Medicare Enrolled
Dr. Christopher Sforzo, M.D.
Orthopaedic Hand Surgery Physician · Sarasota, 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. Sforzo 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. Sforzo
Dr. Christopher Sforzo is an orthopaedic hand surgery physician in Sarasota, FL, with 20 years of NPI registration. Based on federal Medicare data, Dr. Sforzo performed 10,522 Medicare services across 4,669 unique beneficiaries.
Between the years covered by Open Payments, Dr. Sforzo received a total of $6,881 from 26 pharmaceutical and/or device companies across 144 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. Sforzo 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 3% volume in FL
$6,881 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 | 83510 | 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 ↗10,522
Medicare services
Top 3% in FL for orthopaedic hand surgery physician
4,669
Unique beneficiaries
$52
Avg. Medicare payment
Medicare patients only (65+ / disabled) · Not a quality rating · How to read this →
~526 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Steroid injection (triamcinolone) A 10 mg injection of triamcinolone acetonide, a corticosteroid medication. This code specifies the drug and dosage administered. |
3,736 | $1 | $2 |
| Collagenase injection, 0.01 mg An injection of collagenase enzyme to break down collagen tissue. The dose specified is 0.01 milligrams. |
1,530 | $51 | $123 |
| 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. |
1,065 | $94 | $254 |
| 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. |
617 | $26 | $68 |
| 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. |
449 | $111 | $333 |
| 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. |
411 | $82 | $214 |
| X-ray of hand, 2 views An X-ray imaging test of the hand using two different angles to visualize the bones and joints. |
370 | $23 | $61 |
| Tendon or ligament injection A procedure involving the injection of medication into a tendon or ligament. |
335 | $36 | $117 |
| 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. |
281 | $65 | $179 |
| Ultrasound-guided small joint aspiration or injection This procedure involves removing fluid from or injecting medication into a small joint while using ultrasound imaging to guide the needle placement. |
180 | $69 | $182 |
| Methylprednisolone acetate injection, 80 mg An injection of 80 mg of methylprednisolone acetate, a corticosteroid medication. |
176 | $9 | $23 |
| 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. |
167 | $29 | $74 |
| Wrist X-ray, 2 views An X-ray imaging test of the wrist using two different angles to visualize the bones and joints. |
131 | $25 | $66 |
| 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. |
107 | $77 | $224 |
| 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. |
85 | $30 | $80 |
| Ultrasound-guided joint aspiration or injection Removal of fluid from or injection into a medium-sized joint using ultrasound guidance to ensure accurate placement. |
76 | $67 | $182 |
| Elbow X-ray, 2 views An X-ray imaging test of the elbow joint using two different angles to visualize the bones and surrounding structures. |
62 | $21 | $57 |
| 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. |
55 | $45 | $112 |
| Joint fluid aspiration or injection, small joint Removal of fluid from a small joint or injection of medication into a small joint. |
52 | $32 | $107 |
| Limited ultrasound of joint or extremity A focused ultrasound exam of a specific joint or other structure in the arm or leg, excluding blood vessels. |
52 | $31 | $84 |
| Home health plan of care certification Certification by a physician or allowed practitioner for Medicare-covered home health services under a home health plan of care. This includes contacting the home health agency and reviewing reports of patient status required by physicians. |
50 | $41 | $103 |
| Endoscopic release of wrist ligament A minimally invasive procedure using a small camera to cut and release ligaments in the wrist. |
48 | $449 | $1,139 |
| 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. |
46 | $26 | $72 |
| Arthroscopic shoulder surgery for bone shaving and ligament repair A minimally invasive procedure using a small camera to shave part of the shoulder bone and repair a ligament. |
44 | $144 | $1,250 |
| Arthroscopic rotator cuff repair A minimally invasive surgery to repair torn shoulder tendons using a small camera and instruments inserted through tiny incisions. |
43 | $872 | $2,206 |
| 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. |
42 | $1,199 | $2,990 |
| Endoscopic release of biceps tendon A minimally invasive procedure using an endoscope to release the tendon that connects the biceps muscle to the shoulder. |
37 | $378 | $1,888 |
| 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. |
37 | $24 | $64 |
| 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. |
33 | $108 | $1,224 |
| Wrist to finger joint removal Surgical removal of the bones forming the joints between the wrist and the fingers. |
25 | $688 | $1,715 |
| Muscle or tendon relocation, upper arm or elbow A surgical procedure to move a muscle or tendon in the upper arm or elbow area to a new position. |
24 | $313 | $1,560 |
| 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. |
24 | $320 | $1,596 |
| Tendon injection at attachment site A procedure involving the injection of medication into a tendon where it attaches to bone or muscle. |
23 | $34 | $117 |
| Incision of finger tendon sheath A surgical procedure to cut open the protective covering of a finger tendon. |
22 | $204 | $597 |
| 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. |
20 | $76 | $190 |
| Medication injection into palm A procedure involving the injection of medication into the palm of the hand. |
15 | $64 | $178 |
| Finger manipulation for connective tissue release A procedure involving the manipulation of a finger to release connective tissue after an enzyme injection has been administered. |
14 | $88 | $236 |
| Elbow to finger cast application Application of a cast extending from the elbow to the fingers to immobilize the arm. |
14 | $68 | $178 |
| Adult short arm fiberglass cast supplies Materials used to apply a short arm cast made of fiberglass for patients aged 11 and older. |
13 | $18 | $46 |
| Joint fluid aspiration or injection, medium joint Removal of fluid from a medium-sized joint or injection of medication into the joint space. |
11 | $41 | $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.
0.4% high complexity
62.7% medium
36.9% routine
Industry Payment Transparency
Open Payments through 2024 ↗$6,881
Total received (2018-2024)
Avg $983/year across 7 years
Top 28% in FL for orthopaedic hand surgery physician
26
Companies
144
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
$3,851 (56.0%)
Speaking / Promotional
Speaker programs, honoraria, and industry-sponsored educational events
$3,030 (44.0%)
Payment trend by year
Annual totals from pharmaceutical and medical device companies.
2024
$929
2023
$606
2022
$515
2021
$610
2020
$2,629
2019
$1,121
2018
$472
Payments by company (2024)
Consulting
Speaking
Meals & Travel
Research
Arthrex, Inc.
$3,054
MVP Orthopedics Inc
$894
Smith+Nephew, Inc.
$887
Stryker Corporation
$395
Flexion Therapeutics, Inc.
$318
Coastal Medical Technologies Llc
$272
Endo Pharmaceuticals Inc.
$180
Electronic Waveform Lab, Inc.
$119
NextStep Arthropedix, LLC
$101
Coastal Medical Technologies LLC
$99
Orthofix Medical, Inc.
$82
Medtronic USA, Inc.
$76
Boston Scientific Corporation
$64
Dynasplint Systems Inc.
$52
Pacira Pharmaceuticals Incorporated
$48
AXOGEN
$43
Endo USA, Inc.
$36
DePuy Synthes Sales Inc.
$34
Wright Medical Technology, Inc.
$34
Checkpoint Surgical, Inc
$20
Ethicon US, LLC
$16
Relievant Medsystems, Inc.
$14
Merz North America, Inc.
$12
Bioventus LLC
$12
Medtronic Vascular, Inc.
$11
FIDIA PHARMA USA INC.
$8
Top 3 companies account for 70.3% of total payments
Associated products mentioned in payments ›
ACUFEX · AETOS Shoulder System · AQUAMANTYS · AUTOFIX · Actishield · Avance Nerve Graft · AxoGuard Nerve Protector · Bioinductive Implant with Arthroscopic Delivery System - Medium · Bone Anchors with Arthroscopic Delivery System · Checkpoint Stimulators · Coblation · DERMABOND PRINEO · DIVERGENCE-L · Double Pump RF · Dynasplint · EXPAREL · Exogen · Exparel · FIRSTPASS · HEALICOIL REGENESORB · Hymovis · INSPACE · Intracept · LENS 4K · MONOVISC · N/A · NA · ORTHOVISC · PRECISION · Physio-Stim · Q-FIX · REUNION · RIALTO · Spinal-Stim · VARIAX · VenaSeal · Viaflow · WaveWriter Alpha Prime 16 · XIAFLEX · Zilretta · iNSitu Hip System
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 (56%) are for meals and travel — low-value interactions that are common across virtually all practicing physicians.
Equivalent to $65 per 100 Medicare services performed
Geographic Context
Orthopaedic hand surgery physicians within 10 mi
7
Per 100K population
1.6
County median income
$80,633
Nearest hospital
HCA FLORIDA SARASOTA DOCTORS 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. Sforzo is a clinical cardiology specialist, with above-average Medicare volume (top 3% 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. Sforzo experienced with steroid injection (triamcinolone)?
Based on Medicare claims data, Dr. Sforzo performed 3,736 steroid injection (triamcinolone) 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. Sforzo receive payments from pharmaceutical companies?
Yes. Dr. Sforzo received a total of $6,881 from 26 companies across 144 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. Sforzo's costs compare to other orthopaedic hand surgery physicians in Sarasota?
Dr. Sforzo's average Medicare payment per service is $52. 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. Sforzo) 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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