Medicare Enrolled
Dr. Christian Powell
Rheumatology · Santa Barbara, 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. Powell 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. Powell
Dr. Christian Powell is a rheumatology specialist in Santa Barbara, CA, with 18 years of NPI registration. Based on federal Medicare data, Dr. Powell performed 162,882 Medicare services across 2,880 unique beneficiaries.
Between the years covered by Open Payments, Dr. Powell received a total of $16,773 from 36 pharmaceutical and/or device companies across 1008 individual payments. These payments are legal, publicly disclosed under the federal Sunshine Act, and common in rheumatology. 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. Powell 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 3% volume in CA
$16,773 industry payments
Medicare Practice Summary
Medicare Utilization ↗162,882
Medicare services
Top 3% in CA for rheumatology
2,880
Unique beneficiaries
$12
Avg. Medicare payment
Medicare patients only (65+ / disabled) · How to read this →
~9,049 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tocilizumab injection (Actemra) | 87,520 | $5 | $13 |
| Denosumab injection (Prolia/Xgeva) | 40,620 | $18 | $50 |
| Romosozumab injection (Evenity) for osteoporosis | 11,970 | $8 | $30 |
| Golimumab infusion (Simponi Aria) Administration of golimumab medication directly into a vein. This code specifies the dosage amount of 1 milligram for intravenous delivery. |
11,750 | $11 | $50 |
| Rituximab injection, 10 mg Administration of a 10 mg dose of rituximab medication via injection. |
3,690 | $64 | $239 |
| Infliximab infusion (Remicade) An injection of infliximab, excluding biosimilar versions, administered in a 10 mg dose. |
2,350 | $26 | $105 |
| 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. |
1,398 | $98 | $353 |
| 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. |
932 | $11 | $69 |
| Steroid injection (triamcinolone) A 10 mg injection of triamcinolone acetonide, a corticosteroid medication. This code specifies the drug and dosage administered. |
534 | $1 | $3 |
| Bone density scan (DEXA) A test that uses low-dose X-rays to measure bone mineral density in the hip, pelvis, and spine. It helps assess bone strength and risk of fractures. |
393 | $43 | $236 |
| Intravenous infusion, 1 hour or less Administration of medication or fluid directly into a vein for therapeutic, preventive, or diagnostic purposes. The procedure lasts one hour or less. |
326 | $56 | $199 |
| Zoledronic acid injection, 1 mg An injection of zoledronic acid administered at a dose of 1 mg. |
190 | $7 | $25 |
| Additional hour of intravenous chemotherapy This code represents the administration of chemotherapy medication into a vein for each additional hour beyond the initial period. |
170 | $25 | $114 |
| Normal saline infusion, 250 cc Administration of 250 cubic centimeters of normal saline solution into a vein. This procedure involves the intravenous delivery of a sterile saltwater fluid. |
132 | $0 | $2 |
| Ultrasound-guided large joint aspiration or injection This procedure uses ultrasound imaging to guide the removal of fluid from or the injection of medication into a large joint. |
119 | $90 | $276 |
| 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. |
119 | $57 | $249 |
| Intravenous chemotherapy infusion, 1 hour or less Administration of chemotherapy medication directly into a vein. The procedure takes one hour or less to complete. |
96 | $112 | $486 |
| 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. |
87 | $131 | $453 |
| 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. |
76 | $139 | $491 |
| Betamethasone steroid injection An injection containing a combination of betamethasone acetate and betamethasone sodium phosphate. |
70 | $5 | $15 |
| Intravenous injection of additional new drug or substance Administration of an additional new medication or substance directly into a vein. |
55 | $14 | $65 |
| Joint fluid aspiration or injection, small joint Removal of fluid from a small joint or injection of medication into a small joint. |
54 | $42 | $148 |
| Methylprednisolone injection, up to 125 mg An injection of methylprednisolone sodium succinate, a corticosteroid medication, with a dosage of up to 125 mg. |
48 | $4 | $15 |
| Bone density scan (DEXA) of forearm, finger, hand, or foot A DEXA scan measures bone mineral density in the forearm, finger, hand, or foot. This test helps assess bone strength and risk of fracture. |
43 | $35 | $100 |
| New patient office visit, complex (60-74 min) | 30 | $179 | $597 |
| Hyaluronan intra-articular injection An injection of hyaluronan or a derivative into a joint to provide lubrication and cushioning. |
28 | $561 | $2,250 |
| Joint injection, major joint Removal of fluid from a large joint and/or injection of medication into the joint space. |
24 | $58 | $215 |
| Flu vaccine administration This procedure involves the administration of the influenza virus vaccine. It covers the process of delivering the vaccine to the patient. |
22 | $33 | $69 |
| Flu vaccine, high-dose High-dose seasonal influenza vaccine for adults aged 65 and older. Contains four times the antigen of standard-dose flu vaccines (60 mcg per strain), split-virus formulation, preservative-free, single-dose syringe. |
21 | $72 | $164 |
| Methylprednisolone acetate injection, 80 mg An injection of 80 mg of methylprednisolone acetate, a corticosteroid medication. |
15 | $8 | $26 |
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.
9.0% high complexity
89.7% medium
1.3% routine
Industry Payment Transparency
Open Payments through 2024 ↗$16,773
Total received (2018-2024)
Avg $2,396/year across 7 years
Top 20% in CA for rheumatology
A higher payment rank reflects disclosed industry relationships (consulting, research, speaking) common among subspecialists — not wrongdoing.
36
Companies
1,008
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
$16,694 (99.5%)
Speaking / Promotional
Speaker programs, honoraria, and industry-sponsored educational events
$80 (0.5%)
Payment trend by year
Annual totals from pharmaceutical and medical device companies.
2024
$1,692
2023
$1,179
2022
$894
2021
$952
2020
$1,196
2019
$5,708
2018
$5,152
Payments by company (2024)
Consulting
Speaking
Meals & Travel
Research
Novartis Pharmaceuticals Corporation
$386
Amgen Inc.
$370
ABBVIE INC.
$367
Radius Health, Inc.
$216
Mallinckrodt Hospital Products Inc.
$158
GlaxoSmithKline, LLC.
$71
PFIZER INC.
$39
UCB, Inc.
$27
Boehringer Ingelheim Pharmaceuticals, Inc.
$22
AstraZeneca Pharmaceuticals LP
$20
Lilly USA, LLC
$15
Top 3 companies account for 66.4% of 2024 payments
All-time payments by company (2018-2024) ›
Amgen Inc.
$3,433
Novartis Pharmaceuticals Corporation
$2,384
ABBVIE INC.
$1,124
AbbVie, Inc.
$1,003
Lilly USA, LLC
$1,002
PFIZER INC.
$963
Genentech USA, Inc.
$829
Celgene Corporation
$539
Janssen Biotech, Inc.
$521
AbbVie Inc.
$497
E.R. Squibb & Sons, L.L.C.
$462
GlaxoSmithKline, LLC.
$451
Horizon Therapeutics plc
$440
Radius Health, Inc.
$424
GENZYME CORPORATION
$407
UCB, Inc.
$378
DePuy Synthes Sales Inc.
$339
Horizon Pharma plc
$294
Mallinckrodt Hospital Products Inc.
$242
Mallinckrodt Enterprises LLC
$242
AstraZeneca Pharmaceuticals LP
$140
Bayer HealthCare Pharmaceuticals Inc.
$110
Mallinckrodt LLC
$102
Boehringer Ingelheim Pharmaceuticals, Inc.
$74
Takeda Pharmaceuticals U.S.A., Inc.
$64
Flexion Therapeutics, Inc.
$62
Ferring Pharmaceuticals Inc.
$59
Alexion Pharmaceuticals, Inc.
$47
MEDAC PHARMA, INC.
$25
Otsuka America Pharmaceutical, Inc.
$22
Bioventus LLC
$21
SOBI, INC
$19
Travere Therapeutics, Inc.
$18
BAXTER HEALTHCARE
$15
MEDEXUS PHARMA, INC.
$14
Antares Pharma, Inc.
$13
Top 3 companies account for 41.4% of all-time payments
Associated products mentioned in payments ›
ACTHAR · Actemra · Adempas · BENLYSTA · Bimzelx · COSENTYX · Cimzia · Durolane · EUFLEXXA · EVENITY · Enbrel · FORTEO · HUMIRA · Humira · ILARIS · INFLECTRA · JARDIANCE · JYNARQUE · KEVZARA · KINERET · KRYSTEXXA · LYRICA · MONOVISC · OFEV · ORENCIA · ORTHOVISC · Otezla · Otrexup · PENNSAID · Parsabiv · Prolia · RAYOS · RINVOQ · Rasuvo · Renal - CRRT · Rinvoq · Rituxan · SAPHNELO · SIMPONI ARIA · SKYRIZI · STELARA · Strensiq · TALTZ · TAVNEOS · TREMFYA · Tymlos · Uloric · XELJANZ · Zilretta
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
Rheumatologists within 10 mi
14
Per 100K population
3.2
County median income
$95,977
Nearest hospital
SANTA BARBARA COUNTY PSYCHIATRIC HEALTH FACILITY
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. Powell is a mixed practice specialist, with above-average Medicare volume (top 3% in CA), with low-engagement industry engagement in the top 20% of CA peers, 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. Powell experienced with tocilizumab injection (actemra)?
Based on Medicare claims data, Dr. Powell performed 87,520 tocilizumab injection (actemra) 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. Powell receive payments from pharmaceutical companies?
Yes. Dr. Powell received a total of $16,773 from 36 companies across 1,008 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. Powell's costs compare to other rheumatologists in Santa Barbara?
Dr. Powell'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. Powell) 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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