Medicare Enrolled
Dr. Kortney Hightower, MD
Dermatology · Sun City Center, 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. Hightower 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. Hightower
Dr. Kortney Hightower is a dermatology specialist in Sun City Center, FL, with 19 years of NPI registration. Based on federal Medicare data, Dr. Hightower performed 5,795 Medicare services across 3,593 unique beneficiaries.
Between the years covered by Open Payments, Dr. Hightower received a total of $1,743 from 17 pharmaceutical and/or device companies across 77 individual payments. These payments are legal, publicly disclosed under the federal Sunshine Act, and common in dermatology. 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. Hightower 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.
✓ 19 years in practice
▲ Top 32% volume in FL
$1,743 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 | 95249 | 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 ↗5,795
Medicare services
Top 32% in FL for dermatology
3,593
Unique beneficiaries
$123
Avg. Medicare payment
Medicare patients only (65+ / disabled) · Not a quality rating · How to read this →
~305 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 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. |
941 | $63 | $190 |
| Destruction of precancerous skin growths, 2-14 This procedure involves the removal or destruction of two to fourteen precancerous skin lesions. It is performed to eliminate abnormal skin cells that have the potential to develop into cancer. |
751 | $5 | $10 |
| Puraply AM application per square centimeter Application of Puraply AM dressing to the skin. The charge is calculated based on the surface area treated. |
739 | $83 | $149 |
| Destruction of skin growths (warts/lesions), 1-14 This procedure involves the removal or destruction of one to fourteen skin growths. It is a minor surgical intervention performed on the skin surface. |
382 | $64 | $165 |
| Destruction of precancerous skin growth, 1 Removal of a single precancerous skin growth. This procedure destroys abnormal skin cells to prevent them from developing into cancer. |
371 | $30 | $95 |
| Skin growth removal and lab exam, 1-5 blocks This procedure involves the removal of a growth from the head, neck, hands, feet, or genitals. The removed tissue is then examined under a microscope in the laboratory. |
343 | $515 | $987 |
| Affinity per square centimeter A measurement of affinity per square centimeter. |
343 | $330 | $618 |
| Skin biopsy, tangential A procedure to remove a sample of the first identified skin growth for laboratory examination. |
304 | $52 | $150 |
| Removal and microscopic exam of growth of head, neck, hands, feet, or genitals, each additional stage, 1-5 tissue blocks | 200 | $320 | $597 |
| Complicated wound repair, 2.6-7.5 cm A complex surgical procedure to close a wound measuring between 2.6 and 7.5 centimeters on areas such as the face, neck, hands, or feet. |
152 | $199 | $702 |
| 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. |
151 | $66 | $295 |
| 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. |
139 | $60 | $135 |
| Additional skin growth biopsy Removal of a sample of an additional skin growth for laboratory examination. This code is used for each extra lesion biopsied during the same session. |
134 | $38 | $80 |
| Complicated wound repair, scalp/arms/legs, 2.6-7.5 cm A complex surgical procedure to close a wound on the scalp, arms, or legs that measures between 2.6 and 7.5 centimeters in length. |
121 | $264 | $631 |
| Surgical removal of skin cancer, 1.1-2.0 cm Surgical excision of a cancerous skin growth measuring between 1.1 and 2.0 centimeters on the body, arms, or legs. |
97 | $96 | $361 |
| Skin substitute graft application, 25 sq cm or less Application of a skin substitute graft to a wound on the trunk, arms, or legs covering 25 square centimeters or less. |
77 | $110 | $230 |
| Steroid injection (triamcinolone) A 10 mg injection of triamcinolone acetonide, a corticosteroid medication. This code specifies the drug and dosage administered. |
70 | $1 | $3 |
| Complicated wound repair of trunk, 2.6-7.5 cm A surgical procedure to close a complex wound on the trunk that measures between 2.6 and 7.5 centimeters in length. |
69 | $294 | $590 |
| Skin growth removal and lab exam, 1-5 blocks A procedure to remove a growth from the trunk, arms, or legs and send 1 to 5 tissue samples to a laboratory for microscopic examination. |
42 | $500 | $925 |
| Complex wound repair, 1.1-2.5 cm A surgical procedure to close a complex wound measuring between 1.1 and 2.5 centimeters on areas such as the face, neck, hands, or feet. |
40 | $179 | $575 |
| Destruction of cancer skin growth, 0.6-1.0 cm This procedure involves the removal or destruction of a cancerous skin growth located on the trunk, arms, or legs that measures between 0.6 and 1.0 centimeters. |
40 | $75 | $215 |
| Destruction of cancer skin growth, 1.1-2.0 cm Removal of a cancerous skin growth on the trunk, arms, or legs that measures between 1.1 and 2.0 centimeters. |
36 | $100 | $260 |
| Injection into skin growths, 1-7 A procedure involving the injection of medication into one to seven skin growths. |
35 | $21 | $85 |
| Surgical removal of skin cancer, 2.1-3.0 cm This procedure involves the surgical excision of a cancerous skin growth located on the body, arms, or legs. The size of the removed tissue measures between 2.1 and 3.0 centimeters. |
34 | $108 | $412 |
| Shaving of skin growth, 0.6-1.0 cm A minor procedure to shave off a skin growth on the body, arms, or legs that measures between 0.6 and 1.0 centimeters. |
31 | $72 | $180 |
| Complex repair of eyelid, nose, ear, or lip wound, 1.1-2.5 cm A surgical procedure to repair a complex wound on the eyelid, nose, ear, or lip that measures between 1.1 and 2.5 centimeters. |
27 | $169 | $632 |
| 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. |
23 | $45 | $82 |
| Removal of noncancer skin growth, 1.1-2.0 cm This procedure involves the surgical removal of a benign skin growth located on the body, arms, or legs. The growth measured between 1.1 and 2.0 centimeters in diameter. |
20 | $68 | $255 |
| Shaving of skin growth, 1.1-2.0 cm This procedure involves shaving off a skin growth measuring between 1.1 and 2.0 centimeters from the body, arms, or legs. |
17 | $72 | $205 |
| Destruction of skin growth, 15 or more growths | 17 | $69 | $195 |
| Complicated wound repair, scalp/arms/legs, 1.1-2.5 cm A complex surgical procedure to close a wound on the scalp, arms, or legs that measures between 1.1 and 2.5 centimeters. |
14 | $203 | $526 |
| Complex wound repair of trunk, 1.1-2.5 cm A surgical procedure to close a complex wound on the trunk that measures between 1.1 and 2.5 centimeters. |
13 | $251 | $505 |
| Complex repair of eyelid, nose, ear, or lip wound, 2.6-7.5 cm A surgical procedure to repair a complex wound on the eyelid, nose, ear, or lip that measures between 2.6 and 7.5 centimeters. |
11 | $180 | $743 |
| Destruction of 15 or more precancerous skin growths This procedure involves the removal or destruction of fifteen or more precancerous skin lesions. It is performed to treat abnormal skin cells that have the potential to develop into cancer. |
11 | $86 | $240 |
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 ↗$1,743
Total received (2018-2024)
Avg $249/year across 7 years
Bottom 43% in FL for dermatology
17
Companies
77
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
$1,743 (100.0%)
Payment trend by year
Annual totals from pharmaceutical and medical device companies.
2024
$191
2023
$366
2022
$150
2021
$303
2020
$331
2019
$189
2018
$215
Payments by company (2024)
Consulting
Speaking
Meals & Travel
Research
ORGANOGENESIS INC.
$365
Organogenesis Inc.
$243
LEO Pharma Inc.
$218
Janssen Biotech, Inc.
$197
ABBVIE INC.
$138
Regeneron Healthcare Solutions, Inc.
$125
Amgen Inc.
$95
Galderma Laboratories, L.P.
$60
GENZYME CORPORATION
$60
PFIZER INC.
$56
E.R. Squibb & Sons, L.L.C.
$53
Celgene Corporation
$34
Lilly USA, LLC
$26
Novartis Pharmaceuticals Corporation
$24
AbbVie, Inc.
$21
AbbVie Inc.
$15
Genentech USA, Inc.
$13
Top 3 companies account for 47.4% of total payments
Associated products mentioned in payments ›
Affinity · Apligraf · DUPIXENT · DUPIXENT DUPILUMAB INJECTION · ENSTILAR · EUCRISA · Erivedge · Humira · ORACEA · Otezla · Puraply · Puraply Antimicrobial · RINVOQ · SKYRIZI · SOOLANTRA · Sotyktu · TALTZ · TREMFYA
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 (100%) are for meals and travel — low-value interactions that are common across virtually all practicing physicians.
Equivalent to $30 per 100 Medicare services performed
Geographic Context
Dermatologists within 10 mi
105
Per 100K population
7.0
County median income
$75,011
Nearest hospital
HCA FLORIDA SOUTH SHORE 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. Hightower is a clinical cardiology specialist, with moderate Medicare volume, with low-engagement industry engagement, with 19 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. Hightower experienced with office visit, established patient (30-39 min)?
Based on Medicare claims data, Dr. Hightower performed 941 office visit, established patient (30-39 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. Hightower receive payments from pharmaceutical companies?
Yes. Dr. Hightower received a total of $1,743 from 17 companies across 77 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. Hightower's costs compare to other dermatologists in Sun City Center?
Dr. Hightower's average Medicare payment per service is $123. 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. Hightower) 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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