Medicare Enrolled
Dr. Michael Heffernan, MD
Dermatology · San Luis Obispo, CA
Practice pattern: Mixed Practice
— Diverse clinical practice across multiple procedure types
Speaking/Promotional
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. Heffernan 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. Heffernan
Dr. Michael Heffernan is a dermatology specialist in San Luis Obispo, CA, with 19 years of NPI registration. Based on federal Medicare data, Dr. Heffernan performed 34,944 Medicare services across 11,383 unique beneficiaries.
Between the years covered by Open Payments, Dr. Heffernan received a total of $228,529 from 33 pharmaceutical and/or device companies across 467 individual payments. These payments are legal, publicly disclosed under the federal Sunshine Act, and common in dermatology. The majority of payments are for speaking programs and promotional activities, reflecting participation in industry-sponsored events. Patients may wish to discuss these relationships with their provider.
The Data Coverage level for Dr. Heffernan 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.
✓ 19 years in practice
▲ Top 1% volume in CA
$228,529 industry payments
Medicare Practice Summary
Medicare Utilization ↗34,944
Medicare services
Top 1% in CA for dermatology
11,383
Unique beneficiaries
$59
Avg. Medicare payment
Medicare patients only (65+ / disabled) · How to read this →
~1,839 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Destruction of precancerous skin growths, 2-14 This procedure involves the removal or destruction of two to fourteen precancerous skin lesions. It is performed to eliminate abnormal skin cells that have the potential to develop into cancer. |
16,503 | $6 | $8 |
| Injection, tildrakizumab, 1 mg | 4,200 | $110 | $140 |
| Destruction of precancerous skin growth, 1 Removal of a single precancerous skin growth. This procedure destroys abnormal skin cells to prevent them from developing into cancer. |
2,604 | $38 | $74 |
| 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. |
2,175 | $95 | $137 |
| Destruction of skin growths (warts/lesions), 1-14 This procedure involves the removal or destruction of one to fourteen skin growths. It is a minor surgical intervention performed on the skin surface. |
1,662 | $87 | $127 |
| Tissue pathology examination, moderate complexity A laboratory test where a pathologist examines tissue samples under a microscope to analyze cellular details. This intermediate complexity procedure involves specialized techniques to identify abnormalities in the tissue. |
1,410 | $30 | $40 |
| 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. |
1,260 | $65 | $97 |
| Skin biopsy, tangential A procedure to remove a sample of the first identified skin growth for laboratory examination. |
555 | $65 | $114 |
| Puraply AM application per square centimeter Application of Puraply AM dressing to the skin. The charge is calculated based on the surface area treated. |
465 | $85 | $108 |
| Skin growth removal and lab exam, 1-5 blocks This procedure involves the removal of a growth from the head, neck, hands, feet, or genitals. The removed tissue is then examined under a microscope in the laboratory. |
442 | $536 | $755 |
| Removal and microscopic exam of growth of head, neck, hands, feet, or genitals, each additional stage, 1-5 tissue blocks | 356 | $359 | $460 |
| Steroid injection (triamcinolone) A 10 mg injection of triamcinolone acetonide, a corticosteroid medication. This code specifies the drug and dosage administered. |
248 | $1 | $1 |
| Complicated wound repair, 2.6-7.5 cm A complex surgical procedure to close a wound measuring between 2.6 and 7.5 centimeters on areas such as the face, neck, hands, or feet. |
236 | $211 | $524 |
| 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. |
199 | $118 | $177 |
| Affinity per square centimeter A measurement of affinity per square centimeter. |
182 | $312 | $398 |
| Skin growth removal and lab exam, 1-5 blocks A procedure to remove a growth from the trunk, arms, or legs and send 1 to 5 tissue samples to a laboratory for microscopic examination. |
174 | $494 | $707 |
| Complicated wound repair, scalp/arms/legs, 2.6-7.5 cm A complex surgical procedure to close a wound on the scalp, arms, or legs that measures between 2.6 and 7.5 centimeters in length. |
170 | $199 | $479 |
| 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. |
167 | $74 | $123 |
| Additional skin growth biopsy Removal of a sample of an additional skin growth for laboratory examination. This code is used for each extra lesion biopsied during the same session. |
149 | $44 | $55 |
| Intermediate wound repair, 2.6-7.5 cm A medical procedure to close a wound on the scalp, underarms, trunk, arms, or legs that measures between 2.6 and 7.5 centimeters. This type of repair involves cleaning the wound and stitching it closed to promote healing. |
143 | $244 | $339 |
| Drug injection, under skin or into muscle A procedure involving the administration of a medication or substance via injection into the subcutaneous tissue or muscle. |
141 | $12 | $15 |
| Betamethasone steroid injection An injection containing a combination of betamethasone acetate and betamethasone sodium phosphate. |
138 | $5 | $7 |
| Destruction of 15 or more precancerous skin growths This procedure involves the removal or destruction of fifteen or more precancerous skin lesions. It is performed to treat abnormal skin cells that have the potential to develop into cancer. |
134 | $141 | $186 |
| Punch biopsy of first skin growth A small, circular piece of skin is removed from a skin growth using a circular blade. The sample is then sent to a laboratory for examination. |
126 | $101 | $141 |
| Surgical removal of skin cancer, 2.1-3.0 cm This procedure involves the surgical excision of a cancerous skin growth located on the body, arms, or legs. The size of the removed tissue measures between 2.1 and 3.0 centimeters. |
124 | $121 | $309 |
| Shaving of skin growth, 1.1-2.0 cm This procedure involves shaving off a skin growth measuring between 1.1 and 2.0 centimeters from the body, arms, or legs. |
120 | $103 | $153 |
| Additional Mohs surgery stage with microscopic exam This procedure involves the removal and microscopic examination of an additional stage of tissue from the trunk, arms, or legs. It is performed in stages to ensure complete removal of the growth. |
81 | $344 | $433 |
| Topical aminolevulinic acid HCl 20% solution A topical medication applied to the skin for medical treatment. It is supplied as a single-unit dosage form containing 354 mg of the active ingredient. |
68 | $307 | $392 |
| Light application with debridement to destroy precancerous skin growth This procedure involves applying light to the skin along with debridement to destroy precancerous skin growths. |
64 | $249 | $314 |
| Complicated wound repair of trunk, 2.6-7.5 cm A surgical procedure to close a complex wound on the trunk that measures between 2.6 and 7.5 centimeters in length. |
52 | $222 | $442 |
| Punch biopsy of additional skin growth A small circular tool is used to remove a sample of an extra skin growth for laboratory examination. |
51 | $52 | $65 |
| Pathology tissue examination, moderate complexity A laboratory test where a pathologist examines tissue samples under a microscope to identify abnormalities. This specific level indicates a moderate degree of complexity in the analysis. |
49 | $9 | $12 |
| Skin substitute graft application, 25 sq cm or less Application of a skin substitute graft to a wound on the face, scalp, eyelids, mouth, neck, ears, around eyes, genitals, hands, feet, fingers, or toes. The wound area covered is 25.0 square centimeters or less. |
44 | $134 | $169 |
| Ear tissue biopsy A procedure to remove a small sample of tissue from the ear for laboratory examination. |
44 | $51 | $105 |
| 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. |
39 | $48 | $62 |
| Simple drainage of skin abscess A minor procedure to drain a localized collection of pus from the skin. The abscess is opened to allow the fluid to escape and promote healing. |
34 | $94 | $135 |
| Destruction of skin growth, 15 or more growths | 34 | $110 | $145 |
| Shaving of skin growth, 0.6-1.0 cm A minor procedure to shave off a skin growth on the body, arms, or legs that measures between 0.6 and 1.0 centimeters. |
31 | $95 | $135 |
| Skin substitute graft application, 25 sq cm or less Application of a skin substitute graft to a wound on the trunk, arms, or legs covering 25 square centimeters or less. |
31 | $130 | $165 |
| Shaving of skin growth, 1.1-2.0 cm Removal of a skin growth by shaving the surface. The procedure is performed on the scalp, neck, hands, feet, or genitals and involves a lesion measuring between 1.1 and 2.0 centimeters. |
28 | $110 | $152 |
| Removal of noncancer skin growth, 2.1-3.0 cm This procedure involves the surgical removal of a benign skin growth located on the body, arms, or legs. The excised tissue measures between 2.1 and 3.0 centimeters in diameter. |
25 | $86 | $217 |
| Complicated wound repair, each additional 5 cm or less This code covers the additional work for a complex surgical repair of a wound on the scalp, arms, or legs when the repair extends beyond the initial measurement. It is billed for each incremental 5-centimeter segment added to the primary procedure. |
24 | $109 | $140 |
| All potassium hydroxide (koh) preparations | 20 | $6 | $6 |
| Shaving of skin growth, 1.1-2.0 cm Removal of a skin growth by shaving the surface of the skin. The procedure is performed on the face, ears, eyelids, nose, lips, or mouth and involves a lesion measuring between 1.1 and 2.0 centimeters. |
19 | $137 | $170 |
| Injection into skin growths, 1-7 A procedure involving the injection of medication into one to seven skin growths. |
19 | $37 | $62 |
| Complex repair of eyelid, nose, ear, or lip wound, 2.6-7.5 cm A surgical procedure to repair a complex wound on the eyelid, nose, ear, or lip that measures between 2.6 and 7.5 centimeters. |
19 | $248 | $534 |
| Shaving of skin growth on face, 0.6-1.0 cm This procedure involves shaving off a skin growth located on the face, ears, eyelids, nose, lips, or mouth. The size of the growth being removed is between 0.6 and 1.0 centimeters. |
18 | $100 | $160 |
| Complex or multiple skin abscess drainage A procedure to drain one or more skin abscesses that are complex in nature. This involves opening and cleaning the infected pockets under the skin. |
17 | $178 | $227 |
| Shaving of skin growth, more than 2.0 cm Removal of a skin growth by shaving the surface with a blade. This procedure is performed on the body, arms, or legs when the growth exceeds 2.0 centimeters. |
14 | $111 | $166 |
| Skin graft repair of eyelid, nose, ear, or lip, 10.1-30 sq cm This procedure involves repairing a wound on the eyelid, nose, ear, or lip by transferring skin from another area. The graft size covered is between 10.1 and 30.0 square centimeters. |
13 | $849 | $1,090 |
| Complex repair of eyelid, nose, ear, or lip wound, 1.1-2.5 cm A surgical procedure to repair a complex wound on the eyelid, nose, ear, or lip that measures between 1.1 and 2.5 centimeters. |
12 | $183 | $517 |
| Simple removal of foreign body from under the skin A minor procedure to remove a foreign object located beneath the skin surface. The process involves accessing the tissue under the skin to extract the item. |
11 | $109 | $164 |
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.
0.2% high complexity
16.2% medium
83.5% routine
Industry Payment Transparency
Open Payments through 2024 ↗$228,529
Total received (2018-2024)
Avg $32,647/year across 7 years
Top 3% in CA for dermatology
A higher payment rank reflects disclosed industry relationships (consulting, research, speaking) common among subspecialists — not wrongdoing.
33
Companies
467
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.
Speaking / Promotional
Speaker programs, honoraria, and industry-sponsored educational events
$197,892 (86.6%)
Consulting
Expert advisory fees, typically reflecting recognized clinical expertise
$18,451 (8.1%)
Meals & Travel
Food, beverages, travel, and lodging — typically low-value
$12,187 (5.3%)
Payment trend by year
Annual totals from pharmaceutical and medical device companies.
2024
$13,213
2023
$52,118
2022
$22,769
2021
$18,121
2020
$30,882
2019
$47,390
2018
$44,036
Payments by company (2024)
Consulting
Speaking
Meals & Travel
Research
Lilly USA, LLC
$11,114
PFIZER INC.
$321
Amgen Inc.
$278
Janssen Biotech, Inc.
$233
GENZYME CORPORATION
$215
Organogenesis Inc.
$201
Galderma Laboratories, L.P.
$189
E.R. Squibb & Sons, L.L.C.
$159
UCB, Inc.
$146
ABBVIE INC.
$146
SUN PHARMACEUTICAL INDUSTRIES INC.
$76
LEO Pharma Inc.
$40
Biofrontera Inc.
$33
Regeneron Healthcare Solutions, Inc.
$26
Cornerstone Medical Associates, Inc.
$23
Novartis Pharmaceuticals Corporation
$13
Top 3 companies account for 88.6% of 2024 payments
All-time payments by company (2018-2024) ›
Lilly USA, LLC
$180,334
GENZYME CORPORATION
$19,605
AbbVie Inc.
$7,843
E.R. Squibb & Sons, L.L.C.
$7,509
Regeneron Healthcare Solutions, Inc.
$2,798
UCB SA
$2,375
Eli Lilly and Company
$896
UCB, Inc.
$770
Novartis Pharmaceuticals Corporation
$761
Janssen Biotech, Inc.
$647
Amgen Inc.
$558
ABBVIE INC.
$549
AbbVie, Inc.
$487
PFIZER INC.
$486
Regeneron Pharmaceuticals, Inc.
$457
SANOFI-AVENTIS U.S. LLC
$432
Organogenesis Inc.
$382
Sun Pharmaceutical Industries Inc.
$242
Ortho Dermatologics, a division of Bausch Health US, LLC
$232
Janssen Scientific Affairs, LLC
$202
Galderma Laboratories, L.P.
$202
LEO Pharma Inc.
$143
DUSA Pharmaceuticals, Inc.
$106
Biofrontera Inc.
$105
SUN PHARMACEUTICAL INDUSTRIES INC.
$100
Genentech, Inc.
$89
Genentech USA, Inc.
$71
Celgene Corporation
$46
Boehringer Ingelheim Pharmaceuticals, Inc.
$23
Cornerstone Medical Associates, Inc.
$23
Arcutis Biotherapeutics, Inc.
$21
Helsinn Therapeutics (U.S.), Inc.
$17
Dermavant Sciences, Inc.
$17
Top 3 companies account for 90.9% of all-time payments
Associated products mentioned in payments ›
20% · ADBRY · AFFINITY · AKLIEF · AMELUZ · AMJEVITA · Ameluz · BLU-U · BLU-U Blue Light Photodynamic Therapy Illuminator Model 4170 · Bimzelx · CIBINQO · COSENTYX · Cimzia · DERMATITIS - DISEASE · DUOBRII · DUPIXENT · DUPIXENT DUPILUMAB INJECTION · ENSTILAR · EUCRISA · Erivedge · HUMIRA · Humira · ILUMYA · Ilumya · JUBLIA · LEVULAN KERASTICK · LIBTAYO · LITFULO · Levulan Kerastick (aminolevulinic acid HCl) for Topical Solution · ODOMZO · OLUMIANT · Odomzo · Otezla · PICATO · Puraply · RINVOQ · Rituxan · SILIQ · SKYRIZI · SPEVIGO · STELARA · Skyrizi · Sotyktu · TALTZ · TREMFYA · Tremfya · VALCHLOR · VTAMA
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 →
The majority of payments (87%) are for speaking programs and promotional activities, which reflect participation in industry-sponsored educational or marketing events. This is common in dermatology and does not inherently indicate bias, but patients may wish to be aware. Total industry engagement is in the top 3% for dermatology in CA.
Geographic Context
Dermatologists within 10 mi
17
Per 100K population
6.0
County median income
$93,398
Nearest hospital
ADVENTIST HEALTH SIERRA VISTA
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. Heffernan is a mixed practice specialist, with above-average Medicare volume (top 1% in CA), with speaking/promotional industry engagement in the top 3% of CA peers, with 19 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. Heffernan experienced with destruction of precancerous skin growths, 2-14?
Based on Medicare claims data, Dr. Heffernan performed 16,503 destruction of precancerous skin growths, 2-14 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. Heffernan receive payments from pharmaceutical companies?
Yes. Dr. Heffernan received a total of $228,529 from 33 companies across 467 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. Heffernan's costs compare to other dermatologists in San Luis Obispo?
Dr. Heffernan's average Medicare payment per service is $59. 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. Heffernan) 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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