Medicare Enrolled
Dr. Kevin Kessler, MD
Orthopedic Surgery · Ft Lauderdale, 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. Kessler 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 →
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What this data tells you about Dr. Kessler
Dr. Kevin Kessler is an orthopedic surgery specialist in Ft Lauderdale, FL, with 20 years of NPI registration. Based on federal Medicare data, Dr. Kessler performed 11,944 Medicare services across 3,595 unique beneficiaries.
Between the years covered by Open Payments, Dr. Kessler received a total of $7,700 from 38 pharmaceutical and/or device companies across 183 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. Kessler 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 4% volume in FL
$7,700 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Medical Doctor | 60548 | 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 ↗11,944
Medicare services
Top 4% in FL for orthopedic surgery
3,595
Unique beneficiaries
$33
Avg. Medicare payment
Medicare patients only (65+ / disabled) · Not a quality rating · How to read this →
~597 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 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. |
4,534 | $18 | $109 |
| Manual therapy (hands-on treatment), per 15 min | 1,747 | $15 | $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. |
827 | $66 | $203 |
| Steroid injection (triamcinolone) A 10 mg injection of triamcinolone acetonide, a corticosteroid medication. This code specifies the drug and dosage administered. |
792 | $1 | $10 |
| Joint injection, major joint Removal of fluid from a large joint and/or injection of medication into the joint space. |
671 | $54 | $350 |
| Extended-release steroid injection (Zilretta) An injection of triamcinolone acetonide using a preservative-free, extended-release microsphere formulation. The dosage is measured in milligrams. |
610 | $13 | $152 |
| 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. |
483 | $23 | $112 |
| 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. |
351 | $94 | $319 |
| 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. |
234 | $26 | $115 |
| 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. |
227 | $80 | $378 |
| Functional capacity test, per 15 minutes A test or measurement to assess functional capacity. The service is billed for each 15-minute increment. |
223 | $27 | $150 |
| Trigger point injection, 1-2 muscles A procedure involving the injection of medication into one or two specific muscles to treat trigger points. |
190 | $40 | $233 |
| 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. |
175 | $26 | $129 |
| Evaluation for physical therapy, typically 20 minutes | 171 | $77 | $300 |
| Hyaluronan intra-articular injection An injection of hyaluronan or a derivative into a joint to provide lubrication and cushioning. |
73 | $557 | $2,000 |
| Evaluation for physical therapy, typically 30 minutes | 64 | $78 | $350 |
| Ketorolac injection, per 15 mg An injection of ketorolac tromethamine, a nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug, administered in doses measured per 15 mg. |
64 | $0 | $55 |
| Orthovisc intra-articular injection An injection of hyaluronan or its derivative into a joint space to provide lubrication and cushioning. |
60 | $99 | $815 |
| 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. |
59 | $36 | $173 |
| Hyaluronan joint injection, 1 mg An injection of hyaluronan or a derivative into a joint space to supplement joint fluid. |
47 | $10 | $1,060 |
| 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. |
44 | $32 | $150 |
| Tendon or ligament injection A procedure involving the injection of medication into a tendon or ligament. |
42 | $42 | $255 |
| 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. |
41 | $118 | $533 |
| Knee X-ray, 3 views An X-ray imaging test of the knee joint that captures three different angles to evaluate the bones and surrounding structures. |
36 | $32 | $128 |
| Drug injection, under skin or into muscle A procedure involving the administration of a medication or substance via injection into the subcutaneous tissue or muscle. |
27 | $12 | $60 |
| Ultrasound-guided large joint aspiration or injection This procedure uses ultrasound imaging to guide the removal of fluid from or the injection of medication into a large joint. |
23 | $76 | $817 |
| X-ray of shoulder, 1 view An X-ray image of the shoulder joint taken from a single angle. This imaging test is used to visualize the bones and surrounding structures of the shoulder. |
22 | $18 | $103 |
| Total knee replacement | 20 | $1,091 | $6,131 |
| 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. |
20 | $28 | $140 |
| 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. |
18 | $25 | $127 |
| Walking/gait training therapy, per 15 min A therapy session focused on training walking skills. The service is billed in 15-minute increments. |
18 | $16 | $95 |
| Ankle X-ray, minimum 3 views An X-ray imaging test of the ankle that captures at least three different angles to evaluate the bones and joints. |
17 | $30 | $116 |
| 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. |
14 | $26 | $116 |
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.
0.2% high complexity
21.8% medium
78.1% routine
Industry Payment Transparency
Open Payments through 2024 ↗$7,700
Total received (2018-2024)
Avg $1,100/year across 7 years
Top 43% in FL for orthopedic surgery
38
Companies
183
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
$6,862 (89.1%)
Speaking / Promotional
Speaker programs, honoraria, and industry-sponsored educational events
$838 (10.9%)
Payment trend by year
Annual totals from pharmaceutical and medical device companies.
2024
$1,009
2023
$920
2022
$851
2021
$741
2020
$709
2019
$2,783
2018
$686
Payments by company (2024)
Consulting
Speaking
Meals & Travel
Research
Stryker Corporation
$1,803
Arthrosurface Incorporated
$1,299
DePuy Synthes Sales Inc.
$986
SOUTHERN EDGE ORTHOPAEDICS, INC.
$838
Horizon Therapeutics plc
$596
Smith+Nephew, Inc.
$366
Zimmer Biomet Holdings, Inc.
$295
SI-BONE, Inc.
$180
Nevro Corp.
$132
Bioventus LLC
$129
DJO, LLC
$113
Ferring Pharmaceuticals Inc.
$107
Ethicon US, LLC
$96
Embody, Inc.
$94
Orthofix Medical, Inc.
$75
Horizon Pharma plc
$54
Aroa Biosurgery Incorporated
$49
Zyla Life Sciences
$43
Flexion Therapeutics, Inc.
$42
Abbott Laboratories
$38
Southern Edge Orthopaedics, Inc.
$33
DAVOL INC.
$31
Heron Therapeutics, Inc.
$27
Davol Inc.
$26
ACELL, INC.
$23
VERTEX PHARMACEUTICALS INCORPORATED
$23
Vericel Corporation
$22
Nalu Medical, Inc.
$21
Integra LifeSciences Corporation
$21
Smith & Nephew, Inc.
$20
Wright Medical Technology, Inc.
$19
Amgen Inc.
$18
SANOFI-AVENTIS U.S. LLC
$17
SpineSmith Holdings, LLC
$14
Salix Pharmaceuticals, a division of Bausch Health US, LLC
$14
AstraZeneca Pharmaceuticals LP
$13
Pacira Pharmaceuticals Incorporated
$12
ConvaTec Inc.
$12
Top 3 companies account for 53.1% of total payments
Associated products mentioned in payments ›
ACCOLADE · AQUACEL AG+ EXTRA · ARISTA AH · AXSOS · Acticoat Range · Anthology · Ascend Flex · BILAYER WOUND MATRIX (BWM) · CMF · CMF OL1000 · DUEXIS · DURACON · EBI Bone Healing System · ETERNA · EUFLEXXA · EXPAREL · Exogen · Exogen Ultrasound Bone Healing System · Exparel · FMS · HEALIX · HEALIX KNOTLESS PEEK · HemiCAP Shoulder · JOURNEY II CR · Journey II BCS · MACI · MAKO · MONOVISC · MOTIONSENSE DIGITAL GONIOMETER · MOVANTIK · Nalu Neurostimulation System · ORTHOVISC · PEAK · PENNSAID · Persona · Physio-Stim · Physio-Stim Osteogenesis Stimulator · Proclaim Family of SCS IPGs · Progel · Prolia · RAYOS · REAL INTELLIGENCE · REGENETEN Shoulder · RELISTOR · ROSA-Knee · SPORTPORT · SPRIX · STRATAFIX · SYNVISC-ONE · Senza · Supartz FX Sodium Hyaluronate · TRIATHLON · TRIDENT · TRUESPAN ORTHOCORD · Tricera Handpiece · VIMOVO · VISTASEAL · Zilretta · Zynrelef · iFuse Implant
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 (89%) are for meals and travel — low-value interactions that are common across virtually all practicing physicians.
Equivalent to $64 per 100 Medicare services performed
Geographic Context
Orthopedic surgeons within 10 mi
206
Per 100K population
10.6
County median income
$74,534
Nearest hospital
FORT LAUDERDALE BEHAVIORAL HEALTH CENTER
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. Kessler is a mixed practice specialist, with above-average Medicare volume (top 4% 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. Kessler experienced with physical therapy exercise, per 15 min?
Based on Medicare claims data, Dr. Kessler performed 4,534 physical therapy exercise, per 15 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. Kessler receive payments from pharmaceutical companies?
Yes. Dr. Kessler received a total of $7,700 from 38 companies across 183 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. Kessler's costs compare to other orthopedic surgeons in Ft Lauderdale?
Dr. Kessler's average Medicare payment per service is $33. 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. Kessler) 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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