Medicare Enrolled
Dr. Scott Tong, MD
Family Medicine · Torrance, 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. Tong 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. Tong
Dr. Scott Tong is a family medicine specialist in Torrance, CA, with 19 years of NPI registration. Based on federal Medicare data, Dr. Tong performed 4,857 Medicare services across 1,983 unique beneficiaries.
Between the years covered by Open Payments, Dr. Tong received a total of $823 from 14 pharmaceutical and/or device companies across 45 individual payments. These payments are legal, publicly disclosed under the federal Sunshine Act, and common in family medicine. 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. Tong 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
$823 industry payments
Medicare Practice Summary
Medicare Utilization ↗4,857
Medicare services
Top 3% in CA for family medicine
1,983
Unique beneficiaries
$59
Avg. Medicare payment
Medicare patients only (65+ / disabled) · How to read this →
~256 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. |
1,002 | $101 | $139 |
| Remote vital sign monitoring management, each additional 20 minutes This code covers the time spent by a provider managing patient data from remote vital sign monitoring devices. It applies to each additional 20-minute increment beyond the initial monthly service period. |
525 | $34 | $81 |
| SARS-CoV-2 immunoassay test A laboratory test using immunoassay techniques to detect the presence of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus. |
345 | $35 | $36 |
| Remote patient monitoring management, 20 min/month Management based on results from remote vital sign monitoring for the first 20 minutes per calendar month. |
305 | $42 | $84 |
| 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. |
250 | $6 | $8 |
| Remote patient monitoring device, 30 days Initial setup of devices for remote monitoring of body functions with daily data transmission or alerts. This service covers the first 30 days of the monitoring period. |
247 | $46 | $123 |
| Advance care planning consultation, first 30 min A session focused on discussing and documenting future healthcare preferences and goals. This service covers the initial 30 minutes of the planning discussion. |
204 | $79 | $90 |
| Chronic care management, additional 20 min/month This service covers an extra 20 minutes of clinical staff time directed by a healthcare professional for managing two or more chronic conditions each calendar month. |
195 | $41 | $98 |
| Electrocardiogram (EKG), 12-lead A standard heart rhythm test using at least 12 leads to record electrical activity. A healthcare provider interprets the results and provides a written report. |
180 | $12 | $17 |
| Chronic care management, first 20 min/month This service covers the first 20 minutes of clinical staff time directed by a healthcare professional each calendar month to manage chronic conditions. |
171 | $52 | $90 |
| Annual alcohol misuse screening, 5 to 15 minutes | 140 | $20 | $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. |
136 | $68 | $98 |
| Annual wellness visit, follow-up A follow-up annual wellness visit that includes a personalized prevention plan of service. |
130 | $137 | $145 |
| Home health agency supervision, complex multidisciplinary care Supervision by a physician or allowed practitioner for a patient receiving Medicare-covered services from a participating home health agency. This involves complex and multidisciplinary care modalities, with the patient not present during the supervision. |
128 | $87 | $111 |
| COVID-19 amplified DNA/RNA probe detection A laboratory test that uses amplified DNA or RNA probes to detect the presence of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (COVID-19) antigen. |
119 | $50 | $51 |
| Annual depression screening | 79 | $20 | $21 |
| Flu vaccine administration This procedure involves the administration of the influenza virus vaccine. It covers the process of delivering the vaccine to the patient. |
69 | $33 | $49 |
| 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. |
65 | $72 | $88 |
| 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. |
63 | $146 | $191 |
| Home health plan of care re-certification A physician reviews the patient's status and contacts the home health agency to re-certify the plan of care without the patient being present. |
46 | $36 | $46 |
| Substance misuse assessment and brief intervention A structured assessment of alcohol or substance misuse combined with a brief intervention lasting 15 to 30 minutes. |
46 | $28 | $37 |
| Influenza virus nucleic acid detection test A laboratory test that uses nucleic acid technology to detect multiple types of influenza virus. |
38 | $94 | $96 |
| Online digital E/M service, established patient, 21+ minutes An online digital evaluation and management service for an established patient. This service requires a total time of 21 or more minutes over a period of up to 7 days. |
38 | $37 | $50 |
| Home health plan of care certification Certification by a physician or allowed practitioner for Medicare-covered home health services under a home health plan of care. This includes contacting the home health agency and reviewing reports of patient status required by physicians. |
35 | $45 | $57 |
| Influenza virus detection test A laboratory test that uses an immunoassay technique to detect the presence of the influenza virus through direct visual observation. |
33 | $16 | $17 |
| Expiratory airflow and volume test A test that measures the amount of air you can exhale and the speed at which you can breathe it out. It evaluates lung function by assessing expiratory airflow and volume. |
31 | $24 | $34 |
| Neuropsychological test evaluation, first hour A professional assessment of cognitive and behavioral functioning using standardized tests. This service covers the initial hour of the evaluation process. |
31 | $104 | $137 |
| Transitional care management, high complexity Coordination of care for a patient transitioning from a short-term hospital stay or other facility to home or another care setting. This service addresses a high-complexity medical problem. |
31 | $233 | $309 |
| 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. |
29 | $58 | $77 |
| Psychological test administration, first 30 minutes A technician administers psychological or neuropsychological testing for the first 30 minutes. |
28 | $30 | $39 |
| Urinalysis, manual A manual laboratory examination of a urine sample to check for various substances and cells. |
24 | $3 | $5 |
| Chronic care management, first 30 minutes This service covers the initial 30 minutes of care coordination for patients with two or more chronic conditions. It is provided personally by a healthcare professional each calendar month. |
20 | $72 | $92 |
| Fecal immunochemical test (FIT), 1-3 simultaneous A screening test that uses a stool sample to detect hidden blood in the feces, helping to identify potential colorectal cancer. |
17 | $18 | $18 |
| Online digital E/M service, established patient, 11-20 min An online digital evaluation and management service for an established patient. The service involves a total time of 11 to 20 minutes over a period of up to 7 days. |
15 | $23 | $31 |
| 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. |
14 | $131 | $216 |
| Remote physiologic monitoring setup and education Initial setup of remote monitoring equipment and patient education on its use. |
14 | $18 | $38 |
| Complex chronic care management, first 60 minutes This service involves clinical staff time directed by a healthcare professional to manage two or more chronic conditions over a calendar month. It covers the first 60 minutes of this coordinated care effort. |
14 | $116 | $210 |
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.
Industry Payment Transparency
Open Payments through 2024 ↗$823
Total received (2018-2024)
Avg $118/year across 7 years
Top 29% in CA for family medicine
A higher payment rank reflects disclosed industry relationships (consulting, research, speaking) common among subspecialists — not wrongdoing.
14
Companies
45
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
$823 (100.0%)
Payment trend by year
Annual totals from pharmaceutical and medical device companies.
2024
$85
2023
$125
2022
$73
2021
$58
2020
$19
2019
$363
2018
$100
Payments by company (2024)
Consulting
Speaking
Meals & Travel
Research
GlaxoSmithKline, LLC.
$37
AstraZeneca Pharmaceuticals LP
$27
Abbott Laboratories
$21
Top 3 companies account for 100.0% of 2024 payments
All-time payments by company (2018-2024) ›
AstraZeneca Pharmaceuticals LP
$305
GlaxoSmithKline, LLC.
$144
Janssen Pharmaceuticals, Inc
$134
Amarin Pharma Inc.
$54
Intersect ENT, Inc.
$23
Novartis Pharmaceuticals Corporation
$23
Abbott Laboratories
$21
Cleerly, Inc.
$21
AbbVie Inc.
$20
Exact Sciences Corporation
$19
Kowa Pharmaceuticals America, Inc.
$18
SANOFI PASTEUR INC.
$15
PFIZER INC.
$14
Salix Pharmaceuticals, a division of Bausch Health US, LLC
$11
Top 3 companies account for 70.9% of all-time payments
Associated products mentioned in payments ›
ADACEL · AREXVY · BREO · BREZTRI · Cleerly Labs · Cologuard Collection Kit · ENTRESTO · FARXIGA · FREESTYLE LIBRE 3 · INVOKANA · Livalo · PREVNAR - 13 · SHINGRIX · SINUVA · SYMBICORT · TRELEGY ELLIPTA · UBRELVY · Vascepa · XARELTO · XIFAXAN
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
Family medicine physicians within 10 mi
2,731
Per 100K population
27.7
County median income
$87,760
Nearest hospital
DEL AMO 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. Tong 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. Tong experienced with office visit, established patient (30-39 min)?
Based on Medicare claims data, Dr. Tong performed 1,002 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. Tong receive payments from pharmaceutical companies?
Yes. Dr. Tong received a total of $823 from 14 companies across 45 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. Tong's costs compare to other family medicine physicians in Torrance?
Dr. Tong'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. Tong) 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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