Medicare Enrolled

Dr. Eric Shepherd, M.D.

Orthopedic Surgery · Santa Barbara, CA
Practice pattern: Clinical Cardiology — Primarily office-based clinical cardiology
Low-engagement
2324 BATH ST, Santa Barbara, CA 93105
8056827801
In practice since 2006 (20 years)
NPI: 1043270598 verify on NPPES ↗
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. Shepherd 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. Shepherd

Dr. Eric Shepherd is an orthopedic surgery specialist in Santa Barbara, CA, with 20 years of NPI registration. Based on federal Medicare data, Dr. Shepherd performed 1,332 Medicare services across 644 unique beneficiaries.

Between the years covered by Open Payments, Dr. Shepherd received a total of $1,598 from 9 pharmaceutical and/or device companies across 21 individual payments. These payments are legal, publicly disclosed under the federal Sunshine Act, and common in orthopedic surgery. 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. Shepherd 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 39% volume in CA $1,598 industry payments

Medicare Practice Summary

Medicare Utilization ↗
1,332
Medicare services
Top 39% in CA for orthopedic surgery
644
Unique beneficiaries
$65
Avg. Medicare payment
Medicare patients only (65+ / disabled) · How to read this →
~67 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
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.
248 $97 $225
Steroid injection (triamcinolone)
A 10 mg injection of triamcinolone acetonide, a corticosteroid medication. This code specifies the drug and dosage administered.
221 $1 $10
Joint injection, major joint
Removal of fluid from a large joint and/or injection of medication into the joint space.
165 $57 $309
Viscosupplementation injection for joint
An injection of hyaluronic acid or a derivative into a joint to provide lubrication and cushioning.
151 $56 $250
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.
117 $76 $175
Hip X-ray, 2-3 views
An X-ray imaging test of the hip joint using two to three different angles to visualize the bones and surrounding structures.
71 $38 $111
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.
64 $35 $122
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.
42 $103 $245
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.
41 $143 $360
Ankle X-ray, minimum 3 views
An X-ray imaging test of the ankle that captures at least three different angles to evaluate the bones and joints.
36 $29 $111
X-ray of upper arm, minimum of 2 views
An X-ray imaging test of the upper arm that captures at least two different views to evaluate the bones and surrounding structures.
35 $29 $110
X-ray of thigh bone, minimum 2 views
An X-ray imaging test of the thigh bone using at least two different angles to visualize the bone structure.
29 $30 $87
Hospital follow-up visit, moderate complexity
Follow-up hospital visit for an existing patient involving moderate medical decision making. The visit requires at least 35 minutes of time spent on the date of service.
23 $65 $129
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.
22 $89 $350
Pelvis X-ray, 1-2 views
An X-ray imaging test of the pelvic area using one to two different angles to visualize the bones and joints.
19 $24 $110
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.
18 $30 $120
Wrist X-ray, 2 views
An X-ray imaging test of the wrist using two different angles to visualize the bones and joints.
17 $29 $105
Surgical repair of broken thigh bone with stabilization or replacement
This procedure involves surgically treating the upper part of a fractured femur by inserting a device to stabilize the bone or replacing it with a prosthetic implant.
13 $992 $15,000
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.
1.0% high complexity
40.3% medium
58.7% routine

Industry Payment Transparency

Open Payments through 2024 ↗
$1,598
Total received (2018-2024)
Avg $266/year across 6 years
Bottom 40% in CA for orthopedic surgery
9
Companies
21
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
$1,598 (100.0%)

Payment trend by year

Annual totals from pharmaceutical and medical device companies.

2024
$377
2023
$241
2022
$463
2021
$139
2019
$294
2018
$84

Payments by company (2024)

Consulting
Speaking
Meals & Travel
Research
Stryker Corporation
$175
Smith+Nephew, Inc.
$139
DePuy Synthes Sales Inc.
$63
Top 3 companies account for 100.0% of 2024 payments
All-time payments by company (2018-2024) ›
Stryker Corporation
$543
DePuy Synthes Sales Inc.
$265
Lima USA, Inc.
$143
Smith+Nephew, Inc.
$139
Pacira Pharmaceuticals Incorporated
$136
NuVasive Specialized Orthopedics, Inc.
$116
Zimmer Biomet Holdings, Inc.
$112
IlluminOss Medical, Inc.
$105
Bioventus LLC
$38
Top 3 companies account for 59.6% of all-time payments
Associated products mentioned in payments ›
EXPAREL · Exparel · FIBERGRAFT Aeridyan Matrix · GELSYN 3 · MAKO · NA · PHYSICA CR · PRECICE Intramedullary Limb Lengthening System · PROFYLE · Photodynamic Bone Stabilization Procedure Pack · ROSA · T2 · T2 ALPHA · TFN-Advance · TRIGEN INTERTAN
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.

Looking for an orthopedic surgery specialist in Santa Barbara?
Compare orthopedic surgeons in the Santa Barbara area by procedure volume, costs, and industry payment transparency.
Browse orthopedic surgeons nearby

Geographic Context

Orthopedic surgeons within 10 mi
32
Per 100K population
7.2
County median income
$95,977
Nearest hospital
SANTA BARBARA COTTAGE HOSPITAL
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. Shepherd is a clinical cardiology specialist, with moderate Medicare volume, with low-engagement industry engagement, 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. Shepherd experienced with office visit, established patient (30-39 min)?
Based on Medicare claims data, Dr. Shepherd performed 248 office visit, established patient (30-39 min) 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. Shepherd receive payments from pharmaceutical companies?
Yes. Dr. Shepherd received a total of $1,598 from 9 companies across 21 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. Shepherd's costs compare to other orthopedic surgeons in Santa Barbara?
Dr. Shepherd's average Medicare payment per service is $65. 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. Shepherd) 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 →
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.

Provider corrections: Provider portal · Privacy questions: Privacy Policy · Terms: Terms of Use · Methodology: Methodology

Data Disclaimer — Data sourced from the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS): National Plan and Provider Enumeration System (NPPES), Open Payments program, Medicare Provider Utilization and Payment Data, and Provider Enrollment & Certification data (PECOS). Published under the Freedom of Information Act (FOIA). This website is not affiliated with, endorsed by, or authorized by CMS, HHS, or the U.S. Government. Data may contain errors as reported to CMS by providers and reporting entities. Payments from industry are legal and do not indicate wrongdoing. Medicare data reflects only patients aged 65+ or those with qualifying disabilities. For corrections, contact CMS directly. This information does not constitute medical advice and should not be used as the sole basis for choosing a healthcare provider. Procedure descriptions use plain language and do not reference CPT® codes, which are copyrighted by the American Medical Association. Full methodology → · Report a data error → · Privacy policy →