Medicare Enrolled
Dr. Stephen Unterberg, MD
Urology Physician · San Diego, CA
Practice pattern: Clinical Cardiology
— Primarily office-based clinical cardiology
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. Unterberg 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. Unterberg
Dr. Stephen Unterberg is an urology physician in San Diego, CA, with 12 years of NPI registration. Based on federal Medicare data, Dr. Unterberg performed 2,401 Medicare services across 1,632 unique beneficiaries.
Between the years covered by Open Payments, Dr. Unterberg received a total of $11,921 from 47 pharmaceutical and/or device companies across 321 individual payments. These payments are legal, publicly disclosed under the federal Sunshine Act, and common in urology 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. Unterberg 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.
✓ 12 years in practice
▲ Top 34% volume in CA
$11,921 industry payments
Medicare Practice Summary
Medicare Utilization ↗2,401
Medicare services
Top 34% in CA for urology physician
1,632
Unique beneficiaries
$80
Avg. Medicare payment
Medicare patients only (65+ / disabled) · How to read this →
~200 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Automated urinalysis An automated laboratory test performed on a urine sample to analyze its chemical and physical properties. The procedure uses machinery to detect various substances and cells within the urine. |
425 | $2 | $9 |
| Chronic care management, first 20 min/month This service covers the first 20 minutes of clinical staff time directed by a healthcare professional each calendar month to manage chronic conditions. |
363 | $51 | $300 |
| 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. |
361 | $104 | $600 |
| 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. |
163 | $72 | $440 |
| Cystourethroscopy A diagnostic exam of the bladder and urethra using an endoscope to visually inspect the urinary tract. |
140 | $160 | $1,217 |
| 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. |
126 | $130 | $775 |
| Bladder ultrasound after voiding An ultrasound scan performed after urination to measure the amount of urine remaining in the bladder. |
115 | $10 | $60 |
| Lower leg neurostimulator electrode insertion A procedure to place an electrode in the lower leg for neurostimulation therapy. |
99 | $106 | $605 |
| Electronic assessment of bladder emptying A test that uses electronic monitoring to evaluate how well the bladder empties urine. |
79 | $6 | $66 |
| Non-needle muscle activity measurement of bladder and bowel openings This procedure measures and records the electrical activity of muscles at the bladder and bowel openings without using needles. |
73 | $28 | $291 |
| Additional chronic care management time, 60 minutes This service covers an additional 60 minutes of clinical staff time directed by a healthcare professional for managing two or more chronic conditions, billed per calendar month. |
72 | $60 | $335 |
| 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. |
67 | $47 | $278 |
| Telephone medical discussion, 11-20 minutes A phone conversation with a physician lasting between 11 and 20 minutes. |
54 | $71 | $440 |
| Abdominal device insertion with pressure and urine flow study A procedure involving the placement of a device into the abdomen, accompanied by a study to measure pressure and urine flow rate. |
46 | $176 | $1,010 |
| Complex urodynamic pressure measurement A test that measures the pressure of urine flow in the bladder along with urethral and voiding pressures. |
45 | $344 | $1,975 |
| Complex urodynamic pressure flow study A test that measures the pressure of urine flow in the bladder during voiding to evaluate how well the bladder and urethra are functioning. |
32 | $330 | $1,271 |
| Chronic care management, additional 20 min/month This service covers an extra 20 minutes of clinical staff time directed by a healthcare professional for managing two or more chronic conditions each calendar month. |
31 | $40 | $240 |
| Transrectal ultrasound of the pelvis An ultrasound imaging procedure where a probe is inserted into the rectum to visualize pelvic structures. |
24 | $125 | $706 |
| 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. |
23 | $83 | $540 |
| Telephone medical discussion, 5-10 minutes A phone conversation with a physician lasting between 5 and 10 minutes to discuss medical matters. |
19 | $49 | $280 |
| Sacral nerve stimulator electrode insertion A procedure to place an electrode array in the sacral area to deliver electrical stimulation to the nerves. |
17 | $965 | $4,467 |
| Complex chronic care management, first 60 minutes This service involves clinical staff time directed by a healthcare professional to manage two or more chronic conditions over a calendar month. It covers the first 60 minutes of this coordinated care effort. |
16 | $114 | $640 |
| Imaging guidance for procedure, 60 minutes or less Use of imaging technology to guide a medical procedure. This service lasts 60 minutes or less. |
11 | $11 | $70 |
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 ↗$11,921
Total received (2018-2024)
Avg $1,987/year across 6 years
Top 17% in CA for urology physician
A higher payment rank reflects disclosed industry relationships (consulting, research, speaking) common among subspecialists — not wrongdoing.
47
Companies
321
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
$10,311 (86.5%)
Consulting
Expert advisory fees, typically reflecting recognized clinical expertise
$1,315 (11.0%)
Speaking / Promotional
Speaker programs, honoraria, and industry-sponsored educational events
$295 (2.5%)
Payment trend by year
Annual totals from pharmaceutical and medical device companies.
2024
$3,666
2023
$2,182
2022
$2,377
2021
$3,339
2019
$72
2018
$285
Payments by company (2024)
Consulting
Speaking
Meals & Travel
Research
Axonics, Inc.
$1,315
Valencia Technologies Corporation
$868
Teleflex LLC
$424
ABBVIE INC.
$273
Sumitomo Pharma America, Inc.
$109
Janssen Biotech, Inc.
$102
COLOPLAST CORP
$101
Boston Scientific Corporation
$74
PROCEPT BioRobotics Corporation
$55
PFIZER INC.
$43
Myriad Genetic Laboratories, Inc.
$33
Telix Pharmaceuticals
$32
MIMEDX Group, Inc.
$31
Bayer Healthcare Pharmaceuticals Inc.
$30
Dendreon Pharmaceuticals LLC
$26
Ethicon US, LLC
$26
PROGENICS PHARMACEUTICALS, INC.
$24
ACCORD HEALTHCARE, INC.
$23
Endo USA, Inc.
$23
IMMUNITYBIO, INC.
$21
Olympus America Inc.
$18
Astellas Pharma US Inc
$14
Top 3 companies account for 71.1% of 2024 payments
All-time payments by company (2018-2024) ›
Axonics, Inc.
$4,357
Teleflex LLC
$1,217
Valencia Technologies Corporation
$893
PROCEPT BioRobotics Corporation
$586
ABBVIE INC.
$562
Allergan, Inc.
$355
Astellas Pharma US Inc
$345
Myriad Genetic Laboratories, Inc.
$326
Medtronic USA, Inc.
$226
BOSTON SCIENTIFIC CORPORATION
$226
COLOPLAST CORP
$220
Medtronic, Inc.
$197
Myovant Sciences Inc.
$197
Boston Scientific Corporation
$188
Sumitomo Pharma America, Inc.
$177
UroGen Pharma, Inc.
$164
AbbVie Inc.
$151
Janssen Biotech, Inc.
$145
Rochester Medical Corporation
$119
Accord Healthcare, Inc.
$115
180 Medical, Inc.
$104
Bayer Healthcare Pharmaceuticals Inc.
$78
ACCORD HEALTHCARE, INC.
$76
Antares Pharma, Inc.
$73
Telix Pharmaceuticals
$67
PFIZER INC.
$67
Bayer HealthCare Pharmaceuticals Inc.
$62
UROVANT SCIENCES INC
$51
UROGEN PHARMA, INC.
$50
Coloplast Corp
$47
Endo Pharmaceuticals Inc.
$43
ABC Home Medical Supply, Inc.
$40
Travere Therapeutics, Inc.
$40
Hollister Incorporated
$39
Aroa Biosurgery Incorporated
$39
MIMEDX Group, Inc.
$31
Progenics Pharmaceuticals, Inc.
$28
Dendreon Pharmaceuticals LLC
$26
Ethicon US, LLC
$26
ConvaTec Inc.
$25
PROGENICS PHARMACEUTICALS, INC.
$24
Merck Sharp & Dohme LLC
$23
Endo USA, Inc.
$23
IMMUNITYBIO, INC.
$21
Sagent Pharmaceuticals, Inc.
$19
Olympus America Inc.
$18
Mission Pharmacal Company
$16
Top 3 companies account for 54.2% of all-time payments
Associated products mentioned in payments ›
ADVANCE · ANKTIVA · AQUABEAM ROBOTIC SYSTEM · AQUABEAM SYSTEM · Altis · Axonics · Axonics r-SNM System · BOTOX · Bulkamid · CAMCEVI · ERLEADA · GEMTESA · GENERAL - ERECTILE DYSFUNCTION · GENTLECATH · GENTLECATH GLIDE · GREENLIGHT · Glydo · ILLUCCIX · INTERSTIM · Infyna Chic · JELMYTO · KEYTRUDA · LUPRON DEPOT · Myrbetriq · Nubeqa · ORGOVYX · PROLARIS · PROVENGE · PYLARIFY · Prolaris · REZUM · Rezum Generator · SOLESTA · SOLYX BLUE · Saffron · Solyx SIS System · SpeediCath · Thiola · UROLIFT · Uribel · UroLift System · VISTASEAL · VaPro · Veozah · XIAFLEX · XTANDI · XYOSTED · Xtandi · eCoin Device Kit · iTIND System · rezum Generator
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 (86%) are for meals and travel — low-value interactions that are common across virtually all practicing physicians.
Geographic Context
Urology physicians within 10 mi
131
Per 100K population
4.0
County median income
$102,285
Nearest hospital
UC SAN DIEGO HEALTH HILLCREST - HILLCREST MED CTR
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. Unterberg is a clinical cardiology specialist, with moderate Medicare volume, with low-engagement industry engagement in the top 17% of CA peers.
This summary is auto-generated from federal data, describing data availability and patterns. Read our methodology →
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Dr. Unterberg experienced with automated urinalysis?
Based on Medicare claims data, Dr. Unterberg performed 425 automated urinalysis 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. Unterberg receive payments from pharmaceutical companies?
Yes. Dr. Unterberg received a total of $11,921 from 47 companies across 321 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. Unterberg's costs compare to other urology physicians in San Diego?
Dr. Unterberg's average Medicare payment per service is $80. 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. Unterberg) 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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