Medicare Enrolled
Dr. Clinton Nichols, MD
Radiation Oncology · San Diego, 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. Nichols 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. Nichols?
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What this data tells you about Dr. Nichols
Dr. Clinton Nichols is a radiation oncology specialist in San Diego, CA, with 20 years of NPI registration. Based on federal Medicare data, Dr. Nichols performed 2,772 Medicare services across 999 unique beneficiaries.
Between the years covered by Open Payments, Dr. Nichols received a total of $13,369 from 24 pharmaceutical and/or device companies across 156 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. Nichols 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 47% volume in CA
$13,369 industry payments
Medicare Practice Summary
Medicare Utilization ↗2,772
Medicare services
Top 47% in CA for radiation oncology
999
Unique beneficiaries
$12
Avg. Medicare payment
Medicare patients only (65+ / disabled) · How to read this →
~139 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. |
1,710 | $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. |
405 | $6 | $29 |
| 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. |
75 | $29 | $131 |
| 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. |
74 | $26 | $100 |
| Abdominal fluid drainage with imaging guidance Removal of fluid from the abdominal cavity using imaging technology to guide the procedure. |
41 | $78 | $238 |
| Radiologist review of CT-guided needle placement A radiologist reviews the CT imaging used to guide the placement of a needle. |
40 | $55 | $177 |
| 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. |
39 | $14 | $59 |
| 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. |
29 | $11 | $47 |
| 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. |
29 | $27 | $89 |
| Chest fluid aspiration with imaging guidance This procedure involves removing fluid from the chest cavity using imaging technology to guide the needle placement. |
23 | $84 | $258 |
| 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. |
22 | $65 | $276 |
| 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. |
21 | $34 | $112 |
| Fluoroscopic guidance for needle placement Use of real-time X-ray imaging to guide the precise placement of a needle during a medical procedure. |
21 | $100 | $249 |
| Joint injection, major joint Removal of fluid from a large joint and/or injection of medication into the joint space. |
20 | $49 | $216 |
| Electrocardiogram, 1-3 leads with physician review A heart rhythm test using one to three electrodes to record electrical activity, with interpretation by a physician. |
20 | $11 | $40 |
| Insertion of tunneled central venous catheter for infusion, age 5+ A surgical procedure to place a long-term catheter into a large vein for delivering medications or fluids. The catheter is tunneled under the skin to reduce infection risk and provide stable access for patients aged 5 and older. |
19 | $211 | $884 |
| 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. |
18 | $57 | $248 |
| Ultrasound of arm or leg veins An ultrasound exam of the veins in the arm or leg. The test uses sound waves to check blood flow and may include compression and other maneuvers. |
18 | $26 | $105 |
| Stomach or large bowel tube replacement with fluoroscopy This procedure involves replacing a feeding tube in the stomach or large intestine. It is performed using fluoroscopic imaging and contrast dye to guide the placement. |
15 | $48 | $211 |
| 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. |
15 | $29 | $100 |
| 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. |
15 | $27 | $93 |
| 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. |
15 | $16 | $60 |
| Imaging of urinary tract with contrast An imaging test of the urinary tract performed after a contrast agent is injected to enhance visibility of the structures. |
14 | $19 | $57 |
| 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. |
14 | $14 | $69 |
| 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. |
13 | $121 | $803 |
| Abdominal X-ray, 1 view An X-ray image of the abdomen taken from a single angle to visualize internal structures. |
13 | $6 | $29 |
| Imaging guidance for procedure, 60 minutes or less Use of imaging technology to guide a medical procedure. This service lasts 60 minutes or less. |
12 | $13 | $27 |
| 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. |
11 | $60 | $296 |
| 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. |
11 | $56 | $264 |
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.
1.2% high complexity
75.4% medium
23.4% routine
Industry Payment Transparency
Open Payments through 2024 ↗$13,369
Total received (2018-2024)
Avg $1,910/year across 7 years
Top 7% in CA for radiation oncology
A higher payment rank reflects disclosed industry relationships (consulting, research, speaking) common among subspecialists — not wrongdoing.
24
Companies
156
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
$8,243 (61.7%)
Consulting
Expert advisory fees, typically reflecting recognized clinical expertise
$5,126 (38.3%)
Payment trend by year
Annual totals from pharmaceutical and medical device companies.
2024
$1,568
2023
$1,847
2022
$1,204
2021
$1,249
2020
$5,336
2019
$1,400
2018
$764
Payments by company (2024)
Consulting
Speaking
Meals & Travel
Research
Inari Medical, Inc.
$902
Penumbra, Inc.
$405
Medtronic, Inc.
$108
Ethicon US, LLC
$23
Boston Scientific Corporation
$22
MicroVention, Inc.
$21
W. L. Gore & Associates, Inc.
$21
Siemens Medical Solutions USA, Inc.
$20
ShockWave Medical, Inc
$19
Abbott Laboratories
$18
Merit Medical Systems Inc
$11
Top 3 companies account for 90.2% of 2024 payments
All-time payments by company (2018-2024) ›
Canon Medical Systems USA, Inc.
$5,891
Inari Medical, Inc.
$1,682
Penumbra, Inc.
$1,367
Siemens Medical Solutions USA, Inc.
$1,232
Terumo Medical Corporation
$483
W. L. Gore & Associates, Inc.
$458
Cook Medical LLC
$440
Medtronic, Inc.
$372
Stryker Corporation
$282
Biocompatibles, Inc.
$269
Philips Electronics North America Corporation
$194
AngioDynamics, Inc.
$165
DePuy Synthes Sales Inc.
$137
Boston Scientific Corporation
$119
BOSTON SCIENTIFIC CORPORATION
$70
Medtronic Vascular, Inc.
$49
Bard Peripheral Vascular, Inc.
$34
Ethicon US, LLC
$23
MicroVention, Inc.
$21
Covidien LP
$20
ShockWave Medical, Inc
$19
Abbott Laboratories
$18
ZOLL Services LLC (A/K/A ZOLL LifeCor Corp)
$13
Merit Medical Systems Inc
$11
Top 3 companies account for 66.9% of all-time payments
Associated products mentioned in payments ›
(5027) Intact Vascular Und · (5154) Azurion 7 M20 GC · ABRE · ALPHAVAC · ANGIO-SEAL · AZUR · AZUR CX DETACHABLE · Abre · Artis icono floor · Artis pheno · Biopsy/Centesis Basic Kit · CHAPERON GUIDING CATHETER · CONCERTOTM · COOK · COOK MEDICAL FILTERS · CT THROMBECTOMY SYSTEM KIT · Certus 140 · Concerto · Cook Medical Thoracic · EMBOTRAP II Revascularization Device · EXCLUDER Iliac Branch Endoprosthesis · FLOWTRIEVER CATHETER · Flexor · GENERAL VASCULAR INTERVENTION · GORE TAG Conformable Thoracic Endoprosthesis · GORE VIABAHN VBX Balloon Expandable Endo · Glidesheath · IN.PACT ADMIRAL · IN.PACT AV · INTERVENTIONAL ANGIOGRAPHY SYSTEM · IVS - VERTEBRAL AUGMENTATION PRODUCTS · Indigo · Indigo System · JETI ALL IN ONE NON-STERILE KIT · LifeVest · NANOKNIFE · NAVICROSS · Navicross · OPTABLATE · Palindrome · Penumbra Jet 7 · Penumbra System · ROSEN · RUBY Coil · S · SOLITAIRE X · Shockwave Intravascular Lithotripsy (IVL) System with the Shockwave E8 Peripher · Solero · TAG Thoracic Endoprosthesis · THERASPHERE · THERASPHERE - BIO · THERASPHERE-BIO · TIGRIS Stent · TOSHIBA SCANNER · TREVO · TheraSphere Y90 Glass Microspheres 10 GBq · VIABAHN Endoprosthesis with Heparin Bioactive Surface · VIABAHN VBX Balloon Expandable Endoprosthesis · Varian CRYOCARE TOUCH System
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 (62%) are for meals and travel — low-value interactions that are common across virtually all practicing physicians. Total industry engagement is in the top 7% for radiation oncology in CA.
Geographic Context
Radiation oncologists within 10 mi
425
Per 100K population
12.9
County median income
$102,285
Nearest hospital
SHARP MEMORIAL HOSPITAL
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. Nichols is a mixed practice specialist, with moderate Medicare volume, with low-engagement industry engagement in the top 7% 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. Nichols experienced with contrast dye for imaging (iodine-based)?
Based on Medicare claims data, Dr. Nichols performed 1,710 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. Nichols receive payments from pharmaceutical companies?
Yes. Dr. Nichols received a total of $13,369 from 24 companies across 156 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. Nichols's costs compare to other radiation oncologists in San Diego?
Dr. Nichols's average Medicare payment per service is $12. 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. Nichols) 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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