Medicare Enrolled
Dr. James Wheeler, M.D.
Dermatology · Atlanta, GA
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. Wheeler 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. Wheeler
Dr. James Wheeler is a dermatology specialist in Atlanta, GA, with 20 years of NPI registration. Based on federal Medicare data, Dr. Wheeler performed 2,156 Medicare services across 1,466 unique beneficiaries.
Between the years covered by Open Payments, Dr. Wheeler received a total of $13,469 from 79 pharmaceutical and/or device companies across 850 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. Wheeler is Very High — reflecting how much public federal data is available about this provider. Patients are encouraged to use this data as one of several factors when choosing a healthcare provider.
✓ 20 years in practice
▲ Top 11% volume in GA
$13,469 industry payments
Medicare Practice Summary
Medicare Utilization ↗2,156
Medicare services
Top 11% in GA for dermatology
1,466
Unique beneficiaries
$58
Avg. Medicare payment
Medicare patients only (65+ / disabled) · How to read this →
~108 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. |
533 | $86 | $129 |
| 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. |
308 | $50 | $90 |
| 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. |
192 | $2 | $6 |
| Obesity behavioral counseling, 15 minutes A 15-minute face-to-face session focused on behavioral counseling to help manage obesity. |
136 | $25 | $25 |
| Dexamethasone injection (steroid) An injection of dexamethasone sodium phosphate, a corticosteroid medication, administered in a dose of 1 milligram. |
134 | $0 | $0 |
| Annual wellness visit, follow-up A follow-up annual wellness visit that includes a personalized prevention plan of service. |
129 | $126 | $131 |
| Annual intensive behavioral therapy for cardiovascular disease, 15 minutes A yearly, in-person session focused on intensive behavioral therapy to help manage cardiovascular disease. The session lasts for 15 minutes and is conducted with the patient individually. |
107 | $25 | $26 |
| Annual alcohol misuse screening, 5 to 15 minutes | 73 | $18 | $18 |
| Annual depression screening | 72 | $18 | $18 |
| 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. |
68 | $126 | $180 |
| Flu vaccine administration This procedure involves the administration of the influenza virus vaccine. It covers the process of delivering the vaccine to the patient. |
54 | $30 | $35 |
| Electrocardiogram (EKG), 12-lead A standard heart rhythm test using at least 12 leads to record electrical activity. A healthcare provider interprets the results and provides a written report. |
48 | $11 | $14 |
| 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. |
44 | $11 | $14 |
| Flu vaccine, high-dose High-dose seasonal influenza vaccine for adults aged 65 and older. Contains four times the antigen of standard-dose flu vaccines (60 mcg per strain), split-virus formulation, preservative-free, single-dose syringe. |
43 | $69 | $70 |
| Annual wellness visit, initial visit A yearly appointment to review your health and create a personalized prevention plan. This initial visit focuses on preventive care and health assessment. |
32 | $162 | $163 |
| Pneumonia vaccine administration This procedure involves the injection of a vaccine to protect against pneumococcal disease. It is administered by a healthcare provider. |
28 | $31 | $44 |
| Respiratory virus test for SARS-CoV-2, influenza A/B, and RSV A laboratory test that detects the presence of SARS-CoV-2 (COVID-19), influenza A, influenza B, and respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) in an upper respiratory specimen. |
25 | $140 | $345 |
| Pneumococcal conjugate vaccine (PCV20) An intramuscular injection of the 20-valent pneumococcal conjugate vaccine. It is used to protect against diseases caused by Streptococcus pneumoniae bacteria. |
24 | $281 | $287 |
| Ear wax removal A procedure to remove impacted ear wax from the ear canal. |
21 | $34 | $47 |
| Chest X-ray, 2 views An X-ray imaging test of the chest that captures two different angles to visualize the lungs, heart, and chest wall. |
19 | $27 | $33 |
| Initial preventive physical examination, new Medicare beneficiary A comprehensive preventive health visit for new Medicare beneficiaries during their first 12 months of enrollment. The service is conducted as a face-to-face visit and is limited to preventive care. |
17 | $162 | $163 |
| 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. |
14 | $95 | $179 |
| 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. |
12 | $73 | $110 |
| Online digital evaluation for established patient, 5-10 minutes This service involves an online digital evaluation and management visit for an established patient. It covers a total time of 5 to 10 minutes over a period of up to 7 days. |
12 | $7 | $15 |
| Echocardiogram, transthoracic An ultrasound of the heart that uses color to show blood flow, rate, direction, and valve function. |
11 | $154 | $194 |
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.
0.5% high complexity
8.3% medium
91.2% routine
Industry Payment Transparency
Open Payments through 2024 ↗$13,469
Total received (2018-2024)
Avg $1,924/year across 7 years
Top 3% in GA for dermatology
A higher payment rank reflects disclosed industry relationships (consulting, research, speaking) common among subspecialists — not wrongdoing.
79
Companies
850
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
$13,469 (100.0%)
Payment trend by year
Annual totals from pharmaceutical and medical device companies.
2024
$1,597
2023
$1,675
2022
$1,997
2021
$2,326
2020
$1,809
2019
$2,005
2018
$2,059
Payments by company (2024)
Consulting
Speaking
Meals & Travel
Research
ABBVIE INC.
$332
Novo Nordisk Inc
$283
Lilly USA, LLC
$193
Abbott Laboratories
$154
PFIZER INC.
$106
Madrigal Pharmaceuticals
$59
SANOFI-AVENTIS U.S. LLC
$53
Exact Sciences Corporation
$43
AstraZeneca Pharmaceuticals LP
$41
Dexcom, Inc.
$40
Corium, LLC
$35
Amgen Inc.
$32
Astellas Pharma US Inc
$30
Axsome Therapeutics, Inc.
$28
Saluda Medical Americas, Inc.
$24
Noven Therapeutics, LLC
$24
BIOTRONIK NRO, Inc.
$20
Medtronic, Inc.
$19
Tris Pharma Inc
$19
Esperion Therapeutics, Inc.
$17
Philips North America LLC
$16
Neos Therapeutics, LP
$15
Seqirus USA Inc
$14
Top 3 companies account for 50.6% of 2024 payments
All-time payments by company (2018-2024) ›
Novo Nordisk Inc
$1,612
Amgen Inc.
$978
AstraZeneca Pharmaceuticals LP
$796
ABBVIE INC.
$658
AbbVie Inc.
$652
Salix Pharmaceuticals, a division of Bausch Health US, LLC
$590
Takeda Pharmaceuticals U.S.A., Inc.
$481
Lilly USA, LLC
$461
Supernus Pharmaceuticals, Inc.
$435
Neos Therapeutics, LP
$377
PFIZER INC.
$363
SANOFI-AVENTIS U.S. LLC
$353
Amarin Pharma Inc.
$320
Allergan, Inc.
$294
Astellas Pharma US Inc
$291
GlaxoSmithKline, LLC.
$280
Kowa Pharmaceuticals America, Inc.
$271
Shire North American Group Inc
$263
Merck Sharp & Dohme Corporation
$246
Allergan Inc.
$232
Biohaven Pharmaceuticals, Inc.
$226
Abbott Laboratories
$209
Boehringer Ingelheim Pharmaceuticals, Inc.
$201
Biohaven Pharmaceutical Holding Company Ltd.
$182
Corium, LLC
$136
AbbVie, Inc.
$133
ARBOR PHARMACEUTICALS, INC.
$132
Tris Pharma Inc
$132
JAZZ PHARMACEUTICALS INC.
$128
Exact Sciences Corporation
$122
Gilead Sciences, Inc.
$121
Eisai Inc.
$119
Teva Pharmaceuticals USA, Inc.
$109
Dexcom, Inc.
$106
Ironshore Pharmaceuticals Inc.
$82
Bayer Healthcare Pharmaceuticals Inc.
$71
Esperion Therapeutics, Inc.
$68
Axsome Therapeutics, Inc.
$65
TOPCON HEALTHCARE SOLUTIONS, INC.
$65
VIVUS, Inc.
$64
Madrigal Pharmaceuticals
$59
PORTOLA PHARMACEUTICALS, INC.
$57
Synergy Pharmaceuticals Inc
$56
IDORSIA PHARMACEUTICALS US INC
$55
UPSHER-SMITH LABORATORIES LLC
$53
Orexigen Therapeutics, Inc.
$48
Noven Therapeutics, LLC
$44
Daiichi Sankyo Inc.
$41
IRONWOOD PHARMACEUTICALS, INC
$39
Avanir Pharmaceuticals, Inc.
$33
Currax Pharmaceuticals LLC
$29
Bausch Health US, LLC
$29
Amneal Pharmaceuticals LLC
$28
Vanda Pharmaceuticals Inc.
$28
Promius Pharma LLC
$27
Saluda Medical Americas, Inc.
$24
Bayer HealthCare Pharmaceuticals Inc.
$24
Sunovion Pharmaceuticals Inc.
$23
Hologic, LLC
$22
ZOLL Services LLC (A/K/A ZOLL LifeCor Corp)
$22
IMPEL PHARMACEUTICALS INC.
$22
BIOTRONIK NRO, Inc.
$20
Circassia Pharmaceuticals Inc
$20
Otsuka America Pharmaceutical, Inc.
$20
Medtronic, Inc.
$19
SANOFI PASTEUR INC.
$19
Aytu Bioscience, Inc
$17
Philips North America LLC
$16
Arbor Pharmaceuticals, Inc.
$16
Alexion Pharmaceuticals, Inc.
$15
Alfasigma USA, Inc.
$14
Seqirus USA Inc
$14
EISAI INC.
$14
Ironwood Pharmaceuticals, Inc
$14
Optos, Inc.
$13
Horizon Pharma plc
$13
Egalet US Inc
$12
Gemini Laboratories, LLC
$12
Sanofi Pasteur Inc.
$11
Top 3 companies account for 25.1% of all-time payments
Associated products mentioned in payments ›
(5050) Extended Holter · AJOVY · ANDEXXA · ANORO · AREXVY · AZSTARYS · Aciphex · Adzenys XR-ODT · Aimovig · Amitiza · Androgel · Auvelity · Azstarys · BASAGLAR · BEXSERO · BOOSTRIX · BOTOX · BOTOX THERAPEUTIC · BREZTRI · BREZTRI AEROSPHERE · BYSTOLIC · CHANTIX · COLOGUARD · COLOGUARD DNA CAPTURE REAGENTS · COMIRNATY · CONTRAVE · COTEMPLA XR-ODT · CTNG · CYCLOSET · Cologuard Collection Kit · Cotempla XR-ODT · DUEXIS · Dayvigo · Descovy · Dexcom G6 Transmitter · Dyanavel XR · EMGALITY · EVENITY · Edarbi · Edarbyclor · Entyvio · Evoke · FARXIGA · FLUBLOK QUADRIVALENT NORTHERN HEMISPHERE · FREESTYLE LIBRE 2 · FREESTYLE LIBRE 3 · Fluad · GARDASIL 9 · HARMONY · HETLIOZ · Horizant · INJECTAFER · INTERSTIM · JANUVIA · JARDIANCE · JORNAY PM · Jornay PM 20mg capsules (Bottle of 100) · Kerendia · LINZESS · LYRICA · LifeVest · Linzess · Livalo · MENACTRA · MOUNJARO · MYDAYIS · MYRBETRIQ · Myrbetriq · NEXLETOL · NEXLIZET · NFC-700 · NURTEC ODT · Nuedexta · ONZETRA Xsail · Otezla · Ozempic · PNEUMOVAX 23 · PREMARIN · PREVNAR 20 · Proclaim Family of SCS IPGs · Prolia · Prospera · QELBREE · QSYMIA · QULIPTA · QUVIVIQ · RESMETIROM · REXULTI · RYBELSUS · Repatha · Rybelsus · SHINGRIX · SOLIQUA · SOLIQUA 100/33 · SPRIX · STEGLATRO · STRENSIQ · SUNOSI · SYMBICORT · SYNTHROID · Saxenda · Synthroid · TOSYMRA · TOUJEO · TRADJENTA · TRELEGY ELLIPTA · TRINTELLIX · TRULICITY · TUDORZA PRESSAIR · TZIELD · Tresiba · Trintellix · Trudhesa · Trulance · UBRELVY · UNITHROID · UTIBRON · Uloric · VESICARE · VIBERZI · VIIBRYD · VRAYLAR · VYVANSE · Vascepa · Veozah · Victoza · WELLBUTRIN · Wegovy · XIFAXAN · XIFAXANIBSD · Xelstrym · ZEMBRACE SYMTOUCH · ZEPBOUND · ZOSTAVAX · Zembrace
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. Total industry engagement is in the top 3% for dermatology in GA.
Geographic Context
Dermatologists within 10 mi
102
Per 100K population
9.5
County median income
$91,490
Nearest hospital
SAINT JOSEPH'S HOSPITAL OF ATLANTA, INC
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 reflects how much public data is available about a provider. How we calculate this →
Summary
Dr. Wheeler is a clinical cardiology specialist, with above-average Medicare volume (top 11% in GA), with low-engagement industry engagement in the top 3% of GA peers, with 20 years of NPI registration.
This summary is auto-generated from federal data, describing data availability and patterns. Read our methodology →
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Dr. Wheeler experienced with office visit, established patient (30-39 min)?
Based on Medicare claims data, Dr. Wheeler performed 533 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. Wheeler receive payments from pharmaceutical companies?
Yes. Dr. Wheeler received a total of $13,469 from 79 companies across 850 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. Wheeler's costs compare to other dermatologists in Atlanta?
Dr. Wheeler's average Medicare payment per service is $58. 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. Wheeler) 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. Data Coverage reflects 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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