Medicare Enrolled
Dr. James Watt, DO
Orthopaedic Hand Surgery Physician · Fort Walton Beach, 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. Watt 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. Watt?
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What this data tells you about Dr. Watt
Dr. James Watt is an orthopaedic hand surgery physician in Fort Walton Beach, FL, with 18 years of NPI registration. Based on federal Medicare data, Dr. Watt performed 6,435 Medicare services across 2,629 unique beneficiaries.
Between the years covered by Open Payments, Dr. Watt received a total of $11,580 from 27 pharmaceutical and/or device companies across 106 individual payments. These payments are legal, publicly disclosed under the federal Sunshine Act, and common in orthopaedic hand surgery 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. Watt 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 12% volume in FL
$11,580 industry payments
Florida License Status
FL DOH · MQA1
Active license
None
Board action on record
0
Recent admin complaints
| Profession | License # | Status | Expires | Board Action |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Osteopathic Physician | 11237 | Clear | March 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 ↗6,435
Medicare services
Top 12% in FL for orthopaedic hand surgery physician
2,629
Unique beneficiaries
$48
Avg. Medicare payment
Medicare patients only (65+ / disabled) · Not a quality rating · How to read this →
~358 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Group therapy session A therapeutic session conducted with multiple patients simultaneously. This code covers the provision of therapy services in a group setting. |
941 | $10 | $57 |
| Neuromuscular re-education therapy, per 15 min A therapy procedure designed to re-educate the functional connection between the brain, nerves, and muscles. It is billed in 15-minute increments. |
821 | $21 | $92 |
| Functional activity therapy A therapy procedure that utilizes functional activities as part of the treatment process. |
767 | $26 | $96 |
| Physical therapy exercise, per 15 min A therapy session using exercises to improve strength, endurance, range of motion, and flexibility. Each 15-minute unit is billed separately. |
623 | $17 | $88 |
| Injection, methylprednisolone acetate, 40 mg | 480 | $6 | $64 |
| 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. |
384 | $65 | $209 |
| X-ray of hand, minimum of 3 views An X-ray imaging test of the hand that captures at least three different angles to visualize the bones and joints. |
292 | $25 | $95 |
| Blood vessel compression device application Application of a device to compress blood vessels. |
289 | $7 | $52 |
| 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. |
207 | $24 | $94 |
| 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. |
174 | $90 | $310 |
| Joint injection, major joint Removal of fluid from a large joint and/or injection of medication into the joint space. |
167 | $44 | $190 |
| Manual therapy (hands-on treatment), per 15 min | 151 | $15 | $83 |
| 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. |
147 | $79 | $314 |
| MRI of arm joint, without contrast An MRI scan uses magnetic fields and radio waves to create detailed images of the arm joint. This specific procedure is performed without the use of a contrast dye. |
123 | $142 | $1,264 |
| Wrist X-ray, minimum 3 views An imaging test using X-rays to capture at least three different angles of the wrist bones and joints. |
120 | $26 | $105 |
| Incision of finger tendon sheath A surgical procedure to cut open the protective covering of a finger tendon. |
90 | $181 | $1,646 |
| 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. |
89 | $39 | $125 |
| Hand nerve release or relocation A surgical procedure to release or reposition a nerve in the hand. |
80 | $311 | $1,304 |
| 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. |
58 | $118 | $485 |
| Tendon or ligament injection A procedure involving the injection of medication into a tendon or ligament. |
53 | $40 | $184 |
| Joint fluid aspiration or injection, medium joint Removal of fluid from a medium-sized joint or injection of medication into the joint space. |
52 | $32 | $176 |
| 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. |
40 | $1,150 | $4,731 |
| Evaluation for physical therapy, typically 30 minutes | 35 | $73 | $221 |
| Ultrasound-guided joint aspiration or injection Removal of fluid from or injection into a medium-sized joint using ultrasound guidance to ensure accurate placement. |
33 | $55 | $243 |
| Removal of tendon growth, finger or hand A procedure to remove a growth from a tendon in the finger or hand. |
28 | $187 | $1,676 |
| Elbow X-ray, minimum 3 views An X-ray imaging test of the elbow joint that captures at least three different angles to visualize the bones and surrounding structures. |
24 | $24 | $102 |
| Evaluation for physical therapy, typically 20 minutes | 24 | $67 | $218 |
| X-ray of finger, minimum of 2 views An X-ray imaging test of a finger using at least two different angles to visualize the bones and surrounding structures. |
22 | $28 | $94 |
| Evaluation for physical therapy, typically 45 minutes | 19 | $67 | $246 |
| Wrist to finger joint removal Surgical removal of the bones forming the joints between the wrist and the fingers. |
17 | $606 | $2,540 |
| Tendon transfer to back of hand A surgical procedure where a tendon is moved to a new location on the back of the hand to restore function. |
16 | $297 | $2,249 |
| Joint fluid aspiration or injection, small joint Removal of fluid from a small joint or injection of medication into a small joint. |
15 | $33 | $162 |
| Palm connective tissue removal and finger release Surgical removal of abnormal connective tissue in the palm to release tension on the first finger. |
14 | $631 | $2,582 |
| Intraoperative ultrasound guidance Use of ultrasound imaging during a surgical procedure to help guide the surgeon's actions. |
14 | $134 | $514 |
| Arthroscopic shoulder debridement A minimally invasive procedure to remove damaged or excess tissue from the shoulder joint using a small camera and instruments inserted through tiny incisions. |
13 | $392 | $2,334 |
| MRI of arm without contrast An MRI scan of the arm that uses magnetic fields and radio waves to create detailed images of internal structures without the use of contrast dye. |
13 | $184 | $1,224 |
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 ↗$11,580
Total received (2018-2024)
Avg $1,654/year across 7 years
Top 23% in FL for orthopaedic hand surgery physician
27
Companies
106
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
$6,044 (52.2%)
Consulting
Expert advisory fees, typically reflecting recognized clinical expertise
$4,336 (37.4%)
Speaking / Promotional
Speaker programs, honoraria, and industry-sponsored educational events
$1,200 (10.4%)
Payment trend by year
Annual totals from pharmaceutical and medical device companies.
2024
$1,307
2023
$1,151
2022
$5,017
2021
$3,557
2020
$65
2019
$160
2018
$322
Payments by company (2024)
Consulting
Speaking
Meals & Travel
Research
Sonex Health, Inc.
$8,620
CGG Medical Inc
$1,200
Zimmer Biomet Holdings, Inc.
$664
Smith+Nephew, Inc.
$188
DJO, LLC
$158
Stryker Corporation
$151
Kuros Biosciences USA, Inc
$117
Orthofix Medical, Inc.
$53
Maxx Health Inc
$46
Kowa Pharmaceuticals America, Inc.
$43
Dynasplint Systems Inc.
$38
Globus Medical, Inc.
$31
Aroa Biosurgery Incorporated
$25
Ensemble Orthopedics, Inc
$24
Skeletal Dynamics LLC
$23
GRT US Holding, Inc.
$21
Flexion Therapeutics, Inc.
$21
DUSA Pharmaceuticals, Inc.
$21
ConvaTec Inc.
$21
Endo Pharmaceuticals Inc.
$20
Bioventus LLC
$18
Mallinckrodt LLC
$16
Vericel Corporation
$15
Ortho Solutions Inc
$13
Sun Pharmaceutical Industries Inc.
$12
Osiris Therapeutics Inc.
$11
TRICE MEDICAL, INC.
$10
Top 3 companies account for 90.5% of total payments
Associated products mentioned in payments ›
AEQUALIS PERFORM · Affixus · Allocate · Arcos · BLU-U Blue Light Photodynamic Therapy Illuminator Model 4170 · Bioinductive Implant with Arthroscopic Delivery System - Medium · CMF · CMF OL1000 · Continuum · DYNASPLINT · Dynasplint · Endoscopy Instrument Systems · Ensemble CMC · Exogen Ultrasound Bone Healing System · Geminus · INNOVAMATRIX AC · MACI · ODOMZO · OFIRMEV · PROVIDENCE · Persona · Physio-Stim · Qutenza · REGENETEN Shoulder · SEGLENTIS · SX-ONE MICROKNIFE · Stravix · Summa Ortho Distal Radius · TRAUMA NAVIGATION SYSTEM · ULTRAGUIDECTR · XIAFLEX · Zilretta
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 (52%) are for meals and travel — low-value interactions that are common across virtually all practicing physicians.
Equivalent to $180 per 100 Medicare services performed
Geographic Context
Orthopaedic hand surgery physicians within 10 mi
1
Per 100K population
0.5
County median income
$79,097
Nearest hospital
HCA FLORIDA FORT WALTON-DESTIN HOSPITAL
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 measures how much public data is available about a provider — not how good they are. How we calculate this →
Summary
Dr. Watt is a mixed practice specialist, with above-average Medicare volume (top 12% 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. Watt experienced with group therapy session?
Based on Medicare claims data, Dr. Watt performed 941 group therapy session 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. Watt receive payments from pharmaceutical companies?
Yes. Dr. Watt received a total of $11,580 from 27 companies across 106 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. Watt's costs compare to other orthopaedic hand surgery physicians in Fort Walton Beach?
Dr. Watt's average Medicare payment per service is $48. 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. Watt) 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 →
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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.
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