Medicare Enrolled
Dr. Sunny Melendez, MD
Endocrinology · Torrance, 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. Melendez 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. Melendez?
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What this data tells you about Dr. Melendez
Dr. Sunny Melendez is an endocrinology specialist in Torrance, CA, with 19 years of NPI registration. Based on federal Medicare data, Dr. Melendez performed 24,911 Medicare services across 5,611 unique beneficiaries.
Between the years covered by Open Payments, Dr. Melendez received a total of $41,445 from 67 pharmaceutical and/or device companies across 1187 individual payments. These payments are legal, publicly disclosed under the federal Sunshine Act, and common in endocrinology. 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. Melendez 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
$41,445 industry payments
Medicare Practice Summary
Medicare Utilization ↗24,911
Medicare services
Top 3% in CA for endocrinology
5,611
Unique beneficiaries
$16
Avg. Medicare payment
Medicare patients only (65+ / disabled) · How to read this →
~1,311 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Blood draw (venipuncture) Insertion of a needle into a vein to collect a blood sample. |
1,176 | $8 | $10 |
| 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. |
1,060 | $145 | $250 |
| Blood sodium level test A laboratory test that measures the amount of sodium in your blood. Sodium is an electrolyte that helps regulate fluid balance and nerve function. |
1,017 | $5 | $20 |
| Blood potassium level test A blood test that measures the amount of potassium in your body. Potassium is an electrolyte that helps control heart and muscle function. |
1,016 | $5 | $20 |
| Blood creatinine level test A blood test that measures the amount of creatinine, a waste product from muscle wear and tear, to help assess kidney function. |
1,009 | $5 | $27 |
| Total calcium level test A blood test that measures the total amount of calcium in your body. |
1,008 | $5 | $18 |
| Blood urea nitrogen test A blood test that measures the amount of urea nitrogen to assess kidney function. |
1,008 | $4 | $22 |
| Carbon dioxide level test A blood test that measures the amount of carbon dioxide in your blood, which helps evaluate your body's acid-base balance and kidney function. |
1,007 | $5 | $15 |
| Complete blood count (CBC) with differential An automated laboratory test that measures the levels of red blood cells, white blood cells, and platelets in the blood, including a breakdown of the different types of white blood cells. |
972 | $8 | $30 |
| Phosphate level test A blood test that measures the amount of phosphate in your body. Phosphate is a mineral that helps keep bones and teeth strong. |
961 | $5 | $15 |
| Manual urinalysis with microscopic examination A urine test performed manually without automated equipment. The sample is examined under a microscope to check for abnormalities. |
955 | $4 | $25 |
| Magnesium level test A blood test to measure the amount of magnesium in your body. This helps check for magnesium deficiency or excess. |
934 | $7 | $28 |
| Blood glucose level test A test that measures the amount of sugar in your blood. |
876 | $4 | $19 |
| Cardiac enzyme level (CK-MB) test A blood test that measures the total level of creatine kinase, specifically the cardiac enzyme fraction, to help evaluate heart muscle damage. |
865 | $6 | $20 |
| 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. |
861 | $12 | $30 |
| Uric acid level test A blood test that measures the level of uric acid in your body. Uric acid is a waste product formed when the body breaks down purines. |
817 | $4 | $18 |
| Ferritin level test (iron stores) A blood test that measures the level of ferritin, a protein that stores iron in the body. |
791 | $13 | $51 |
| Iron level test | 754 | $6 | $30 |
| Iron binding capacity test A blood test that measures the amount of iron in the blood and the blood's ability to bind and transport iron. |
751 | $8 | $30 |
| Liver function blood test panel | 750 | $8 | $56 |
| Free T3 thyroid hormone test A blood test that measures the level of free triiodothyronine (T3) hormone in your body. This helps assess how well your thyroid gland is functioning. |
638 | $17 | $68 |
| Free thyroxine (T4) test A blood test that measures the level of free thyroxine, a thyroid hormone, in the bloodstream. |
637 | $9 | $65 |
| Thyroid stimulating hormone (TSH) test A blood test that measures the level of thyroid stimulating hormone to evaluate thyroid function. |
636 | $16 | $72 |
| Hemoglobin A1c test (diabetes monitoring) A blood test that measures your average blood sugar levels over the past two to three months. |
576 | $9 | $50 |
| Vitamin B-12 injection An injection of vitamin B-12 (cyanocobalamin) with a dose of up to 1000 mcg. |
563 | $1 | $38 |
| Lipid panel (cholesterol and triglycerides) A blood test that measures cholesterol and triglyceride levels. |
545 | $13 | $68 |
| Parathyroid hormone level test A blood test that measures the amount of parathyroid hormone in your body. This hormone helps regulate calcium levels in the blood and bones. |
425 | $40 | $55 |
| Vitamin D level test A blood test to measure the amount of Vitamin D-3 in your body. |
364 | $29 | $60 |
| Folic acid level test A blood test that measures the amount of folic acid in the serum. |
362 | $14 | $65 |
| Vitamin B-12 level test A blood test that measures the amount of vitamin B-12 in your body. |
352 | $15 | $65 |
| Continuous glucose monitoring with interpretation This procedure involves monitoring blood sugar levels in tissue fluid using a sensor placed under the skin, along with the interpretation and reporting of the results. |
173 | $27 | $150 |
| 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. |
158 | $41 | $70 |
| 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. |
115 | $73 | $130 |
| 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. |
114 | $36 | $82 |
| Influenza vaccine, quadrivalent, 0.5 ml dosage | 98 | $20 | $95 |
| Flu vaccine administration This procedure involves the administration of the influenza virus vaccine. It covers the process of delivering the vaccine to the patient. |
95 | $29 | $30 |
| PSA test (prostate cancer screening) | 90 | $18 | $64 |
| 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. |
70 | $12 | $75 |
| X-ray of entire middle and lower spine, 2-3 views An X-ray imaging test that captures 2 to 3 views of the entire middle and lower spine to visualize the bones and structures in these areas. |
49 | $61 | $150 |
| 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. |
49 | $36 | $93 |
| 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. |
49 | $43 | $300 |
| Stool test for blood to screen for colon tumors A test that analyzes a stool sample to detect hidden blood, which is used to screen for colon tumors. |
34 | $4 | $22 |
| Pneumococcal vaccine, 23-valent A vaccine that protects against 23 types of pneumococcal bacteria. It is used to prevent infections caused by these bacteria. |
34 | $131 | $175 |
| Pneumonia vaccine administration This procedure involves the injection of a vaccine to protect against pneumococcal disease. It is administered by a healthcare provider. |
33 | $30 | $30 |
| Sleep study with heart rate and breathing monitoring A sleep study that monitors heart rate, breathing, airflow, and physical effort during sleep. |
32 | $64 | $500 |
| Continuous glucose monitoring, sensor under skin This procedure involves continuous monitoring of blood sugar levels in tissue fluid using a sensor placed under the skin with provider-supplied equipment. |
19 | $130 | $400 |
| Albumin level test A blood test that measures the amount of albumin, a protein made by the liver, in your body. |
13 | $5 | $15 |
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 ↗$41,445
Total received (2018-2024)
Avg $5,921/year across 7 years
Top 8% in CA for endocrinology
A higher payment rank reflects disclosed industry relationships (consulting, research, speaking) common among subspecialists — not wrongdoing.
67
Companies
1,187
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
$37,642 (90.8%)
Consulting
Expert advisory fees, typically reflecting recognized clinical expertise
$2,698 (6.5%)
Speaking / Promotional
Speaker programs, honoraria, and industry-sponsored educational events
$1,105 (2.7%)
Payment trend by year
Annual totals from pharmaceutical and medical device companies.
2024
$3,377
2023
$4,027
2022
$6,227
2021
$5,100
2020
$4,066
2019
$8,701
2018
$9,945
Payments by company (2024)
Consulting
Speaking
Meals & Travel
Research
Amgen Inc.
$652
Lilly USA, LLC
$560
Boehringer Ingelheim Pharmaceuticals, Inc.
$456
Esperion Therapeutics, Inc.
$259
Madrigal Pharmaceuticals
$257
Salix Pharmaceuticals, a division of Bausch Health US, LLC
$166
Bayer Healthcare Pharmaceuticals Inc.
$158
ABBVIE INC.
$155
Lexicon Pharmaceuticals, Inc.
$112
AstraZeneca Pharmaceuticals LP
$111
Dexcom, Inc.
$73
Novartis Pharmaceuticals Corporation
$65
Novo Nordisk Inc
$63
RECORDATI_RARE_DISEASES_INC.
$57
BETA BIONICS, INC.
$48
IRONWOOD PHARMACEUTICALS, INC
$40
Embecta Corp.
$36
Kyowa Kirin, Inc.
$27
Corcept Therapeutics
$26
PFIZER INC.
$22
Abbott Laboratories
$21
Kowa Pharmaceuticals America, Inc.
$13
Top 3 companies account for 49.4% of 2024 payments
All-time payments by company (2018-2024) ›
Corcept Therapeutics
$4,430
Ironwood Pharmaceuticals, Inc
$4,146
Amgen Inc.
$4,065
Janssen Pharmaceuticals, Inc
$2,864
Lilly USA, LLC
$2,750
Amarin Pharma Inc.
$2,129
AstraZeneca Pharmaceuticals LP
$1,822
Novo Nordisk Inc
$1,600
Boehringer Ingelheim Pharmaceuticals, Inc.
$1,551
Salix Pharmaceuticals, a division of Bausch Health US, LLC
$1,252
Esperion Therapeutics, Inc.
$1,249
Kowa Pharmaceuticals America, Inc.
$1,082
AbbVie, Inc.
$887
AbbVie Inc.
$824
SANOFI-AVENTIS U.S. LLC
$773
Novartis Pharmaceuticals Corporation
$769
Horizon Therapeutics plc
$625
Bayer Healthcare Pharmaceuticals Inc.
$589
Bayer HealthCare Pharmaceuticals Inc.
$577
ABBVIE INC.
$573
Gilead Sciences, Inc.
$490
Dexcom, Inc.
$451
Teva Pharmaceuticals USA, Inc.
$449
Abbott Laboratories
$449
Medtronic, Inc.
$445
Radius Health, Inc.
$404
Regeneron Healthcare Solutions, Inc.
$375
Nestle HealthCare Nutrition Inc.
$339
GlaxoSmithKline, LLC.
$263
Madrigal Pharmaceuticals
$257
E.R. Squibb & Sons, L.L.C.
$235
MannKind Corporation
$209
Takeda Pharmaceuticals U.S.A., Inc.
$207
Embecta Corp.
$179
Biohaven Pharmaceuticals, Inc.
$167
Shire North American Group Inc
$157
Merck Sharp & Dohme LLC
$145
CeQur Corporation
$135
JAZZ PHARMACEUTICALS INC.
$125
Biohaven Pharmaceutical Holding Company Ltd.
$122
PFIZER INC.
$117
Lexicon Pharmaceuticals, Inc.
$112
Merck Sharp & Dohme Corporation
$105
Astellas Pharma US Inc
$105
Kyowa Kirin, Inc.
$97
DEXCOM, INC.
$72
Insulet Corporation
$70
Endo Pharmaceuticals Inc.
$63
Bausch Health US, LLC
$62
RECORDATI_RARE_DISEASES_INC.
$57
BETA BIONICS, INC.
$48
Tandem Diabetes Care, Inc.
$44
Allergan Inc.
$42
IRONWOOD PHARMACEUTICALS, INC
$40
Arbor Pharmaceuticals, Inc.
$37
Xeris Pharmaceuticals, Inc.
$31
ARBOR PHARMACEUTICALS, INC.
$23
Senseonics, Incorporated
$23
Acerus Pharmaceuticals Corporation
$21
Alnylam Pharmaceuticals Inc.
$19
Vertiflex, Inc.
$15
RedHill Biopharma Inc.
$15
Synergy Pharmaceuticals Inc
$15
Tolmar, Inc.
$14
Medtronic MiniMed, Inc.
$13
NESTLE HEALTHCARE NUTRITION INC.
$13
Aytu BioScience, Inc
$10
Top 3 companies account for 30.5% of all-time payments
Associated products mentioned in payments ›
AFREZZA · AIRSUPRA · AJOVY · APLENZIN · AVEED · Aemcolo · Aimovig · Amitiza · BAQSIMI · BASAGLAR · BD Nano 2nd Gen Pen Needle · BELSOMRA · CINQAIR · CREON · CeQur Simplicity · Creon · Crysvita · DEXCOM G6 CGM SYSTEM · DEXCOM G6 TRANSMITTER · DEXCOM G7 GSS (161) · DUZALLO · Dexcom G6 Transmitter · Dexilant · ELIQUIS · EMGALITY · ENTRESTO · EVENITY · EVKEEZA · Edarbi · Epclusa · Eversense · FARXIGA · FASENRA · FREESTYLE FREEDOM LITE · FREESTYLE LIBRE 2 · FREESTYLE LIBRE 3 · FreeStyle Libre · FreeStyle Libre blood glucose Flash Monitoring System · GVOKE PFS · HUMALOG · HUMULIN · Horizant · INTELLIS ADAPTIVESTIM · INVOKANA · InPen · Inpefa · JANUVIA · JARDIANCE · JATENZO · KRYSTEXXA · Kerendia · Korlym · LEQVIO · LINZESS · LIVALO · LOKELMA · LYUMJEV · Levemir · Linzess · Livalo · MOUNJARO · MOVANTIK · MYRBETRIQ · Minimed 670G System · Motegrity · NASCOBAL · NATPARA · NEXLETOL · NEXLIZET · NURTEC ODT · Natesto · ONPATTRO · Omnipod · Ozempic · PAXLOVID · PNEUMOVAX 23 · PRADAXA · PRALUENT · PRALUENT ALIROCUMAB INJECTION · PREVNAR 13 · PREVNAR 20 · Proclaim Family of SCS IPGs · Prolia · QVAR · RELISTOR · RELISTOR ORAL · RESMETIROM · REZDIFFRA · RYBELSUS · Repatha · Rybelsus · SHINGRIX · SIGNIFOR LAR · SOLIQUA · SYMBICORT · SYNJARDY · SYNTHROID · Saxenda · Superion ISS · Synthroid · TEPEZZA · TOUJEO · TRADJENTA · TRULANCE · TRULICITY · TZIELD · Tresiba · Trintellix · Trulance · Tymlos · UBRELVY · VERQUVO · VESICARE · VIBERZI · Vascepa · Vemlidy · Veozah · Victoza · WELLBUTRIN · Wegovy · XARELTO · XIFAXAN · XYWAV · ZENPEP · ZEPBOUND · iLet Bionic Pancreas · t-slim insulin pump · t:slim X2 Insulin Pump with Control-IQ
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 (91%) are for meals and travel — low-value interactions that are common across virtually all practicing physicians. Total industry engagement is in the top 8% for endocrinology in CA.
Geographic Context
Endocrinologists within 10 mi
235
Per 100K population
2.4
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. Melendez is a mixed practice specialist, with above-average Medicare volume (top 3% in CA), with low-engagement industry engagement in the top 8% of CA peers, 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. Melendez experienced with blood draw (venipuncture)?
Based on Medicare claims data, Dr. Melendez performed 1,176 blood draw (venipuncture) 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. Melendez receive payments from pharmaceutical companies?
Yes. Dr. Melendez received a total of $41,445 from 67 companies across 1,187 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. Melendez's costs compare to other endocrinologists in Torrance?
Dr. Melendez's average Medicare payment per service is $16. 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. Melendez) 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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