Medicare Enrolled
Florida Board Action on Record
The Florida Department of Health has flagged this practitioner's license with a board action.
Verify on FL DOH →
Dr. Walter Choung, MD
Orthopedic Surgery · Beverly Hills, FL
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. Choung 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. Choung?
Request a correction or review of any data shown here. Provider portal →
What this data tells you about Dr. Choung
Dr. Walter Choung is an orthopedic surgery specialist in Beverly Hills, FL, with 19 years of NPI registration. Based on federal Medicare data, Dr. Choung performed 23,319 Medicare services across 4,357 unique beneficiaries.
Between the years covered by Open Payments, Dr. Choung received a total of $607 from 18 pharmaceutical and/or device companies across 23 individual payments. These payments are legal, publicly disclosed under the federal Sunshine Act, and common in orthopedic 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. Choung is Very High — reflecting how much public federal data is available about this provider. This is not a quality rating. Patients are encouraged to use this data as one of several factors when choosing a healthcare provider.
✓ 19 years in practice
▲ Top 2% volume in FL
$607 industry payments
Florida License Status
FL DOH · MQA1
Active license
Yes
Board action on record
0
Recent admin complaints
| Profession | License # | Status | Expires | Board Action |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Medical Doctor | 66779 | Clear | January 31, 2027 | ⚠ |
Data from Florida Department of Health Medical Quality Assurance.
License records are public under Chapter 119, Florida Statutes.
Verify directly on FL DOH →
Medicare Practice Summary
Medicare Utilization ↗23,319
Medicare services
Top 2% in FL for orthopedic surgery
4,357
Unique beneficiaries
$31
Avg. Medicare payment
Medicare patients only (65+ / disabled) · Not a quality rating · How to read this →
~1,227 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Joint lubricant injection (Synvisc) | 13,328 | $7 | $24 |
| Joint injection, major joint Removal of fluid from a large joint and/or injection of medication into the joint space. |
1,845 | $49 | $100 |
| 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. |
1,497 | $67 | $185 |
| Injection, methylprednisolone acetate, 40 mg | 1,166 | $6 | $20 |
| 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. |
990 | $94 | $270 |
| 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. |
838 | $26 | $86 |
| X-ray of both knees, standing An X-ray image of both knees taken while the patient is standing to assess bone alignment and joint space under weight-bearing conditions. |
648 | $30 | $85 |
| 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. |
470 | $26 | $60 |
| 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. |
360 | $35 | $130 |
| 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. |
283 | $137 | $365 |
| X-ray of hand, 2 views An X-ray imaging test of the hand using two different angles to visualize the bones and joints. |
206 | $24 | $70 |
| Wrist X-ray, 2 views An X-ray imaging test of the wrist using two different angles to visualize the bones and joints. |
178 | $24 | $60 |
| Joint fluid aspiration or injection, medium joint Removal of fluid from a medium-sized joint or injection of medication into the joint space. |
142 | $41 | $90 |
| X-ray of foot, 2 views An X-ray imaging test of the foot using two different angles to create pictures of the bones and joints. |
132 | $21 | $60 |
| 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. |
124 | $30 | $80 |
| 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. |
116 | $82 | $270 |
| 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. |
108 | $40 | $120 |
| 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. |
86 | $43 | $115 |
| X-ray of ankle, 2 views An X-ray imaging test of the ankle using two different angles to visualize the bones and joints. |
73 | $24 | $75 |
| 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. |
66 | $103 | $350 |
| Joint fluid aspiration or injection, small joint Removal of fluid from a small joint or injection of medication into a small joint. |
59 | $39 | $80 |
| 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. |
55 | $116 | $415 |
| X-ray of both hips, 2 views An X-ray imaging test that captures two views of both hip joints to evaluate bone structure and alignment. |
51 | $29 | $120 |
| Repair of chronic torn shoulder rotator cuff Surgical repair of a long-standing tear in the shoulder's rotator cuff tendons to restore function and reduce pain. |
48 | $691 | $2,474 |
| Partial collarbone removal via endoscope This procedure involves the surgical removal of a portion of the collarbone (clavicle) using an endoscope, a small camera inserted through a tiny incision to guide the surgeon. |
48 | $274 | $1,979 |
| Arthroscopic shoulder surgery for bone shaving and ligament repair A minimally invasive procedure using a small camera to shave part of the shoulder bone and repair a ligament. |
48 | $140 | $495 |
| 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. |
46 | $22 | $60 |
| X-ray of upper spine, 2-3 views An X-ray imaging test of the upper spine using two to three different angles to visualize the bones and structures. |
39 | $30 | $100 |
| Adult short arm fiberglass cast supplies Materials used to apply a short arm cast made of fiberglass for patients aged 11 and older. |
38 | $18 | $100 |
| Total hip replacement Surgical procedure to replace the thigh bone and hip joint with artificial components. |
30 | $1,043 | $4,000 |
| Total knee replacement | 29 | $1,078 | $4,276 |
| Elbow to finger cast application Application of a cast extending from the elbow to the fingers to immobilize the arm. |
29 | $70 | $120 |
| New patient office visit, complex (60-74 min) | 29 | $168 | $525 |
| 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. |
20 | $22 | $75 |
| Total shoulder joint prosthetic repair Surgical replacement of the shoulder joint with a prosthetic device. This procedure involves removing damaged joint components and inserting artificial parts to restore function. |
19 | $1,172 | $4,000 |
| X-ray of upper arm, minimum of 2 views An X-ray imaging test of the upper arm that captures at least two different views to evaluate the bones and surrounding structures. |
18 | $23 | $80 |
| Hand nerve release or relocation A surgical procedure to release or reposition a nerve in the hand. |
15 | $327 | $1,126 |
| Release of nerve using operating microscope | 15 | $144 | $493 |
| Knee arthroscopy with drilling or scraping A minimally invasive procedure using a small camera to examine the knee joint. The surgeon uses instruments to drill or scrape tissue inside the joint. |
14 | $536 | $1,744 |
| Removal of both knee cartilages using an endoscope | 13 | $127 | $1,476 |
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.
0.5% high complexity
70.9% medium
28.6% routine
Industry Payment Transparency
Open Payments through 2024 ↗$607
Total received (2018-2024)
Avg $101/year across 6 years
Bottom 20% in FL for orthopedic surgery
18
Companies
23
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
$607 (100.0%)
Payment trend by year
Annual totals from pharmaceutical and medical device companies.
2024
$48
2023
$40
2021
$82
2020
$65
2019
$130
2018
$241
Payments by company (2024)
Consulting
Speaking
Meals & Travel
Research
Trice Medical, Inc.
$176
ENCORE MEDICAL, LP
$66
Smith+Nephew, Inc.
$52
Dynasplint Systems Inc.
$45
Pacira Therapeutics, Inc.
$30
Wright Medical Technology, Inc.
$29
Pacira Pharmaceuticals Incorporated
$27
Ethicon US, LLC
$26
Heron Therapeutics, Inc.
$24
Amgen Inc.
$20
DePuy Synthes Sales Inc.
$20
Vericel Corporation
$16
Kowa Pharmaceuticals America, Inc.
$14
Sanara MedTech Inc.
$14
Flexion Therapeutics, Inc.
$13
PFIZER INC.
$13
Zyla Life Sciences, Inc.
$12
Bioventus LLC
$11
Top 3 companies account for 48.4% of total payments
Associated products mentioned in payments ›
CellerateRx · DERMABOND PRINEO · DJO Surgical AltiVate Anatomic System · DJO Surgical AltiVate Reverse · Dynasplint · EVENITY · EXPAREL · Exparel · GELSYN 3 · GRAFTJACKET · LYRICA · MACI · MONOVISC · NAVIO · SEGLENTIS · SPRIX · TWINFIX · Zilretta · Zynrelef · mi-eye
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.
Equivalent to $3 per 100 Medicare services performed
Geographic Context
Orthopedic surgeons within 10 mi
7
Per 100K population
4.4
County median income
$55,355
Nearest hospital
TAMPA GENERAL HOSPITAL CRYSTAL RIVER
9.7 mi
9.7 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 measures how much public data is available about a provider — not how good they are. How we calculate this →
Summary
Dr. Choung is a mixed practice specialist, with above-average Medicare volume (top 2% in FL), with low-engagement industry engagement, with 19 years of NPI registration.
This summary is auto-generated from federal data. It describes data availability and patterns — not clinical quality. Read our methodology →
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Dr. Choung experienced with joint lubricant injection (synvisc)?
Based on Medicare claims data, Dr. Choung performed 13,328 joint lubricant injection (synvisc) 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. Choung receive payments from pharmaceutical companies?
Yes. Dr. Choung received a total of $607 from 18 companies across 23 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. Choung's costs compare to other orthopedic surgeons in Beverly Hills?
Dr. Choung'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. Choung) 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
Specialty guide
Understanding Orthopedic Surgery
Common procedures, typical costs, and what industry payments mean in orthopedic surgery.
Same specialty & city
Orthopedic Surgeons in Beverly Hills
Browse orthopedic surgeons in Beverly Hills ranked by procedure volume and transparency data.
Highest volume
Top Orthopedic Surgeons in FL
Orthopedic surgeons ranked by total Medicare services performed statewide.
Industry payments
Pharma Payments to Orthopedic Surgeons in FL
Which FL orthopedic surgeons receive the most from drug and device companies.
By company
Trice Medical, Inc. Payments to Doctors
See all physicians who received payments from Trice Medical, Inc.
By company
ENCORE MEDICAL, LP Payments to Doctors
See all physicians who received payments from ENCORE MEDICAL, LP.
By company
Smith+Nephew, Inc. Payments to Doctors
See all physicians who received payments from Smith+Nephew, 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. The Transparency Score measures 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