y90 Glass Microspheres 10 GBq · Torcon NB · XIFAXAN
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
Radiation oncologists within 10 mi
28
Per 100K population
6.4
County median income
$94,486
Nearest hospital
NATIVIDAD MEDICAL CENTER
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 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. Rao is a mixed practice specialist, with above-average Medicare volume (top 26% in CA), with low-engagement industry engagement in the top 12% of CA peers.
This summary is auto-generated from federal data, describing data availability and patterns. Read our methodology →
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Dr. Rao experienced with contrast dye for imaging (iodine-based)?
Based on Medicare claims data, Dr. Rao performed 3,600 contrast dye for imaging (iodine-based) 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. Rao receive payments from pharmaceutical companies?
Yes. Dr. Rao received a total of $4,781 from 14 companies across 58 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. Rao's costs compare to other radiation oncologists in Salinas?
Dr. Rao's average Medicare payment per service is $9. 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. Rao) 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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