Dr. Paul Hellstern, M.D.
What this data tells you about Dr. Hellstern
Dr. Paul Hellstern is a gastroenterology in Crystal River, FL, with 19 years in practice. Based on federal Medicare data, Dr. Hellstern performed 3,971 Medicare services across 2,842 unique beneficiaries.
Between the years covered by Open Payments, Dr. Hellstern received a total of $2,742 from 27 pharmaceutical and/or device companies across 176 individual payments. These payments are legal, publicly disclosed under the federal Sunshine Act, and common in gastroenterology. 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. Hellstern 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.
Medicare Practice Summary
Medicare Utilization ↗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) | 1,097 | $62 | $145 |
| Tissue pathology examination, moderate complexity | 704 | $53 | $171 |
| Special stained specimen slides to examine tissue including interpretation and report | 247 | $63 | $171 |
| Upper GI endoscopy with biopsy | 205 | $94 | $312 |
| New patient office visit (30-44 min) | 192 | $72 | $200 |
| Hospital follow-up visit, high complexity | 186 | $95 | $150 |
| Special stained specimen slides to identify organisms including interpretation and report | 156 | $87 | $171 |
| Removal of polyps or growths of large bowel using an endoscope with mechanical snare | 155 | $211 | $500 |
| Microscopic genetic analysis of tumor, manual | 144 | $92 | $171 |
| Initial hospital admission, high complexity | 120 | $138 | $250 |
| Office visit, established patient (30-39 min) | 93 | $96 | $170 |
| Complete ultrasound scan of abdomen | 84 | $80 | $242 |
| Tissue staining for diagnosis, initial | 83 | $78 | $171 |
| Colonoscopy with biopsy | 80 | $112 | $536 |
| Diagnostic exam of esophagus, stomach, and/or upper small bowel using a flexible endoscope | 78 | $84 | $300 |
| Ultrasound scan of organ tissue for measuring elasticity | 68 | $78 | $150 |
| Insertion of guide wire with dilation of esophagus using a flexible endoscope | 59 | $128 | $350 |
| Colorectal cancer screening; colonoscopy on individual at high risk | 58 | $174 | $550 |
| New patient office visit (45-59 min) | 56 | $128 | $250 |
| Diagnostic exam of large bowel using a flexible endoscope | 43 | $130 | $350 |
| Colorectal cancer screening; colonoscopy on individual not meeting criteria for high risk | 33 | $180 | $550 |
| Measurement of hydrogen in breath to test for stomach and bowel symptoms | 15 | $57 | $159 |
| Office or other outpatient visit for the evaluation and management of established patient that may not require presence of healthcare professional | 15 | $16 | $45 |
Industry Payment Transparency
Open Payments through 2024 ↗Payment profile
Industry payments classified by relationship type. Not all payments are equal — research and consulting reflect different relationships than speaking programs or meals.
Payment trend by year
Annual totals from pharmaceutical and medical device companies.
Payments by company (2024)
Associated products mentioned in payments ›
Most payments (98%) are for meals and travel — low-value interactions that are common across virtually all practicing physicians.
Geographic Context
6.6 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. Hellstern is a clinical cardiology specialist, with above-average Medicare volume (top 6% in FL), and low-engagement industry engagement, with 19 years of practice experience.
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. Hellstern experienced with office visit, established patient (20-29 min)?
Does Dr. Hellstern receive payments from pharmaceutical companies?
How do Dr. Hellstern's costs compare to other gastroenterologys in Crystal River?
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Is this data up to date?
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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.
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