Medicare Enrolled
Dr. Phong Hu, M.D.
Cardiovascular Disease · San Diego, CA
Practice pattern: Cardiac & Cardiac
— Practice combining cardiac and cardiac services
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. Hu 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. Hu
Dr. Phong Hu is a cardiovascular disease specialist in San Diego, CA, with 18 years of NPI registration. Based on federal Medicare data, Dr. Hu performed 4,337 Medicare services across 3,818 unique beneficiaries.
Between the years covered by Open Payments, Dr. Hu received a total of $3,958 from 35 pharmaceutical and/or device companies across 208 individual payments. These payments are legal, publicly disclosed under the federal Sunshine Act, and common in cardiovascular disease. 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. Hu 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 23% volume in CA
$3,958 industry payments
Medicare Practice Summary
Medicare Utilization ↗4,337
Medicare services
Top 23% in CA for cardiovascular disease
3,818
Unique beneficiaries
$67
Avg. Medicare payment
Medicare patients only (65+ / disabled) · How to read this →
~241 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Echocardiogram, transthoracic An ultrasound of the heart that uses color to show blood flow, rate, direction, and valve function. |
758 | $107 | $513 |
| 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. |
646 | $100 | $350 |
| Perflutren lipid microspheres injection Injection of perflutren lipid microspheres, measured per milliliter. |
440 | $35 | $138 |
| Routine 12-lead electrocardiogram (ECG) A test that records the electrical activity of the heart using at least 12 leads to produce a tracing. |
436 | $5 | $25 |
| EKG interpretation and report A standard electrocardiogram test that records the heart's electrical activity using at least 12 leads. The service includes a professional interpretation of the results and a written report. |
431 | $6 | $31 |
| Heart muscle strain imaging | 246 | $32 | $154 |
| 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. |
159 | $135 | $453 |
| Stress echocardiogram with ECG monitoring An ultrasound of the heart performed while monitoring heart rhythm during rest, exercise, or medication-induced stress, followed by a review and report of the findings. |
135 | $202 | $947 |
| Continuous ECG monitoring, up to 30 days Continuous heart rhythm monitoring for up to 30 days, including professional review and reporting of the results. |
116 | $21 | $96 |
| 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. |
107 | $149 | $491 |
| Hospital follow-up visit, high complexity Subsequent hospital inpatient or observation care for an existing patient involving high-level medical decision making, with at least 50 minutes total time on the date of the encounter. |
96 | $98 | $269 |
| Electrocardiogram (EKG), 12-lead A standard heart rhythm test using at least 12 leads to record electrical activity. A healthcare provider interprets the results and provides a written report. |
88 | $12 | $55 |
| Ultrasound of heart with contrast injection An ultrasound of the heart is performed while injecting an X-ray contrast agent to improve the clarity of the images. |
76 | $31 | $135 |
| Follow-up heart ultrasound An ultrasound of the heart performed to monitor or reassess a previously identified condition or treatment progress. |
63 | $48 | $221 |
| Transesophageal echocardiogram An ultrasound of the heart performed using a probe inserted into the esophagus to obtain detailed images of heart structures and function. |
63 | $86 | $401 |
| External EKG monitoring, 8-15 days Continuous external electrocardiogram recording and review over a period of 8 to 15 days to monitor heart rhythm. |
61 | $21 | $100 |
| 3D ultrasound of heart for congenital heart defects This procedure uses three-dimensional ultrasound imaging to evaluate the structure of the heart during an assessment for congenital heart defects. |
57 | $19 | $241 |
| Initial hospital admission, high complexity Initial hospital inpatient or observation care for a new patient involving high-level medical decision making, with at least 75 minutes total time on the date of the encounter. |
55 | $141 | $520 |
| New patient office visit, complex (60-74 min) | 48 | $173 | $598 |
| Follow-up ultrasound of heart blood flow, valves and chambers An ultrasound exam that follows up on the heart's blood flow, valves, and chambers. It uses sound waves to create images of the heart's structure and function. |
45 | $13 | $59 |
| Echocardiogram with color Doppler An ultrasound of the heart that uses color imaging to visualize blood flow, measure flow rate, and assess valve function. |
44 | $13 | $61 |
| Continuous EKG monitoring review, 48-7 days Review and interpretation of continuous external EKG recordings lasting more than 48 hours up to 7 days. |
40 | $19 | $91 |
| 2-day continuous ECG with professional review A two-day continuous electrocardiogram recording that includes a review by a healthcare professional. |
37 | $14 | $69 |
| Exercise or drug-induced heart stress test with ECG A heart stress test performed using exercise or medication while monitoring the electrocardiogram under physician supervision and review. |
34 | $56 | $279 |
| External shock to heart to regulate heart beat A procedure that delivers an electric shock to the heart from outside the body to restore a normal heart rhythm. |
18 | $89 | $607 |
| Hospital discharge management, 30+ min This service covers the care provided by a physician or qualified healthcare professional on the day a patient is discharged from the hospital. It requires more than 30 minutes of total time spent on the day of discharge. |
14 | $95 | $279 |
| 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. |
12 | $51 | $248 |
| Initial hospital admission, moderate complexity Initial hospital inpatient or observation care for a new patient involving moderate-level medical decision making, with at least 55 minutes total time on the date of the encounter. |
12 | $101 | $354 |
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.
18.5% high complexity
26.7% medium
54.8% routine
Industry Payment Transparency
Open Payments through 2024 ↗$3,958
Total received (2018-2024)
Avg $660/year across 6 years
Top 46% in CA for cardiovascular disease
A higher payment rank reflects disclosed industry relationships (consulting, research, speaking) common among subspecialists — not wrongdoing.
35
Companies
208
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
$3,958 (100.0%)
Payment trend by year
Annual totals from pharmaceutical and medical device companies.
2024
$797
2023
$834
2022
$457
2020
$153
2019
$807
2018
$910
Payments by company (2024)
Consulting
Speaking
Meals & Travel
Research
PFIZER INC.
$227
Novartis Pharmaceuticals Corporation
$88
Janssen Pharmaceuticals, Inc
$82
Boston Scientific Corporation
$67
Inspire Medical Systems, Inc.
$54
E.R. Squibb & Sons, L.L.C.
$51
Merck Sharp & Dohme LLC
$42
Kiniksa Pharmaceuticals International, plc
$39
Baxter Healthcare
$32
Kestra Medical Technology Services, Inc.
$31
Boehringer Ingelheim Pharmaceuticals, Inc.
$18
iRhythm Technologies, Inc.
$18
Alnylam Pharmaceuticals Inc.
$16
CVRx, Inc.
$16
Amgen Inc.
$15
Top 3 companies account for 49.8% of 2024 payments
All-time payments by company (2018-2024) ›
Janssen Pharmaceuticals, Inc
$557
PFIZER INC.
$448
Novartis Pharmaceuticals Corporation
$403
Amgen Inc.
$392
Boston Scientific Corporation
$327
Merck Sharp & Dohme LLC
$198
E.R. Squibb & Sons, L.L.C.
$167
Penumbra, Inc.
$125
AstraZeneca Pharmaceuticals LP
$119
Boehringer Ingelheim Pharmaceuticals, Inc.
$117
SANOFI-AVENTIS U.S. LLC
$109
Kiniksa Pharmaceuticals, Ltd.
$103
Gilead Sciences, Inc.
$101
Abbott Laboratories
$72
ZOLL Services LLC (A/K/A ZOLL LifeCor Corp)
$68
Regeneron Healthcare Solutions, Inc.
$65
Lundbeck LLC
$63
Inspire Medical Systems, Inc.
$54
Philips Electronics North America Corporation
$51
Lantheus Medical Imaging, Inc.
$43
Esperion Therapeutics, Inc.
$42
Kiniksa Pharmaceuticals International, plc
$39
CVRx, Inc.
$36
Baxter Healthcare
$32
Kestra Medical Technology Services, Inc.
$31
Medtronic, Inc.
$24
ARALEZ PHARMACEUTICALS US INC.
$23
HeartFlow, Inc.
$23
ARBOR PHARMACEUTICALS, INC.
$22
Amarin Pharma Inc.
$20
iRhythm Technologies, Inc.
$18
Novo Nordisk Inc
$17
Alnylam Pharmaceuticals Inc.
$16
Bardy Diagnostics, Inc.
$15
Allergan Inc.
$14
Top 3 companies account for 35.6% of all-time payments
Associated products mentioned in payments ›
(5044) MCOT · (5050) Extended Holter · AMPLATZER AMULET · AMVUTTRA · ANDEXXA · AZURE XT DR MRI SURESCAN · Arcalyst · Assure WCD · BRILINTA · BYSTOLIC · Barostim Neo System · CAMZYOS · Carnation Ambulatory Monitor · Confirm Rx · Corlanor · Definity · ELIQUIS · ENTRESTO · Edarbi · FARXIGA · Hillrom - Cardiac Ambulatory Monitor · INSPIRE · Indigo System · JARDIANCE · LEQVIO · LUX-Dx Insertable Cardiac Monitor · LifeVest · MITRACLIP · MULTAQ · NEXLETOL · NORTHERA · PRADAXA · PRALUENT · PRALUENT ALIROCUMAB INJECTION · Repatha · Rybelsus · VERQUVO · VYNDAQEL · Vascepa · WATCHMAN · WATCHMAN Access System · WATCHMAN FLX · XARELTO · ZONTIVITY · Zio monitor
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
Cardiologists within 10 mi
240
Per 100K population
7.3
County median income
$102,285
Nearest hospital
VA SAN DIEGO HEALTHCARE SYSTEM
5.3 mi
5.3 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. Hu is a cardiac & cardiac specialist, with above-average Medicare volume (top 23% 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. Hu experienced with echocardiogram, transthoracic?
Based on Medicare claims data, Dr. Hu performed 758 echocardiogram, transthoracic 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. Hu receive payments from pharmaceutical companies?
Yes. Dr. Hu received a total of $3,958 from 35 companies across 208 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. Hu's costs compare to other cardiologists in San Diego?
Dr. Hu's average Medicare payment per service is $67. 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. Hu) 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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