Medicare Enrolled
Dr. Richard Hong, M.D.
Radiation Oncology · 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. Hong 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. Hong?
Request a correction or review of any data shown here. Provider portal →
What this data tells you about Dr. Hong
Dr. Richard Hong is a radiation oncology specialist in Walnut Creek, CA, with 17 years of NPI registration. Based on federal Medicare data, Dr. Hong performed 2,534 Medicare services across 2,245 unique beneficiaries.
Between the years covered by Open Payments, Dr. Hong received a total of $8,596 from 17 pharmaceutical and/or device companies across 93 individual payments. These payments are legal, publicly disclosed under the federal Sunshine Act, and common in radiation oncology. 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. Hong 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.
✓ 17 years in practice
▲ Top 49% volume in CA
$8,596 industry payments
Medicare Practice Summary
Medicare Utilization ↗2,534
Medicare services
Top 49% in CA for radiation oncology
2,245
Unique beneficiaries
$31
Avg. Medicare payment
Medicare patients only (65+ / disabled) · How to read this →
~149 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Chest X-ray, 1 view An X-ray image of the chest taken from a single angle. This imaging test is used to visualize the structures within the chest cavity. |
939 | $8 | $35 |
| Sedation by physician, initial 15 minutes Administration of a drug to induce depression of consciousness by the physician performing a procedure. This code covers the initial 15 minutes of sedation for patients aged 5 years or older. |
161 | $11 | $150 |
| CT scan of head/brain, without contrast A CT scan uses X-rays to create detailed images of the head or brain without the use of contrast dye. |
142 | $37 | $253 |
| 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. |
123 | $12 | $63 |
| CT scan of abdomen and pelvis with contrast A CT scan that uses dye to create detailed images of the abdomen and pelvis. This imaging test helps doctors examine internal organs and structures in these areas. |
104 | $79 | $598 |
| Fluoroscopic guidance for central vein access device Use of live X-ray imaging to guide the placement or removal of a central vein access device. |
82 | $16 | $140 |
| 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. |
72 | $30 | $225 |
| CT scan of chest, without contrast A computed tomography scan of the chest area that uses X-rays to create detailed images without the use of contrast dye. |
62 | $46 | $282 |
| 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. |
58 | $19 | $180 |
| CT scan of chest blood vessels with contrast A CT scan that uses contrast dye to create detailed images of the blood vessels in the chest. |
56 | $75 | $403 |
| CT scan of abdomen and pelvis, without contrast A computed tomography scan that creates detailed images of the abdominal and pelvic organs. The procedure is performed without the use of intravenous contrast dye. |
55 | $76 | $564 |
| Insertion of tunneled central venous catheter for infusion, age 5+ A surgical procedure to place a long-term catheter into a large vein for delivering medications or fluids. The catheter is tunneled under the skin to reduce infection risk and provide stable access for patients aged 5 and older. |
48 | $226 | $1,350 |
| Swallowing function imaging Imaging used to evaluate how well a person can swallow. This procedure visualizes the swallowing process to assess function. |
42 | $23 | $120 |
| Complete ultrasound of retroperitoneum An ultrasound examination of the structures located behind the abdominal cavity. |
37 | $32 | $177 |
| Complete ultrasound of abdomen A diagnostic imaging test that uses sound waves to create detailed pictures of the organs and structures within the abdomen. |
33 | $33 | $182 |
| Hip X-ray, 2-3 views An X-ray imaging test of the hip joint using two to three different angles to visualize the bones and surrounding structures. |
32 | $10 | $42 |
| Knee X-ray, 3 views An X-ray imaging test of the knee joint that captures three different angles to evaluate the bones and surrounding structures. |
32 | $8 | $43 |
| Knee X-ray, 1-2 views An X-ray imaging test of the knee joint using one to two different angles to visualize the bones and surrounding structures. |
29 | $7 | $39 |
| Chest X-ray, 2 views An X-ray imaging test of the chest that captures two different angles to visualize the lungs, heart, and chest wall. |
26 | $10 | $40 |
| Abdominal X-ray, 2 views An X-ray imaging test of the abdomen using two different angles to visualize internal structures. |
26 | $10 | $45 |
| Limited abdominal ultrasound A focused ultrasound examination of the abdomen to evaluate specific organs or areas. This procedure uses sound waves to create images of internal structures. |
26 | $26 | $131 |
| Core needle biopsy of lung or mediastinum A procedure to remove a small tissue sample from the lung or the space between the lungs using a needle inserted through the skin. |
25 | $134 | $550 |
| CT scan of chest with contrast A computed tomography scan of the chest using a contrast dye to enhance the visibility of internal structures. |
25 | $49 | $299 |
| X-ray of thigh bone, minimum 2 views An X-ray imaging test of the thigh bone using at least two different angles to visualize the bone structure. |
23 | $8 | $37 |
| Radiologist review of CT-guided needle placement A radiologist reviews the CT imaging used to guide the placement of a needle. |
23 | $63 | $288 |
| Pelvis X-ray, 1-2 views An X-ray imaging test of the pelvic area using one to two different angles to visualize the bones and joints. |
22 | $8 | $43 |
| Insertion of non-tunneled central venous catheter A procedure to place a central venous catheter for infusion in patients aged 5 years or older. The catheter is inserted directly into a large vein without being tunneled under the skin. |
18 | $73 | $550 |
| Lumbar puncture with imaging guidance A procedure to remove spinal fluid from the lower back for diagnostic testing, performed using imaging guidance. |
18 | $77 | $300 |
| Chest fluid aspiration with imaging guidance This procedure involves removing fluid from the chest cavity using imaging technology to guide the needle placement. |
17 | $91 | $1,225 |
| Limited ultrasound of joint or extremity A focused ultrasound exam of a specific joint or other structure in the arm or leg, excluding blood vessels. |
16 | $28 | $66 |
| Ultrasound guidance for needle placement Use of ultrasound imaging to guide the precise placement of a needle during a medical procedure. |
16 | $27 | $145 |
| Double contrast esophagram An X-ray of the esophagus using two types of contrast material to create detailed images of the upper digestive tract. |
15 | $30 | $125 |
| 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. |
15 | $34 | $284 |
| CT scan of leg, without contrast A computed tomography scan of the leg performed without the use of contrast dye. This imaging test uses X-rays to create detailed cross-sectional images of the leg's internal structures. |
14 | $43 | $224 |
| Abdominal X-ray, 1 view An X-ray image of the abdomen taken from a single angle to visualize internal structures. |
14 | $8 | $35 |
| Chest fluid drainage with tube insertion using imaging guidance This procedure removes fluid from the chest cavity and places a tube to stay in place for ongoing drainage. Imaging guidance is used to help position the tube accurately. |
13 | $121 | $2,000 |
| Central venous port insertion A surgical procedure to place a small reservoir under the skin for long-term access to the bloodstream. The device is connected to a vein to allow for repeated medication administration or blood draws. |
13 | $297 | $2,550 |
| 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. |
13 | $8 | $43 |
| CT scan of abdominal and pelvic blood vessels with contrast A computed tomography scan that uses contrast dye to visualize the blood vessels in the abdomen and pelvis. |
13 | $88 | $342 |
| Injection of radioactive material for lymph node identification A radioactive substance is injected to help locate lymph nodes during imaging procedures. |
12 | $28 | $630 |
| Kidney tube placement with imaging guidance A tube is placed into the kidney using imaging guidance. A radiologist reviews the procedure. |
12 | $204 | $2,200 |
| X-ray of lower and sacral spine, 2-3 views An X-ray imaging test that captures 2 to 3 views of the lower back and sacral spine to visualize the bones and joints in this area. |
12 | $9 | $51 |
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.
2.6% high complexity
39.7% medium
57.7% routine
Industry Payment Transparency
Open Payments through 2024 ↗$8,596
Total received (2018-2024)
Avg $1,228/year across 7 years
Top 9% in CA for radiation oncology
A higher payment rank reflects disclosed industry relationships (consulting, research, speaking) common among subspecialists — not wrongdoing.
17
Companies
93
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
$7,526 (87.6%)
Consulting
Expert advisory fees, typically reflecting recognized clinical expertise
$1,070 (12.4%)
Payment trend by year
Annual totals from pharmaceutical and medical device companies.
2024
$1,701
2023
$528
2022
$2,315
2021
$294
2020
$233
2019
$2,695
2018
$832
Payments by company (2024)
Consulting
Speaking
Meals & Travel
Research
Boston Scientific Corporation
$1,070
Inari Medical, Inc.
$346
Bard Peripheral Vascular, Inc.
$150
Penumbra, Inc.
$68
TriSalus Life Sciences, Inc.
$28
CORDIS US CORP.
$22
Cook Medical LLC
$17
Top 3 companies account for 92.1% of 2024 payments
All-time payments by company (2018-2024) ›
Penumbra, Inc.
$2,368
Boston Scientific Corporation
$2,024
Terumo Medical Corporation
$1,689
Biocompatibles, Inc.
$947
Inari Medical, Inc.
$366
Stryker Corporation
$278
Medical Device Business Services, Inc.
$222
AngioDynamics, Inc.
$167
Bard Peripheral Vascular, Inc.
$150
BOSTON SCIENTIFIC CORPORATION
$104
Progenics Pharmaceuticals, Inc.
$100
Medtronic USA, Inc.
$53
CORDIS US CORP.
$47
TriSalus Life Sciences, Inc.
$28
AstraZeneca Pharmaceuticals LP
$18
Cook Medical LLC
$17
Abbott Laboratories
$17
Top 3 companies account for 70.7% of all-time payments
Associated products mentioned in payments ›
AngioSeal · Axium · BRILINTA · BRITE TIP RADIANZ · CATALYST · CERTUS 140 MICROWAVE ABLATION SYSTEM · EMBOLD Fibered · FLOWTRIEVER CATHETER · GENERAL - ANGIOGRAPHY · GENERAL - EMBOLICS · Indigo · Indigo System · KYPHON Balloon Kyphoplasty · MYNX CONTROL · Navicross · OBSIDIO · Optitorque · PYLARIFY · Penumbra System · Perclose ProGlide suture mediated closure system · Pipeline · ROSEN · S · SPINEJACK · THERASPHERE - BIO · THERASPHERE-BIO · TR Band · TRINAV INFUSION SYSTEM · TRUSELECT · TheraSphere Y90 Glass Microspheres 10 GBq · TheraSphere Y90 Glass Microspheres 7.0 GBq (US Commercial) · Venovo
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 (88%) are for meals and travel — low-value interactions that are common across virtually all practicing physicians. Total industry engagement is in the top 9% for radiation oncology in CA.
Geographic Context
Radiation oncologists within 10 mi
331
Per 100K population
28.5
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. Hong is a mixed practice specialist, with moderate Medicare volume, with low-engagement industry engagement in the top 9% of CA peers, with 17 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. Hong experienced with chest x-ray, 1 view?
Based on Medicare claims data, Dr. Hong performed 939 chest x-ray, 1 view 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. Hong receive payments from pharmaceutical companies?
Yes. Dr. Hong received a total of $8,596 from 17 companies across 93 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. Hong's costs compare to other radiation oncologists in Walnut Creek?
Dr. Hong's average Medicare payment per service is $31. 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. Hong) 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
Radiation Oncologists in Walnut Creek
Browse radiation oncologists in Walnut Creek ranked by procedure volume and transparency data.
Highest volume
Top Radiation Oncologists in CA
Radiation oncologists ranked by total Medicare services performed statewide.
Industry payments
Pharma Payments to Radiation Oncologists in CA
Which CA radiation oncologists receive the most from drug and device companies.
By company
Penumbra, Inc. Payments to Doctors
See all physicians who received payments from Penumbra, Inc.
By company
Boston Scientific Corporation Payments to Doctors
See all physicians who received payments from Boston Scientific Corporation.
By company
Terumo Medical Corporation Payments to Doctors
See all physicians who received payments from Terumo Medical Corporation.
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