Medicare Enrolled
Dr. Fernando Otero, MD
Surgery · Walnut Creek, 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. Otero 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. Otero
Dr. Fernando Otero is a surgery specialist in Walnut Creek, CA, with 20 years of NPI registration. Based on federal Medicare data, Dr. Otero performed 15,480 Medicare services across 1,845 unique beneficiaries.
Between the years covered by Open Payments, Dr. Otero received a total of $6,066 from 19 pharmaceutical and/or device companies across 143 individual payments. These payments are legal, publicly disclosed under the federal Sunshine Act, and common in 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. Otero 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 0% volume in CA
$6,066 industry payments
Medicare Practice Summary
Medicare Utilization ↗15,480
Medicare services
Top 0% in CA for surgery
1,845
Unique beneficiaries
$63
Avg. Medicare payment
Medicare patients only (65+ / disabled) · How to read this →
~774 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Contrast dye for imaging (iodine-based) A contrast agent containing 300-399 mg/ml of iodine used to enhance imaging studies. It is administered per milliliter to improve the visibility of internal structures. |
12,840 | $0 | $1 |
| 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. |
739 | $83 | $325 |
| Ultrasound of hemodialysis access An ultrasound imaging test used to evaluate the blood flow and structure of a hemodialysis access site. |
299 | $131 | $803 |
| Ultrasound of leg arteries or grafts An imaging test that uses sound waves to create pictures of the blood vessels in the legs or any surgical grafts present. |
267 | $246 | $1,031 |
| Ultrasound of arm and leg arteries This procedure uses sound waves to create images of the blood vessels in the arms and legs. It allows healthcare providers to examine the structure and blood flow within these arteries. |
194 | $72 | $442 |
| Ultrasound of arm or leg veins An ultrasound exam of the veins in the arm or leg. The test uses sound waves to check blood flow and may include compression and other maneuvers. |
114 | $185 | $776 |
| Hemodialysis circuit intervention with balloon dilation A procedure to insert a needle or tube into a hemodialysis circuit and dilate the dialysis segment using a balloon, with radiological review. |
109 | $887 | $4,839 |
| Radiologist review of arm or leg artery image A radiologist reviews images of the arteries in the arm or leg. This process involves analyzing the visual data to assess the blood vessels. |
105 | $148 | $628 |
| Arterial puncture or catheterization, arm or leg Insertion of a needle or tube into an artery in the arm or leg. This procedure is used to access the arterial system for diagnostic or therapeutic purposes. |
93 | $275 | $1,753 |
| Ultrasound of arm or leg veins An ultrasound exam of the veins in one arm or leg using compression and other maneuvers to assess blood flow and check for blockages. |
90 | $127 | $475 |
| 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. |
88 | $107 | $397 |
| Ultrasound guidance for blood vessel access Use of ultrasound imaging to help locate and access a blood vessel. This guidance assists healthcare providers in performing procedures such as inserting IV lines or drawing blood. |
86 | $41 | $122 |
| Balloon dilation of artery, initial vessel A procedure to widen a narrowed artery using a balloon catheter, with radiologist review of the initial vessel treated. |
85 | $1,753 | $8,156 |
| Balloon dilation of dialysis access with radiologist review A minimally invasive procedure to widen a narrowed section of a dialysis access vessel using a balloon catheter. The procedure includes review by a radiologist to ensure proper placement and effectiveness. |
57 | $627 | $2,893 |
| Radiofrequency vein destruction, first vein A procedure to treat the first incompetent vein in the arm or leg using radiofrequency energy and imaging guidance. |
56 | $1,138 | $6,350 |
| Cefazolin sodium injection, 500 mg An injection of 500 mg of cefazolin sodium, an antibiotic medication, administered into the body. |
42 | $1 | $48 |
| Radiologist review of arm or leg artery images A radiologist reviews images of the arteries in one or both arms or legs to assess blood flow and vessel health. |
37 | $157 | $304 |
| Ultrasound of head and neck blood flow, bilateral An ultrasound exam that uses sound waves to visualize and assess blood flow in the vessels of both the head and the neck. |
36 | $176 | $801 |
| Radiologist review of abdominal aorta image A radiologist reviews images of the abdominal aorta to evaluate the blood vessel. |
30 | $121 | $192 |
| Artery plaque removal and stent insertion in leg This procedure involves removing plaque buildup from leg arteries and placing stents to keep the blood vessels open. |
23 | $11,975 | $55,511 |
| Arm vein relocation with artery connection for hemodialysis A surgical procedure to move a vein in the arm and connect it to an artery to create access for hemodialysis. |
22 | $538 | $2,275 |
| Hemodialysis circuit clot removal and vessel dilation This procedure involves removing or dissolving a blood clot within the hemodialysis circuit and using a balloon to widen the dialysis access segment, with imaging review by a radiologist. |
22 | $2,350 | $8,987 |
| Pre-op ultrasound of artery and vein blood flow for hemodialysis access An ultrasound exam to assess blood flow in the arteries and veins on both sides of the body before surgery for hemodialysis access. |
18 | $255 | $815 |
| Radiologist review of additional artery image A radiologist reviews an additional image of an artery. This step involves professional interpretation of the imaging data. |
14 | $98 | $250 |
| 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. |
14 | $123 | $460 |
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.
0.7% high complexity
91.7% medium
7.5% routine
Industry Payment Transparency
Open Payments through 2024 ↗$6,066
Total received (2018-2024)
Avg $867/year across 7 years
Top 33% in CA for surgery
A higher payment rank reflects disclosed industry relationships (consulting, research, speaking) common among subspecialists — not wrongdoing.
19
Companies
143
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
$6,066 (100.0%)
Payment trend by year
Annual totals from pharmaceutical and medical device companies.
2024
$462
2023
$776
2022
$881
2021
$1,370
2020
$374
2019
$902
2018
$1,301
Payments by company (2024)
Consulting
Speaking
Meals & Travel
Research
Philips North America LLC
$228
Medtronic, Inc.
$203
Terumo Medical Corporation
$30
Top 3 companies account for 100.0% of 2024 payments
All-time payments by company (2018-2024) ›
Medtronic, Inc.
$1,633
Philips Electronics North America Corporation
$1,138
Medtronic Vascular, Inc.
$770
Boston Scientific Corporation
$519
AngioDynamics, Inc.
$377
Cardiovascular Systems Inc.
$325
Shockwave Medical, Inc
$315
W. L. Gore & Associates, Inc.
$236
Philips North America LLC
$228
Janssen Pharmaceuticals, Inc
$116
Ra Medical Systems, Inc.
$91
Caldera Medical, Inc
$85
Abbott Laboratories
$70
Terumo Medical Corporation
$57
ASAHI INTECC USA, INC.
$27
Mallinckrodt Hospital Products Inc.
$21
Cook Medical LLC
$21
Mallinckrodt Enterprises LLC
$19
BARD PERIPHERAL VASCULAR, INC.
$18
Top 3 companies account for 58.4% of all-time payments
Associated products mentioned in payments ›
(0888) PV 018 OTW · (4067) Tack Endo Sys BTK · (6577) Visions 014 · (6578) Visions 018 · (9281) Turbo Elite · (9283) Stellarex Long · (9284) Stellarex · (AZ7) Lasers · (BR5) Peripheral IVUS · ANGIOJET · ASAHI PTCA Guide Wire · AngioVac · Auryon Laser System 100-120 Vac · C3 Delivery System · COOK MEDICAL INTRODUCERS · COYOTE · ClosureFast · DABRA · DABRA laser system · Desara · ELUVIA · ENDURANT IIS · EPIC VASCULAR · EXCLUDER AAA Endoprosthesis · EXCLUDER Iliac Branch Endoprosthesis · Ellipsys · Endurant · GENERAL VASCULAR INTERVENTION · Glidesheath · HAWKONE · Hi-Torque Command guide wire · IGT_D Peripheral · IN.PACT ADMIRAL · IN.PACT Admiral · INNOVA · Image Guided Therapy Devices _ Peripheral · JETSTREAM · OFIRMEV · Peripheral Orbital Atherectomy System · Ranger · Resolute · SHOCKWAVE IVL SYSTEM WITH THE SHOCKWAVE C2 CORONARY IVL CATHETER · Services and Other · Stellarex Long · Supera peripheral stent system · Trilogy 100 · Turbo Elite · TurboHawk · VENASEAL · VIABAHN Endoprosthesis with Heparin Bioactive Surface · VIABAHN Endoprosthesis with PROPATEN Bioactive Surface · Vascular Lithotripsy · VenaSeal · XARELTO
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
Surgerists within 10 mi
273
Per 100K population
23.5
County median income
$125,727
Nearest hospital
JOHN MUIR MEDICAL CENTER - WALNUT CREEK CAMPUS
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. Otero is a mixed practice specialist, with above-average Medicare volume (top 0% in CA), 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. Otero experienced with contrast dye for imaging (iodine-based)?
Based on Medicare claims data, Dr. Otero performed 12,840 contrast dye for imaging (iodine-based) 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. Otero receive payments from pharmaceutical companies?
Yes. Dr. Otero received a total of $6,066 from 19 companies across 143 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. Otero's costs compare to other surgerists in Walnut Creek?
Dr. Otero's average Medicare payment per service is $63. 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. Otero) 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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