Medicare Enrolled
Dr. Matthew Link, M.D.
Orthopedic Surgery · Augusta, GA
Practice pattern: Clinical Cardiology
— Primarily office-based clinical cardiology
Speaking/Promotional
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. Link 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 →
Are you Dr. Link?
Request a correction or review of any data shown here. Provider portal →
What this data tells you about Dr. Link
Dr. Matthew Link is an orthopedic surgery specialist in Augusta, GA, with 19 years of NPI registration. Based on federal Medicare data, Dr. Link performed 1,594 Medicare services across 1,179 unique beneficiaries.
Between the years covered by Open Payments, Dr. Link received a total of $5,013 from 31 pharmaceutical and/or device companies across 105 individual payments. These payments are legal, publicly disclosed under the federal Sunshine Act, and common in orthopedic surgery. The majority of payments are for speaking programs and promotional activities, reflecting participation in industry-sponsored events. Patients may wish to discuss these relationships with their provider.
The Data Coverage level for Dr. Link 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.
✓ 19 years in practice
▲ Top 40% volume in GA
$5,013 industry payments
Medicare Practice Summary
Medicare Utilization ↗1,594
Medicare services
Top 40% in GA for orthopedic surgery
1,179
Unique beneficiaries
$50
Avg. Medicare payment
Medicare patients only (65+ / disabled) · How to read this →
~84 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 (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. |
284 | $58 | $110 |
| Steroid injection (triamcinolone) A 10 mg injection of triamcinolone acetonide, a corticosteroid medication. This code specifies the drug and dosage administered. |
193 | $1 | $6 |
| 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. |
126 | $84 | $160 |
| 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. |
112 | $24 | $91 |
| Dexamethasone injection (steroid) An injection of dexamethasone sodium phosphate, a corticosteroid medication, administered in a dose of 1 milligram. |
112 | $0 | $3 |
| 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. |
109 | $67 | $188 |
| 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. |
99 | $26 | $104 |
| 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. |
81 | $21 | $85 |
| 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. |
55 | $25 | $100 |
| Joint injection, major joint Removal of fluid from a large joint and/or injection of medication into the joint space. |
52 | $37 | $179 |
| 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. |
42 | $25 | $88 |
| MRI of arm joint, without contrast An MRI scan uses magnetic fields and radio waves to create detailed images of the arm joint. This specific procedure is performed without the use of a contrast dye. |
35 | $141 | $1,150 |
| 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. |
32 | $28 | $89 |
| 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. |
32 | $70 | $155 |
| 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. |
30 | $19 | $80 |
| Incision of finger tendon sheath A surgical procedure to cut open the protective covering of a finger tendon. |
26 | $180 | $1,319 |
| Hand nerve release or relocation A surgical procedure to release or reposition a nerve in the hand. |
22 | $304 | $1,429 |
| MRI of leg joint, without contrast A magnetic resonance imaging scan of a joint in the leg performed without the use of contrast dye. |
20 | $155 | $1,150 |
| X-ray of forearm, 2 views An X-ray imaging test of the forearm using two different angles to visualize the bones and surrounding structures. |
19 | $22 | $77 |
| 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. |
18 | $107 | $265 |
| 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. |
17 | $21 | $76 |
| 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. |
17 | $121 | $305 |
| Tendon or ligament injection A procedure involving the injection of medication into a tendon or ligament. |
14 | $41 | $130 |
| Closed treatment of broken forearm bone at wrist without manipulation This procedure involves setting a broken forearm bone near the wrist without moving the bone fragments out of place. It is performed without manipulation to align the fracture. |
12 | $260 | $1,010 |
| 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. |
12 | $27 | $101 |
| 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. |
12 | $27 | $103 |
| Nerve conduction studies, 5-6 tests A series of 5 to 6 tests that measure how well nerves send electrical signals. The procedure evaluates nerve function and helps identify damage or dysfunction. |
11 | $93 | $690 |
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 ↗$5,013
Total received (2018-2024)
Avg $716/year across 7 years
Top 43% in GA for orthopedic surgery
A higher payment rank reflects disclosed industry relationships (consulting, research, speaking) common among subspecialists — not wrongdoing.
31
Companies
105
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.
Speaking / Promotional
Speaker programs, honoraria, and industry-sponsored educational events
$2,626 (52.4%)
Meals & Travel
Food, beverages, travel, and lodging — typically low-value
$2,387 (47.6%)
Payment trend by year
Annual totals from pharmaceutical and medical device companies.
2024
$457
2023
$415
2022
$256
2021
$1,969
2020
$1,303
2019
$298
2018
$315
Payments by company (2024)
Consulting
Speaking
Meals & Travel
Research
Smith+Nephew, Inc.
$438
Amgen Inc.
$18
Top 3 companies account for 100.0% of 2024 payments
All-time payments by company (2018-2024) ›
Arthrex, Inc.
$2,626
Smith+Nephew, Inc.
$766
Horizon Therapeutics plc
$514
DePuy Synthes Sales Inc.
$128
Dynasplint Systems Inc.
$103
BSN Medical Inc
$93
ERMI Inc.
$80
Fidia Pharma USA Inc.
$79
Horizon Pharma plc
$68
SANOFI-AVENTIS U.S. LLC
$49
Pacira Pharmaceuticals Incorporated
$46
CONMED Corporation
$42
Daiichi Sankyo Inc.
$38
Vericel Corporation
$34
BAXTER HEALTHCARE
$30
Ethicon US, LLC
$29
PFIZER INC.
$28
Bioventus LLC
$26
ERMI LLC
$25
Baxter Healthcare
$24
ConvaTec Inc.
$23
Heron Therapeutics, Inc.
$21
Davol Inc.
$20
Amgen Inc.
$18
Boston Scientific Corporation
$18
Orthogenrx Inc.
$18
Abbott Laboratories
$15
AbbVie Inc.
$13
Mallinckrodt LLC
$13
KCI USA, Inc.
$12
FIDIA PHARMA USA INC.
$11
Top 3 companies account for 77.9% of all-time payments
Associated products mentioned in payments ›
ABC Handpieces · AQUACEL · ARISTA AH FlexiTip · Bone Anchors with Arthroscopic Delivery System · CHANTIX · DALVANCE · DUEXIS · Durolane · Dynasplint · ELIQUIS · EVOS · EXPAREL · Exparel · FAST-FIX · GenVisc 850 · General - Pain Management · HYMOVIS · Hymovis · INTEllIO LINK WEREWOLF · Iovera · KRYSTEXXA · MACI · MACI _ PEAK Study · MONOVISC · Movantik · NA · NO_PRODUCT · OFIRMEV · PENNSAID · PREVENA · PRIMARY CARE - DISEASE STATE · PROCLAIM · REGENETEN Shoulder · SYNVISC-ONE · TFN-Advance · TISSEEL · TRIGEN INTERTAN · Turalio · VISTASEAL · Zynrelef
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 →
The majority of payments (52%) are for speaking programs and promotional activities, which reflect participation in industry-sponsored educational or marketing events. This is common in orthopedic surgery and does not inherently indicate bias, but patients may wish to be aware.
Geographic Context
Orthopedic surgeons within 10 mi
81
Per 100K population
39.3
County median income
$53,197
Nearest hospital
PIEDMONT AUGUSTA 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 reflects how much public data is available about a provider. How we calculate this →
Summary
Dr. Link is a clinical cardiology specialist, with moderate Medicare volume, with speaking/promotional industry engagement, with 19 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. Link experienced with office visit, established patient (20-29 min)?
Based on Medicare claims data, Dr. Link performed 284 office visit, established patient (20-29 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. Link receive payments from pharmaceutical companies?
Yes. Dr. Link received a total of $5,013 from 31 companies across 105 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. Link's costs compare to other orthopedic surgeons in Augusta?
Dr. Link's average Medicare payment per service is $50. 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. Link) 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 →
Explore related providers
Specialty guide
Understanding Orthopedic Surgery
Common procedures, typical costs, and what industry payments mean in orthopedic surgery.
Same specialty & city
Orthopedic Surgeons in Augusta
Browse orthopedic surgeons in Augusta ranked by procedure volume and transparency data.
Highest volume
Top Orthopedic Surgeons in GA
Orthopedic surgeons ranked by total Medicare services performed statewide.
Industry payments
Pharma Payments to Orthopedic Surgeons in GA
Which GA orthopedic surgeons receive the most from drug and device companies.
By company
Arthrex, Inc. Payments to Doctors
See all physicians who received payments from Arthrex, Inc.
By company
Smith+Nephew, Inc. Payments to Doctors
See all physicians who received payments from Smith+Nephew, Inc.
By company
Horizon Therapeutics plc Payments to Doctors
See all physicians who received payments from Horizon Therapeutics plc.
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.
Provider corrections: Provider portal · Privacy questions: Privacy Policy · Terms: Terms of Use · Methodology: Methodology