Medicare Enrolled
Dr. Stephen Vara, M.D.
Hematology · North Port, 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. Vara 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. Vara
Dr. Stephen Vara is a hematology specialist in North Port, FL, with 18 years of NPI registration. Based on federal Medicare data, Dr. Vara performed 236,731 Medicare services across 6,448 unique beneficiaries.
Between the years covered by Open Payments, Dr. Vara received a total of $3,193 from 41 pharmaceutical and/or device companies across 168 individual payments. These payments are legal, publicly disclosed under the federal Sunshine Act, and common in hematology. 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. Vara 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 15% volume in FL
$3,193 industry payments
Medicare Practice Summary
Medicare Utilization ↗236,731
Medicare services
Top 15% in FL for hematology
6,448
Unique beneficiaries
$14
Avg. Medicare payment
Medicare patients only (65+ / disabled) · Not a quality rating · How to read this →
~13,152 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Iron sucrose injection (Venofer) An injection of iron sucrose used to replenish iron levels in the body. |
41,000 | $0 | $5 |
| Iron infusion (Feraheme) An injection of ferumoxytol used to treat iron deficiency anemia in patients not on dialysis. |
26,520 | $0 | $4 |
| Pembrolizumab injection (Keytruda) | 21,000 | $43 | $137 |
| Anti-nausea injection (aprepitant) | 19,890 | $1 | $5 |
| Filgrastim injection (Zarxio) for white blood cells An injection of the biosimilar medication filgrastim-sndz (Zarxio) with a dosage of 1 microgram. |
15,540 | $0 | $2 |
| Nivolumab injection (Opdivo) | 11,660 | $24 | $72 |
| Paclitaxel chemotherapy injection | 9,802 | $0 | $2 |
| Denosumab injection (Prolia/Xgeva) | 9,300 | $19 | $51 |
| Oxaliplatin chemotherapy injection This procedure involves the administration of oxaliplatin, a chemotherapy medication, via injection. The dosage specified is 0.5 mg. |
9,250 | $0 | $12 |
| Injection, mepolizumab, 1 mg | 7,500 | $23 | $72 |
| Daratumumab injection (Darzalex) An injection containing daratumumab and hyaluronidase-fihj administered under the skin. |
7,020 | $38 | $110 |
| Injection, atezolizumab, 10 mg | 5,556 | $64 | $196 |
| Epoetin alfa injection (Procrit) for anemia An injection of epoetin alfa containing 1000 units for use in patients not on end-stage renal disease (ESRD) dialysis. |
5,432 | $6 | $23 |
| Injection, durvalumab, 10 mg | 5,288 | $62 | $191 |
| Contrast dye for imaging (iodine-based) A contrast agent containing 300-399 mg/ml of iodine used to enhance imaging studies. It is administered per milliliter to improve the visibility of internal structures. |
4,661 | $0 | $1 |
| Immune globulin infusion (Gammagard) An injection of immune globulin (Gammagard Liquid) to provide antibodies. The dose specified is 500 mg. |
4,118 | $36 | $108 |
| Azacitidine chemotherapy injection An injection of the medication azacitidine, measured at 1 mg per unit. |
3,400 | $0 | $4 |
| Eflapegrastim injection, 0.1 mg An injection of eflapegrastim-xnst administered at a dose of 0.1 mg. |
3,300 | $26 | $116 |
| Dexamethasone injection (steroid) An injection of dexamethasone sodium phosphate, a corticosteroid medication, administered in a dose of 1 milligram. |
3,208 | $0 | $3 |
| Complete blood count (CBC) with differential An automated laboratory test that measures the levels of red blood cells, white blood cells, and platelets in the blood, including a breakdown of the different types of white blood cells. |
2,610 | $8 | $29 |
| Blood draw (venipuncture) Insertion of a needle into a vein to collect a blood sample. |
2,522 | $8 | $9 |
| Anti-nausea injection (Aloxi/palonosetron) | 2,010 | $1 | $28 |
| Bortezomib injection, 0.1 mg Administration of a 0.1 mg dose of bortezomib medication via injection. |
1,610 | $5 | $113 |
| Rituximab-pvvr biosimilar injection, 10 mg An injection of rituximab-pvvr, a biosimilar medication, administered in a 10 mg dose. |
1,583 | $22 | $185 |
| Anti-nausea injection (ondansetron/Zofran) | 1,220 | $0 | $9 |
| Intravenous injection of additional new drug or substance Administration of an additional new medication or substance directly into a vein. |
1,116 | $12 | $61 |
| 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. |
933 | $96 | $339 |
| 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. |
872 | $10 | $69 |
| Injection, leucovorin calcium, per 50 mg | 817 | $3 | $12 |
| Fluorouracil injection, 500 mg Administration of a 500 mg dose of fluorouracil medication via injection. |
657 | $2 | $7 |
| Intravenous chemotherapy infusion, 1 hour or less Administration of chemotherapy medication directly into a vein. The procedure takes one hour or less to complete. |
624 | $96 | $378 |
| Injection, gemcitabine hydrochloride, not otherwise specified, 200 mg | 597 | $3 | $205 |
| Carboplatin chemotherapy injection, 50 mg Administration of a 50 mg dose of carboplatin, a chemotherapy medication, via injection. |
484 | $2 | $41 |
| 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. |
441 | $65 | $239 |
| Intravenous infusion, 1 hour or less Administration of medication or fluid directly into a vein for therapeutic, preventive, or diagnostic purposes. The procedure lasts one hour or less. |
434 | $47 | $189 |
| Cisplatin chemotherapy injection, 10 mg Administration of a 10 mg dose of cisplatin, a chemotherapy medication, via injection. |
373 | $2 | $13 |
| Vitamin B-12 injection An injection of vitamin B-12 (cyanocobalamin) with a dose of up to 1000 mcg. |
335 | $1 | $6 |
| Injection, potassium chloride, per 2 meq | 320 | $0 | $4 |
| Normal saline infusion, 1000 cc Administration of 1000 cc of normal saline solution into a vein. This procedure involves the intravenous delivery of a sterile saltwater solution. |
282 | $2 | $7 |
| Diphenhydramine injection, up to 50 mg An injection of diphenhydramine hydrochloride, an antihistamine medication, administered in a dose of up to 50 milligrams. |
258 | $1 | $3 |
| Office visit for established patient An office visit for an existing patient that may not require the healthcare professional to be present. |
251 | $16 | $59 |
| Additional hour of intravenous hydration This code represents each additional hour of intravenous fluid administration beyond the initial hour. It is used to bill for extended hydration therapy. |
232 | $10 | $42 |
| Additional hour of intravenous infusion This code represents each additional hour of intravenous infusion beyond the initial hour for therapy, prevention, or diagnosis. |
224 | $15 | $56 |
| Magnesium sulfate injection, per 500 mg An injection of magnesium sulfate administered in 500 mg increments. |
213 | $1 | $2 |
| Additional hour of intravenous chemotherapy This code represents the administration of chemotherapy medication into a vein for each additional hour beyond the initial period. |
208 | $21 | $79 |
| Office visit, established patient, complex (40-54 min) An office or outpatient visit for an existing patient lasting between 40 and 54 minutes. This level of service is determined by the total time spent on the date of the encounter. |
161 | $138 | $474 |
| Intravenous infusion of new drug or substance, 1 hour or less This procedure involves administering a new medication or substance directly into a vein through an existing access site. The infusion is completed within one hour or less. |
154 | $48 | $178 |
| Automated red blood cell count An automated laboratory test that measures the number of red blood cells in a blood sample. |
141 | $4 | $10 |
| Intravenous hydration infusion, 31-60 minutes Administration of fluids into a vein to maintain hydration. This procedure involves an infusion lasting between 31 and 60 minutes. |
139 | $24 | $156 |
| Zoledronic acid injection, 1 mg An injection of zoledronic acid administered at a dose of 1 mg. |
132 | $7 | $69 |
| Methylprednisolone injection, up to 40 mg An injection of methylprednisolone sodium succinate, a corticosteroid medication, administered in a dose of up to 40 mg. |
125 | $3 | $11 |
| Non-hormonal chemotherapy injection This procedure involves administering non-hormonal anti-neoplastic chemotherapy medication via injection into the skin or muscle tissue. |
106 | $53 | $206 |
| Additional sequential IV infusion, 1 hour or less This code represents an additional intravenous infusion administered sequentially to a primary infusion. It covers the administration time of one hour or less. |
105 | $22 | $84 |
| Intravenous drug injection A procedure involving the administration of a medication or substance directly into a vein. |
99 | $28 | $156 |
| IV chemotherapy initiation with community continuation Initiation of an intravenous chemotherapy infusion in a clinic using clinic supplies, with continuation of the infusion in a community setting such as home or assisted living. |
80 | $122 | $637 |
| Methylprednisolone injection, up to 125 mg An injection of methylprednisolone sodium succinate, a corticosteroid medication, with a dosage of up to 125 mg. |
70 | $4 | $15 |
| Subcutaneous or intramuscular chemotherapy injection This procedure involves administering anti-cancer hormonal medication through an injection into the tissue under the skin or into a muscle. |
64 | $24 | $89 |
| 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. |
62 | $119 | $453 |
| Normal saline infusion, 500 ml Administration of sterile normal saline solution through an intravenous line. This procedure involves the infusion of a 500 ml unit of the solution. |
59 | $1 | $7 |
| Intravenous push injection of new drug or substance A healthcare provider injects a new medication or substance directly into a vein using a push technique. |
57 | $42 | $170 |
| Initial hospital admission, high complexity Initial hospital inpatient or observation care for a new patient involving high-level medical decision making, with at least 75 minutes total time on the date of the encounter. |
56 | $135 | $556 |
| CT scan of chest with contrast A computed tomography scan of the chest using a contrast dye to enhance the visibility of internal structures. |
50 | $58 | $344 |
| 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. |
50 | $69 | $298 |
| Leuprolide acetate (for depot suspension), 7.5 mg | 49 | $132 | $562 |
| Prothrombin time test (blood clotting) A laboratory test that measures how long it takes for blood to clot. This procedure evaluates the body's coagulation process. |
47 | $4 | $15 |
| Automated urinalysis An automated laboratory test performed on a urine sample to analyze its chemical and physical properties. The procedure uses machinery to detect various substances and cells within the urine. |
38 | $2 | $8 |
| Concurrent intravenous infusion Administration of medication or fluid into a vein for therapy, prevention, or diagnosis while another infusion is being given. |
37 | $15 | $56 |
| CT scan of abdomen and pelvis with contrast A CT scan that uses dye to create detailed images of the abdomen and pelvis. This imaging test helps doctors examine internal organs and structures in these areas. |
34 | $174 | $550 |
| Venipuncture for blood collection A procedure to draw blood from a vein for medical testing or analysis. |
33 | $65 | $277 |
| New patient office visit, complex (60-74 min) | 32 | $173 | $585 |
| Hospital follow-up visit, moderate complexity Follow-up hospital visit for an existing patient involving moderate medical decision making. The visit requires at least 35 minutes of time spent on the date of service. |
23 | $63 | $197 |
| Transitional care management services, moderate complexity Services provided to coordinate care during the transition from an inpatient or other facility setting back to the community. This includes follow-up and management of a health problem of at least moderate complexity. |
16 | $158 | $533 |
| Transitional care management, high complexity Coordination of care for a patient transitioning from a short-term hospital stay or other facility to home or another care setting. This service addresses a high-complexity medical problem. |
15 | $203 | $722 |
| Fluorodeoxyglucose f-18 fdg, diagnostic, per study dose, up to 45 millicuries | 14 | $401 | $680 |
| Nuclear medicine scan from skull base to mid-thigh with CT A nuclear medicine imaging study covering the area from the base of the skull to the middle of the thighs, performed alongside a CT scan. |
12 | $1,098 | $3,706 |
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.
13.8% high complexity
82.9% medium
3.3% routine
Industry Payment Transparency
Open Payments through 2024 ↗$3,193
Total received (2018-2024)
Avg $532/year across 6 years
Bottom 32% in FL for hematology
41
Companies
168
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
$3,133 (98.1%)
Speaking / Promotional
Speaker programs, honoraria, and industry-sponsored educational events
$60 (1.9%)
Payment trend by year
Annual totals from pharmaceutical and medical device companies.
2024
$755
2023
$703
2022
$1,283
2021
$203
2019
$53
2018
$195
Payments by company (2024)
Consulting
Speaking
Meals & Travel
Research
E.R. Squibb & Sons, L.L.C.
$306
PFIZER INC.
$297
Janssen Biotech, Inc.
$233
Daiichi Sankyo Inc.
$233
Genentech USA, Inc.
$231
Celgene Corporation
$194
Merck Sharp & Dohme LLC
$192
Novartis Pharmaceuticals Corporation
$191
Gilead Sciences, Inc.
$172
Seagen Inc.
$149
ARRAY BIOPHARMA INC
$110
Exelixis Inc.
$106
Takeda Pharmaceuticals U.S.A., Inc.
$49
Myovant Sciences Inc.
$48
JAZZ PHARMACEUTICALS INC.
$48
Incyte Corporation
$43
ABBVIE INC.
$42
AbbVie Inc.
$40
Regeneron Healthcare Solutions, Inc.
$36
ADC Therapeutics America, Inc.
$35
Merck Sharp & Dohme Corporation
$33
PharmaEssentia USA Corporation
$33
Amgen Inc.
$26
BeiGene USA, Inc.
$25
Rigel Pharmaceuticals, Inc.
$25
Telix Pharmaceuticals
$25
Eisai Inc.
$23
GENZYME CORPORATION
$22
GE HealthCare
$22
Deciphera Pharmaceuticals Inc.
$22
Kite Pharma, Inc.
$22
AstraZeneca Pharmaceuticals LP
$17
MorphoSys, US Inc.
$17
Karyopharm Therapeutics Inc.
$17
AbbVie, Inc.
$17
Seattle Genetics, Inc.
$17
Janssen Pharmaceuticals, Inc
$17
Apellis Pharmaceuticals, Inc.
$16
EISAI INC.
$16
Lilly USA, LLC
$14
Astellas Pharma US Inc
$12
Top 3 companies account for 26.2% of total payments
Associated products mentioned in payments ›
ADCETRIS · Alecensa · Avastin · BAVENCIO · BESREMI · BOSULIF · BRAFTOVI · BRUKINSA · CABOMETYX · CALQUENCE · Cabometyx · Columvi · DARZALEX · ENHERTU · ENJAYMO · ERLEADA · Empaveli · Enhertu · FRUZAQLA · GAZYVA · IBRANCE · ILLUCCIX · IMBRUVICA · JAKAFI · KEYTRUDA · KISQALI · Kyprolis · LIBTAYO · LORBRENA · Lenvima · MONJUVI · MYLOTARG · NINLARO · Nplate · ONUREG · OPDIVO · OPDUALAG · ORGOVYX · PADCEV · PEMAZYRE · PLUVICTO · Perjeta · Pomalyst · QINLOCK · REBLOZYL · TECVAYLI · TIVDAK · TUKYSA · Tavalisse · Trodelvy · VENCLEXTA · VERZENIO · Venclexta · XALKORI · XARELTO · XPOVIO · XTANDI · ZEPZELCA
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 (98%) are for meals and travel — low-value interactions that are common across virtually all practicing physicians.
Equivalent to $1 per 100 Medicare services performed
Geographic Context
Hematologists within 10 mi
12
Per 100K population
2.7
County median income
$80,633
Nearest hospital
Adventhealth Port Charlotte
8.4 mi
8.4 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. Vara is a mixed practice specialist, with above-average Medicare volume (top 15% 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. Vara experienced with iron sucrose injection (venofer)?
Based on Medicare claims data, Dr. Vara performed 41,000 iron sucrose injection (venofer) 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. Vara receive payments from pharmaceutical companies?
Yes. Dr. Vara received a total of $3,193 from 41 companies across 168 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. Vara's costs compare to other hematologists in North Port?
Dr. Vara's average Medicare payment per service is $14. 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. Vara) 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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