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. Allen Tafel, M.D.
Pain Medicine (Physical Medicine & Rehabilitation) Physician · Fort Myers, FL
Practice pattern: Clinical Cardiology
— Primarily office-based clinical cardiology
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. Tafel 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. Tafel?
Request a correction or review of any data shown here. Provider portal →
What this data tells you about Dr. Tafel
Dr. Allen Tafel is a pain medicine physician in Fort Myers, FL, with 20 years of NPI registration. Based on federal Medicare data, Dr. Tafel performed 6,739 Medicare services across 3,899 unique beneficiaries.
Between the years covered by Open Payments, Dr. Tafel received a total of $314 from 6 pharmaceutical and/or device companies across 6 individual payments. These payments are legal, publicly disclosed under the federal Sunshine Act, and common in pain medicine (physical medicine & rehabilitation) physician. 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. Tafel 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.
✓ 20 years in practice
▲ Top 9% volume in FL
$314 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 | 75301 | Clear | January 31, 2028 | ⚠ |
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 ↗6,739
Medicare services
Top 9% in FL for pain medicine (physical medicine & rehabilitation) physician
3,899
Unique beneficiaries
$63
Avg. Medicare payment
Medicare patients only (65+ / disabled) · Not a quality rating · How to read this →
~337 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Dexamethasone injection (steroid) An injection of dexamethasone sodium phosphate, a corticosteroid medication, administered in a dose of 1 milligram. |
2,014 | $0 | $1 |
| 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. |
843 | $98 | $203 |
| 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. |
776 | $69 | $143 |
| Methylprednisolone acetate injection, 80 mg An injection of 80 mg of methylprednisolone acetate, a corticosteroid medication. |
432 | $9 | $17 |
| X-ray of lower and sacral spine, minimum of 4 views An X-ray imaging test of the lower back and sacrum using at least four different angles to visualize the bones and joints. |
329 | $40 | $80 |
| 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. |
324 | $23 | $45 |
| 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. |
268 | $126 | $267 |
| Electromyography of arm or leg muscles A test that measures the electrical activity in the muscles of the arm or leg using a needle electrode. It helps evaluate the health of muscles and the nerve cells that control them. |
258 | $78 | $337 |
| Injection into lower spine canal with imaging guidance A procedure where a substance is injected into the lower part of the spinal canal. The injection is performed using imaging guidance to ensure accurate placement. |
247 | $208 | $419 |
| 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. |
169 | $87 | $177 |
| Sacral spine nerve root injection with imaging guidance An injection of anesthetic and/or steroid medication into a sacral spine nerve root. The procedure uses imaging guidance to ensure accurate placement. |
145 | $225 | $601 |
| Nerve conduction studies, 7-8 tests A series of 7 to 8 nerve conduction tests to evaluate how well nerves are sending signals to muscles. |
101 | $141 | $295 |
| MRI of lower spine, without contrast A magnetic resonance imaging scan of the lower spinal canal that does not use contrast dye to create detailed images of the spine. |
100 | $105 | $347 |
| X-ray of upper spine, 4-5 views An X-ray imaging test of the upper spine using 4 to 5 different views to visualize the bones and structures in that area. |
84 | $43 | $84 |
| Spinal injection with imaging guidance A procedure where medication is injected into the middle or upper part of the spinal canal. Imaging technology is used to guide the needle to the correct location. |
77 | $207 | $435 |
| Spine facet joint injection with imaging guidance, single level An injection is administered into a single facet joint of the lower or sacral spine while using imaging guidance to ensure accurate placement. |
53 | $202 | $603 |
| Facet joint injection, second level, with imaging guidance An injection into a lower or sacral spine facet joint using imaging guidance for the second level treated. |
53 | $106 | $311 |
| 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. |
40 | $45 | $89 |
| Joint injection, major joint Removal of fluid from a large joint and/or injection of medication into the joint space. |
33 | $52 | $130 |
| Nerve conduction study, 9-10 studies A diagnostic test that measures how well nerves send electrical signals. It involves performing 9 to 10 separate nerve conduction studies to evaluate nerve function. |
32 | $173 | $344 |
| Injection of anesthetic or steroid into sacroiliac joint with imaging guidance This procedure involves injecting an anesthetic or steroid medication into the joint connecting the lower spine and hip bone. Imaging guidance is used to ensure accurate placement of the injection. |
31 | $149 | $657 |
| Nerve conduction studies, 13 or more A diagnostic test that measures how well nerves send electrical signals. This code applies when 13 or more individual nerve studies are performed. |
31 | $230 | $473 |
| Facet joint nerve destruction, single joint A procedure to destroy nerves in a single lower or sacral spinal facet joint using imaging guidance to target pain signals. |
30 | $224 | $1,431 |
| X-ray of middle spine, 2 views An X-ray imaging test that produces two views of the middle section of the spine to visualize the bones and joints. |
30 | $27 | $51 |
| Facet joint nerve destruction, additional joint This procedure uses imaging guidance to destroy nerves in an additional lower or sacral spinal facet joint. |
29 | $69 | $641 |
| Trigger point injection, 1-2 muscles A procedure involving the injection of medication into one or two specific muscles to treat trigger points. |
28 | $41 | $90 |
| Hip joint contrast injection for imaging A contrast dye is injected into the hip joint to enhance visibility during medical imaging procedures. |
27 | $188 | $371 |
| Radiologist review of hip joint image A radiologist examines and interprets an image of the hip joint to assess its condition. |
27 | $107 | $206 |
| 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. |
22 | $31 | $62 |
| Drug test with direct observation A drug screening test performed under direct observation to ensure the sample is provided correctly. This method is used to verify the integrity of the specimen collection process. |
22 | $12 | $23 |
| MRI of upper spine without contrast An MRI scan of the upper spinal canal that does not use contrast dye. This imaging test uses magnetic fields and radio waves to create detailed pictures of the spine. |
21 | $107 | $317 |
| 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. |
20 | $27 | $53 |
| Fluoroscopic guidance for needle placement Use of real-time X-ray imaging to guide the precise placement of a needle during a medical procedure. |
17 | $96 | $193 |
| MRI of lower spine with and without contrast An MRI scan of the lower spinal canal performed both before and after the administration of contrast dye to enhance image detail. |
13 | $183 | $545 |
| Nerve conduction studies, 11-12 A diagnostic test that measures how well nerves send electrical signals. It involves performing 11 to 12 separate nerve conduction studies. |
13 | $202 | $380 |
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 2023 ↗$314
Total received (2020-2023)
Avg $105/year across 3 years
Bottom 18% in FL for pain medicine (physical medicine & rehabilitation) physician
6
Companies
6
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
$230 (73.0%)
Other
Charitable contributions, space rental, and other categories
$85 (27.0%)
Payment trend by year
Annual totals from pharmaceutical and medical device companies.
2023
$99
2021
$104
2020
$111
Payments by company (2023)
Consulting
Speaking
Meals & Travel
Research
Stryker Corporation
$95
Baxter Healthcare
$85
Next Science LLC
$71
Medtronic, Inc.
$33
Daiichi Sankyo Inc.
$16
MEDLINE INDUSTRIES LP
$14
Top 3 companies account for 79.6% of total payments
Associated products mentioned in payments ›
INC. · MEDLINE INDUSTRIES · Mazor X Stealth Edition · SurgX · TRIDENT · Turalio
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 (73%) are for meals and travel — low-value interactions that are common across virtually all practicing physicians.
Equivalent to $5 per 100 Medicare services performed
Geographic Context
Pain medicine physicians within 10 mi
12
Per 100K population
1.5
County median income
$73,099
Nearest hospital
GULF COAST MEDICAL CENTER LEE HEALTH
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 2023 |
| 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. Tafel is a clinical cardiology specialist, with above-average Medicare volume (top 9% in FL), with low-engagement industry engagement, with 20 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. Tafel experienced with dexamethasone injection (steroid)?
Based on Medicare claims data, Dr. Tafel performed 2,014 dexamethasone injection (steroid) 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. Tafel receive payments from pharmaceutical companies?
Yes. Dr. Tafel received a total of $314 from 6 companies across 6 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. Tafel's costs compare to other pain medicine physicians in Fort Myers?
Dr. Tafel'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. Tafel) 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
Pain Medicine Physicians in Fort Myers
Browse pain medicine physicians in Fort Myers ranked by procedure volume and transparency data.
Highest volume
Top Pain Medicine Physicians in FL
Pain medicine physicians ranked by total Medicare services performed statewide.
Industry payments
Pharma Payments to Pain Medicine Physicians in FL
Which FL pain medicine physicians receive the most from drug and device companies.
By company
Stryker Corporation Payments to Doctors
See all physicians who received payments from Stryker Corporation.
By company
Baxter Healthcare Payments to Doctors
See all physicians who received payments from Baxter Healthcare.
By company
Next Science LLC Payments to Doctors
See all physicians who received payments from Next Science LLC.
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