Medicare Enrolled
Dr. Alan Sull, M.D.
Orthopaedic Hand Surgery Physician · Santa Monica, 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. Sull 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 →
Are you Dr. Sull?
Request a correction or review of any data shown here. Provider portal →
What this data tells you about Dr. Sull
Dr. Alan Sull is an orthopaedic hand surgery physician in Santa Monica, CA, with 16 years of NPI registration. Based on federal Medicare data, Dr. Sull performed 3,569 Medicare services across 2,294 unique beneficiaries.
Between the years covered by Open Payments, Dr. Sull received a total of $4,202 from 13 pharmaceutical and/or device companies across 72 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. Sull 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.
✓ 16 years in practice
▲ Top 11% volume in CA
$4,202 industry payments
Medicare Practice Summary
Medicare Utilization ↗3,569
Medicare services
Top 11% in CA for orthopaedic hand surgery physician
2,294
Unique beneficiaries
$55
Avg. Medicare payment
Medicare patients only (65+ / disabled) · How to read this →
~223 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Steroid injection (triamcinolone) A 10 mg injection of triamcinolone acetonide, a corticosteroid medication. This code specifies the drug and dosage administered. |
936 | $1 | $21 |
| 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. |
443 | $73 | $302 |
| 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. |
391 | $86 | $371 |
| 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 | $32 | $130 |
| Tendon or ligament injection A procedure involving the injection of medication into a tendon or ligament. |
286 | $42 | $205 |
| 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. |
138 | $35 | $145 |
| Dexamethasone injection (steroid) An injection of dexamethasone sodium phosphate, a corticosteroid medication, administered in a dose of 1 milligram. |
120 | $0 | $5 |
| 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. |
104 | $141 | $550 |
| 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. |
101 | $32 | $134 |
| 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. |
97 | $26 | $115 |
| 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. |
92 | $28 | $121 |
| Joint fluid aspiration or injection, medium joint Removal of fluid from a medium-sized joint or injection of medication into the joint space. |
65 | $41 | $204 |
| Wrist X-ray, 2 views An X-ray imaging test of the wrist using two different angles to visualize the bones and joints. |
63 | $32 | $120 |
| Fluoroscopic guidance for needle placement Use of real-time X-ray imaging to guide the precise placement of a needle during a medical procedure. |
53 | $103 | $422 |
| Adult short arm fiberglass cast supplies Materials used to apply a short arm cast made of fiberglass for patients aged 11 and older. |
51 | $18 | $124 |
| 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. |
44 | $103 | $425 |
| Closed treatment of broken or growth plate separate of forearm bone at wrist with manipulation This procedure involves realigning a broken or growth plate separated bone in the forearm near the wrist without making an incision. The doctor uses manual manipulation to position the bone correctly. |
29 | $491 | $1,889 |
| 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. |
28 | $51 | $190 |
| Joint fluid aspiration or injection, small joint Removal of fluid from a small joint or injection of medication into a small joint. |
27 | $47 | $230 |
| Joint injection, major joint Removal of fluid from a large joint and/or injection of medication into the joint space. |
27 | $55 | $241 |
| 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. |
27 | $111 | $423 |
| Initial hospital admission, low complexity Initial hospital inpatient or observation care for a new patient involving straightforward or low-level medical decision making, with at least 40 minutes total time on the date of the encounter. |
22 | $55 | $313 |
| Adult short arm plaster splint supplies Supplies for a short arm splint made of plaster for patients aged 11 and older. |
22 | $6 | $48 |
| Open treatment of distal radius fracture with internal fixation Surgical repair of a broken wrist bone involving three or more fragments on the thumb side, stabilized with an internal device. |
21 | $928 | $3,604 |
| Elbow X-ray, 2 views An X-ray imaging test of the elbow joint using two different angles to visualize the bones and surrounding structures. |
19 | $28 | $103 |
| 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. |
17 | $149 | $622 |
| 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 | $964 | $3,854 |
| Elbow to finger cast application Application of a cast extending from the elbow to the fingers to immobilize the arm. |
13 | $80 | $306 |
| 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. |
13 | $53 | $233 |
| Hand nerve release or relocation A surgical procedure to release or reposition a nerve in the hand. |
13 | $334 | $1,496 |
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
40.9% medium
58.7% routine
Industry Payment Transparency
Open Payments through 2024 ↗$4,202
Total received (2018-2024)
Avg $600/year across 7 years
Top 29% in CA for orthopaedic hand surgery physician
A higher payment rank reflects disclosed industry relationships (consulting, research, speaking) common among subspecialists — not wrongdoing.
13
Companies
72
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
$3,351 (79.7%)
Speaking / Promotional
Speaker programs, honoraria, and industry-sponsored educational events
$852 (20.3%)
Payment trend by year
Annual totals from pharmaceutical and medical device companies.
2024
$684
2023
$656
2022
$437
2021
$549
2020
$677
2019
$269
2018
$931
Payments by company (2024)
Consulting
Speaking
Meals & Travel
Research
Stryker Corporation
$522
Smith+Nephew, Inc.
$63
Endo USA, Inc.
$47
Bioventus LLC
$31
Endo Pharmaceuticals Inc.
$22
Top 3 companies account for 92.3% of 2024 payments
All-time payments by company (2018-2024) ›
Stryker Corporation
$1,604
Arthrex, Inc.
$922
Endo Pharmaceuticals Inc.
$714
Globus Medical, Inc.
$337
Bioventus LLC
$222
TriMed, Inc.
$137
Smith+Nephew, Inc.
$63
Flexion Therapeutics, Inc.
$49
Endo USA, Inc.
$47
DePuy Synthes Sales Inc.
$39
Ethicon US, LLC
$27
Heron Therapeutics, Inc.
$24
Dynasplint Systems Inc.
$20
Top 3 companies account for 77.1% of all-time payments
Associated products mentioned in payments ›
Ankle Fracture System · CAPTIVATE · DISTAL EXTREMITIES IMPLANTS SOFT TISSUE H&W MINI TIGHTROPES · Durolane · Dynasplint · EVOS · EXOGEN ULTRASOUND BONE HEALING SYSTEM · Exogen Ultrasound Bone Healing System · GAMMA · INSIGNIA · MAKO · MONOVISC · PANGEA · PRO · SPATIAL FRAME · STRATAFIX · T2 · TROCH NAIL · Troch Nail · VARIAX · XIAFLEX · Zilretta · Zynrelef
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 (80%) 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
58
Per 100K population
0.6
County median income
$87,760
Nearest hospital
SANTA MONICA - UCLA MED CTR & ORTHOPAEDIC 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. Sull is a clinical cardiology specialist, with above-average Medicare volume (top 11% in CA), with low-engagement industry engagement, with 16 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. Sull experienced with steroid injection (triamcinolone)?
Based on Medicare claims data, Dr. Sull performed 936 steroid injection (triamcinolone) 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. Sull receive payments from pharmaceutical companies?
Yes. Dr. Sull received a total of $4,202 from 13 companies across 72 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. Sull's costs compare to other orthopaedic hand surgery physicians in Santa Monica?
Dr. Sull's average Medicare payment per service is $55. 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. Sull) 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 →
Explore related providers
Same specialty & city
Orthopaedic Hand Surgery Physicians in Santa Monica
Browse orthopaedic hand surgery physicians in Santa Monica ranked by procedure volume and transparency data.
Highest volume
Top Orthopaedic Hand Surgery Physicians in CA
Orthopaedic hand surgery physicians ranked by total Medicare services performed statewide.
Industry payments
Pharma Payments to Orthopaedic Hand Surgery Physicians in CA
Which CA orthopaedic hand surgery physicians receive the most from drug and device companies.
By company
Stryker Corporation Payments to Doctors
See all physicians who received payments from Stryker Corporation.
By company
Arthrex, Inc. Payments to Doctors
See all physicians who received payments from Arthrex, Inc.
By company
Endo Pharmaceuticals Inc. Payments to Doctors
See all physicians who received payments from Endo Pharmaceuticals Inc.
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