Medicare Enrolled
Dr. Michael Behrman, MD
Orthopaedic Hand Surgery Physician · Santa Barbara, 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. Behrman 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. Behrman
Dr. Michael Behrman is an orthopaedic hand surgery physician in Santa Barbara, CA, with 19 years of NPI registration. Based on federal Medicare data, Dr. Behrman performed 6,336 Medicare services across 3,483 unique beneficiaries.
Between the years covered by Open Payments, Dr. Behrman received a total of $263 from 4 pharmaceutical and/or device companies across 6 individual payments. These payments are legal, publicly disclosed under the federal Sunshine Act, and common in orthopaedic hand surgery 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. Behrman 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 3% volume in CA
$263 industry payments
Medicare Practice Summary
Medicare Utilization ↗6,336
Medicare services
Top 3% in CA for orthopaedic hand surgery physician
3,483
Unique beneficiaries
$61
Avg. Medicare payment
Medicare patients only (65+ / disabled) · How to read this →
~333 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Betamethasone steroid injection An injection containing a combination of betamethasone acetate and betamethasone sodium phosphate. |
1,648 | $5 | $26 |
| 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. |
781 | $101 | $432 |
| Complete ultrasound scan of joint An ultrasound exam that uses sound waves to create detailed images of a joint. This procedure allows for the visualization of the joint's internal structures. |
414 | $45 | $526 |
| 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. |
354 | $124 | $660 |
| X-ray of hand, minimum of 3 views An X-ray imaging test of the hand that captures at least three different angles to visualize the bones and joints. |
294 | $33 | $140 |
| Steroid injection (triamcinolone) A 10 mg injection of triamcinolone acetonide, a corticosteroid medication. This code specifies the drug and dosage administered. |
270 | $1 | $40 |
| Tendon or ligament injection A procedure involving the injection of medication into a tendon or ligament. |
266 | $39 | $236 |
| Wrist X-ray, minimum 3 views An imaging test using X-rays to capture at least three different angles of the wrist bones and joints. |
242 | $36 | $163 |
| Ultrasound guidance for needle placement Use of ultrasound imaging to guide the precise placement of a needle during a medical procedure. |
233 | $49 | $444 |
| Nonremovable forearm to hand splint application A healthcare provider applies a rigid splint that extends from the forearm to the hand to immobilize and support the area. |
219 | $52 | $268 |
| Imaging guidance for procedure, 60 minutes or less Use of imaging technology to guide a medical procedure. This service lasts 60 minutes or less. |
183 | $36 | $282 |
| Static finger splint A rigid or semi-rigid device used to immobilize and support a finger. It helps stabilize the joint and promote healing by preventing movement. |
182 | $2 | $40 |
| Application of nonmoveable finger splint A rigid splint is applied to a finger to immobilize it and prevent movement during healing. |
158 | $29 | $165 |
| Ultrasound-guided joint aspiration or injection Removal of fluid from or injection into a medium-sized joint using ultrasound guidance to ensure accurate placement. |
99 | $68 | $237 |
| Hand and lower forearm cast application Application of a cast to immobilize the hand and lower forearm. This procedure is used to stabilize injuries or fractures in these areas. |
70 | $82 | $392 |
| Adult fiberglass gauntlet cast Application of a fiberglass cast covering the lower forearm and hand for patients aged 11 and older. |
67 | $24 | $60 |
| Stress imaging of joint A physician applies stress to a joint while performing imaging to evaluate its stability or function. |
63 | $47 | $210 |
| 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. |
54 | $78 | $290 |
| X-ray of finger, minimum of 2 views An X-ray imaging test of a finger using at least two different angles to visualize the bones and surrounding structures. |
51 | $34 | $144 |
| Tendon transfer to back of hand with graft A surgical procedure to move a tendon to the back of the hand using a graft to restore function. |
45 | $573 | $3,472 |
| Skin graft repair, 10 sq cm or less A surgical procedure to repair a wound by transferring a small piece of skin to the affected area. The graft covers wounds on the face, neck, hands, feet, or other specified body parts. |
42 | $396 | $3,178 |
| Application of hinged finger splint A hinged finger splint is applied to support and stabilize a finger while allowing controlled movement. |
42 | $40 | $214 |
| Tendon repair, finger or palm Surgical repair of a damaged tendon in the finger or palm of the hand. |
38 | $333 | $2,077 |
| Hand nerve release or relocation A surgical procedure to release or reposition a nerve in the hand. |
38 | $182 | $1,744 |
| Fasciotomy of forearm or wrist A surgical procedure to cut the tissue surrounding muscles in the forearm or wrist to relieve pressure. This is done on one side of the limb without removing any tissue. |
36 | $611 | $2,385 |
| Incision of finger tendon sheath A surgical procedure to cut open the protective covering of a finger tendon. |
35 | $131 | $2,378 |
| Release and/or relocation of wrist nerve | 35 | $167 | $1,619 |
| Adult fiberglass short arm splint supplies Materials for creating a fiberglass splint for an adult's short arm. |
33 | $11 | $60 |
| Injection of carpal tunnel | 30 | $60 | $307 |
| Ultrasound-guided small joint aspiration or injection This procedure involves removing fluid from or injecting medication into a small joint while using ultrasound imaging to guide the needle placement. |
30 | $60 | $224 |
| Removal of hand or finger muscle growth, less than 1.5 cm This procedure involves the surgical removal of a growth located in the muscle of the hand or finger that measures less than 1.5 centimeters. |
26 | $237 | $2,134 |
| Injection, mepivacaine hydrochloride, per 10 ml | 26 | $2 | $40 |
| Lidocaine HCl injection for IV infusion, 10 mg Administration of a 10 mg dose of lidocaine hydrochloride via intravenous infusion. |
26 | $0 | $40 |
| Wrist tendon sheath incision A surgical procedure to cut open the covering of the tendons on the top of the wrist. |
25 | $171 | $1,398 |
| Wrist to finger joint removal Surgical removal of the bones forming the joints between the wrist and the fingers. |
23 | $375 | $3,343 |
| Additional finger release, connective tissue removal This procedure involves the removal of connective tissue in the palm and the release of an additional finger during the same session. |
23 | $218 | $1,103 |
| Elbow X-ray, minimum 3 views An X-ray imaging test of the elbow joint that captures at least three different angles to visualize the bones and surrounding structures. |
23 | $30 | $148 |
| Removal of deep implant from bone A surgical procedure to extract a deep implant that is embedded within the bone. |
20 | $230 | $2,553 |
| Palm connective tissue removal and finger release Surgical removal of abnormal connective tissue in the palm to release tension on the first finger. |
20 | $698 | $3,370 |
| 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 | $133 |
| Venipuncture for blood draw Insertion of a needle into a vein to collect blood samples. This procedure is performed on patients aged 3 years or older. |
17 | $8 | $73 |
| Removal of peripheral nerve growth A surgical procedure to remove a growth from a peripheral nerve. |
13 | $350 | $2,958 |
| Secondary repair of tendon of top of finger using tissue | 12 | $217 | $2,112 |
| Injection of anesthetic agent and/or steroid into other nerve or branch | 12 | $49 | $439 |
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.
0.4% high complexity
52.5% medium
47.1% routine
Industry Payment Transparency
Open Payments through 2024 ↗$263
Total received (2018-2024)
Avg $66/year across 4 years
Bottom 24% in CA for orthopaedic hand surgery physician
4
Companies
6
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
$263 (100.0%)
Payment trend by year
Annual totals from pharmaceutical and medical device companies.
2024
$118
2023
$77
2019
$23
2018
$45
Payments by company (2024)
Consulting
Speaking
Meals & Travel
Research
DePuy Synthes Sales Inc.
$118
Top 3 companies account for 100.0% of 2024 payments
All-time payments by company (2018-2024) ›
DePuy Synthes Sales Inc.
$141
Stryker Corporation
$54
Endo Pharmaceuticals Inc.
$45
AXOGEN
$23
Top 3 companies account for 91.2% of all-time payments
Associated products mentioned in payments ›
AxoGuard Nerve Protector · VA-LCP · VARIAX · XIAFLEX
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
Orthopaedic hand surgery physicians within 10 mi
5
Per 100K population
1.1
County median income
$95,977
Nearest hospital
SANTA BARBARA COTTAGE HOSPITAL
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. Behrman is a clinical cardiology specialist, with above-average Medicare volume (top 3% in CA), with low-engagement industry engagement, 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. Behrman experienced with betamethasone steroid injection?
Based on Medicare claims data, Dr. Behrman performed 1,648 betamethasone steroid injection 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. Behrman receive payments from pharmaceutical companies?
Yes. Dr. Behrman received a total of $263 from 4 companies across 6 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. Behrman's costs compare to other orthopaedic hand surgery physicians in Santa Barbara?
Dr. Behrman's average Medicare payment per service is $61. 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. Behrman) 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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