Medicare Enrolled

Dr. Faisal Merchant, M.D.

Otolaryngology · Clearwater, FL
Practice pattern: Clinical Cardiology — Primarily office-based clinical cardiology
Low-engagement
1330 S FORT HARRISON AVE, Clearwater, FL 33756
7272160700
In practice since 2007 (18 years)
NPI: 1427276849 verify on NPPES ↗
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. Merchant 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. Merchant? Request a correction or review of any data shown here. Provider portal →

What this data tells you about Dr. Merchant

Dr. Faisal Merchant is an otolaryngology specialist in Clearwater, FL, with 18 years of NPI registration. Based on federal Medicare data, Dr. Merchant performed 4,480 Medicare services across 2,418 unique beneficiaries.

Between the years covered by Open Payments, Dr. Merchant received a total of $995 from 9 pharmaceutical and/or device companies across 20 individual payments. These payments are legal, publicly disclosed under the federal Sunshine Act, and common in otolaryngology. 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. Merchant 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.

✓ 18 years in practice ▲ Top 14% volume in FL $995 industry payments

Medicare Practice Summary

Medicare Utilization ↗
4,480
Medicare services
Top 14% in FL for otolaryngology
2,418
Unique beneficiaries
$49
Avg. Medicare payment
Medicare patients only (65+ / disabled) · Not a quality rating · How to read this →
~249 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 (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.
727 $65 $182
Allergy immunotherapy preparation
A professional service involving the preparation and administration of one or more antigens.
710 $10 $30
Ear wax removal
A procedure to remove impacted ear wax from the ear canal.
432 $34 $97
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.
406 $93 $256
Skin allergy test
A test where small amounts of potential allergens are injected into the skin to check for allergic reactions.
395 $6 $17
Allergy skin test
A diagnostic test performed to identify specific allergies by applying or introducing allergenic extracts to the body. The procedure measures the patient's immune response to various potential allergens.
353 $3 $8
Nasal endoscopy
A diagnostic procedure that uses a thin, lighted tube to examine the inside of the nasal passages.
279 $146 $377
Comprehensive hearing and speech recognition test
A diagnostic evaluation that assesses hearing ability and the capacity to understand spoken words. The test measures how well a patient can detect sounds and recognize speech.
170 $27 $76
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.
159 $74 $226
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.
149 $125 $338
Allergy injection therapy, multiple injections
A professional service involving the administration of multiple allergen injections.
117 $8 $22
Middle ear function test
A diagnostic test used to evaluate how well the middle ear is functioning.
92 $12 $33
Flexible laryngoscopy
A diagnostic exam of the voice box using a flexible endoscope to visualize the larynx.
77 $99 $258
Eardrum and muscle function test
A diagnostic test used to evaluate the function of the eardrum and associated muscles.
59 $17 $45
Ear probe test for repeated sounds
A probe is placed in the ear to measure how the ear responds to repeated sounds. The results are interpreted and a report is provided.
56 $26 $67
CT scan of face, without contrast
A computed tomography scan that creates detailed images of the facial structures. This procedure is performed without the use of intravenous contrast dye.
35 $101 $263
Balance testing with recording
A procedure to evaluate balance function by recording the results during testing.
28 $86 $202
Use of electrodes during balance testing
Application of electrodes to monitor physiological responses during a balance assessment.
28 $8 $20
Test to assess electrical potentials generated in the inner ear as a result of sound stimulation 28 $89 $227
Auditory brainstem response test
A test that measures how the brain responds to sound to help diagnose nervous system disorders. The results are interpreted and reported by a medical professional.
28 $67 $172
Vestibular function test using rotating chair
This test evaluates eye movement and balance function by having the patient sit in a rotating chair. It helps assess how the inner ear and brain coordinate to maintain stability.
25 $80 $192
Functional capacity test, per 15 minutes
A test or measurement to assess functional capacity. The service is billed for each 15-minute increment.
16 $27 $67
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.
14 $15 $113
Impacted earwax removal by physician
Removal of impacted earwax from one or both ears by a physician on the same day as audiologic testing.
14 $41 $106
Eardrum incision with tube insertion
A small cut is made in the eardrum to insert a ventilation tube, performed under local or topical anesthesia.
13 $187 $532
Vestibular function test with thermal irrigation
A test that assesses balance by irrigating both ears with warm and cool fluids to evaluate inner ear function.
13 $32 $74
Vocal cord movement assessment with endoscope
This procedure uses an endoscope to examine the movement of the vocal cords. It allows for the visual assessment of how the vocal cord flaps function.
12 $157 $401
Vestibular function test with thermal irrigation
A test that assesses balance by irrigating both ears with warm or cool water to evaluate inner ear function.
12 $18 $42
Destruction of nasal passage soft tissue
A procedure to destroy abnormal or excess soft tissue within the nasal passages.
11 $87 $442
Voice box function study
A test to evaluate how the voice box is functioning. This procedure assesses the mechanical and physiological performance of the larynx.
11 $55 $162
Voice and resonance analysis
Evaluation of how voice and resonance are produced. This procedure assesses the mechanics of sound generation without specifying a clinical purpose.
11 $78 $222
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 ↗
$995
Total received (2019-2024)
Avg $199/year across 5 years
Bottom 43% in FL for otolaryngology
9
Companies
20
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
$995 (100.0%)

Payment trend by year

Annual totals from pharmaceutical and medical device companies.

2024
$422
2023
$179
2022
$174
2020
$27
2019
$193

Payments by company (2024)

Consulting
Speaking
Meals & Travel
Research
Stryker Corporation
$228
Neurent Medical Limited
$169
GENZYME CORPORATION
$160
Aerin Medical Inc.
$114
Inspire Medical Systems, Inc.
$101
ALK-Abello, Inc
$94
AERIN MEDICAL INC.
$85
Cochlear Americas
$27
Optinose US, Inc.
$17
Top 3 companies account for 55.9% of total payments
Associated products mentioned in payments ›
DUPIXENT · FIAGON NAVIGATION UNIT · INSPIRE · NEUROMARK Device · Nucleus · Odactra · SCOPIS ENT · VIVAER STYLUS · Vivaer RF Stylus · Xhance
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 $22 per 100 Medicare services performed
Looking for an otolaryngology specialist in Clearwater?
Compare otolaryngologists in the Clearwater area by procedure volume, costs, and industry payment transparency.
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Geographic Context

Otolaryngologists within 10 mi
80
Per 100K population
8.3
County median income
$70,293
Nearest hospital
MORTON PLANT HOSPITAL
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 measures how much public data is available about a provider — not how good they are. How we calculate this →

Summary

Dr. Merchant is a clinical cardiology specialist, with above-average Medicare volume (top 14% in FL), with low-engagement industry engagement, with 18 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. Merchant experienced with office visit, established patient (20-29 min)?
Based on Medicare claims data, Dr. Merchant performed 727 office visit, established patient (20-29 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. Merchant receive payments from pharmaceutical companies?
Yes. Dr. Merchant received a total of $995 from 9 companies across 20 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. Merchant's costs compare to other otolaryngologists in Clearwater?
Dr. Merchant's average Medicare payment per service is $49. 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. Merchant) 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 →
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

Data Disclaimer — Data sourced from the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS): National Plan and Provider Enumeration System (NPPES), Open Payments program, Medicare Provider Utilization and Payment Data, and Provider Enrollment & Certification data (PECOS). Published under the Freedom of Information Act (FOIA). This website is not affiliated with, endorsed by, or authorized by CMS, HHS, or the U.S. Government. Data may contain errors as reported to CMS by providers and reporting entities. Payments from industry are legal and do not indicate wrongdoing. Medicare data reflects only patients aged 65+ or those with qualifying disabilities. For corrections, contact CMS directly. This information does not constitute medical advice and should not be used as the sole basis for choosing a healthcare provider. Procedure descriptions use plain language and do not reference CPT® codes, which are copyrighted by the American Medical Association. Full methodology → · Report a data error → · Privacy policy →