Medicare Enrolled
Dr. Joe Livingston, MD
Family Medicine · Blairsville, 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. Livingston 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. Livingston
Dr. Joe Livingston is a family medicine specialist in Blairsville, GA, with 13 years of NPI registration. Based on federal Medicare data, Dr. Livingston performed 9,583 Medicare services across 6,437 unique beneficiaries.
Between the years covered by Open Payments, Dr. Livingston received a total of $647 from 16 pharmaceutical and/or device companies across 31 individual payments. These payments are legal, publicly disclosed under the federal Sunshine Act, and common in family medicine. 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. Livingston 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.
✓ 13 years in practice
▲ Top 1% volume in GA
$647 industry payments
Medicare Practice Summary
Medicare Utilization ↗9,583
Medicare services
Top 1% in GA for family medicine
6,437
Unique beneficiaries
$33
Avg. Medicare payment
Medicare patients only (65+ / disabled) · How to read this →
~737 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. |
1,267 | $56 | $121 |
| Blood draw (venipuncture) Insertion of a needle into a vein to collect a blood sample. |
1,176 | $8 | $25 |
| 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. |
1,002 | $78 | $177 |
| Dexamethasone injection (steroid) An injection of dexamethasone sodium phosphate, a corticosteroid medication, administered in a dose of 1 milligram. |
686 | $0 | $18 |
| Comprehensive metabolic blood panel A blood test that measures a group of chemicals, including glucose, electrolytes, and kidney and liver function markers. |
595 | $10 | $22 |
| 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. |
572 | $8 | $18 |
| Lipid panel (cholesterol and triglycerides) A blood test that measures cholesterol and triglyceride levels. |
537 | $13 | $24 |
| Annual wellness visit, follow-up A follow-up annual wellness visit that includes a personalized prevention plan of service. |
371 | $120 | $187 |
| Annual depression screening | 366 | $17 | $29 |
| Hemoglobin A1c test (diabetes monitoring) A blood test that measures your average blood sugar levels over the past two to three months. |
342 | $10 | $27 |
| Steroid injection (triamcinolone) A 10 mg injection of triamcinolone acetonide, a corticosteroid medication. This code specifies the drug and dosage administered. |
238 | $1 | $15 |
| Thyroid stimulating hormone (TSH) test A blood test that measures the level of thyroid stimulating hormone to evaluate thyroid function. |
225 | $16 | $30 |
| Ketorolac injection, per 15 mg An injection of ketorolac tromethamine, a nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug, administered in doses measured per 15 mg. |
188 | $0 | $11 |
| 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. |
164 | $9 | $40 |
| Vitamin D level test A blood test to measure the amount of Vitamin D-3 in your body. |
134 | $29 | $63 |
| PSA test (prostate cancer screening) A blood test that measures the level of prostate-specific antigen to screen for prostate cancer. |
120 | $19 | $36 |
| Influenza virus detection test A laboratory test that uses an immunoassay technique to detect the presence of the influenza virus through direct visual observation. |
99 | $16 | $45 |
| COVID-19 immunoassay detection test A laboratory test that uses an immunoassay method to detect the presence of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (COVID-19) through direct visual observation. |
95 | $40 | $60 |
| Complex chronic care management, first 60 minutes This service involves clinical staff time directed by a healthcare professional to manage two or more chronic conditions over a calendar month. It covers the first 60 minutes of this coordinated care effort. |
93 | $93 | $171 |
| Flu vaccine administration This procedure involves the administration of the influenza virus vaccine. It covers the process of delivering the vaccine to the patient. |
82 | $28 | $31 |
| Flu vaccine, quadrivalent A flu shot containing four strains of the influenza virus to help prevent seasonal influenza infection. |
80 | $75 | $92 |
| Additional chronic care management time, 60 minutes This service covers an additional 60 minutes of clinical staff time directed by a healthcare professional for managing two or more chronic conditions, billed per calendar month. |
77 | $49 | $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. |
73 | $2 | $10 |
| Vitamin B-12 level test A blood test that measures the amount of vitamin B-12 in your body. |
71 | $15 | $31 |
| 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. |
71 | $199 | $350 |
| Free thyroxine (T4) test A blood test that measures the level of free thyroxine, a thyroid hormone, in the bloodstream. |
69 | $9 | $21 |
| Ceftriaxone antibiotic injection This code represents the administration of ceftriaxone sodium, an antibiotic medication. The charge is calculated for every 250 mg of the drug administered. |
66 | $0 | $8 |
| 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. |
62 | $36 | $71 |
| Urine microalbumin test (kidney screening) A laboratory test that measures the amount of microalbumin, a small protein, in a urine sample. This test is used to detect early signs of kidney damage. |
51 | $6 | $12 |
| Joint injection, major joint Removal of fluid from a large joint and/or injection of medication into the joint space. |
47 | $40 | $140 |
| 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. |
38 | $9 | $40 |
| PSA test (prostate cancer screening) | 35 | $18 | $39 |
| 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. |
35 | $81 | $269 |
| Vitamin B-12 injection An injection of vitamin B-12 (cyanocobalamin) with a dose of up to 1000 mcg. |
32 | $1 | $11 |
| 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. |
29 | $4 | $12 |
| Ear wax removal A procedure to remove impacted ear wax from the ear canal. |
27 | $31 | $78 |
| Ferritin level test (iron stores) A blood test that measures the level of ferritin, a protein that stores iron in the body. |
26 | $13 | $25 |
| Iron level test | 26 | $6 | $20 |
| 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. |
26 | $68 | $175 |
| Basic metabolic blood panel A blood test that measures a group of basic chemicals, including total calcium levels. |
24 | $8 | $17 |
| Chronic care management, first 20 min/month This service covers the first 20 minutes of clinical staff time directed by a healthcare professional each calendar month to manage chronic conditions. |
24 | $47 | $82 |
| Pneumonia vaccine administration This procedure involves the injection of a vaccine to protect against pneumococcal disease. It is administered by a healthcare provider. |
24 | $27 | $29 |
| 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. |
23 | $140 | $219 |
| Nursing facility visit, low complexity A daily follow-up visit for an existing patient in a nursing facility involving straightforward medical decision making. The visit requires at least 15 minutes of time if time is used to determine the level of care. |
22 | $56 | $114 |
| Respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) immunoassay test A laboratory test that uses an immunoassay technique to detect the presence of respiratory syncytial virus in a sample. The results are determined through direct visual observation of the test reaction. |
21 | $13 | $39 |
| Iron binding capacity test A blood test that measures the amount of iron in the blood and the blood's ability to bind and transport iron. |
20 | $9 | $19 |
| Chronic care management, additional 20 min/month This service covers an extra 20 minutes of clinical staff time directed by a healthcare professional for managing two or more chronic conditions each calendar month. |
20 | $35 | $58 |
| 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. |
20 | $151 | $275 |
| 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 | $153 | $270 |
| Strep A rapid test A rapid test to detect Group A Streptococcus bacteria using an immunoassay method with direct visual observation. |
15 | $15 | $39 |
| 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. |
13 | $155 | $277 |
| Pneumococcal vaccine, 23-valent A vaccine that protects against 23 types of pneumococcal bacteria. It is used to prevent infections caused by these bacteria. |
12 | $131 | $194 |
| Initial nursing facility care, moderate complexity Initial care provided to a patient in a nursing facility with moderate medical decision making, taking at least 35 minutes. |
12 | $101 | $214 |
| Smoking cessation counseling, 4-10 minutes A brief counseling session focused on helping patients quit smoking and tobacco use. The provider spends 4 to 10 minutes discussing strategies and support for cessation. |
12 | $14 | $25 |
| Pneumococcal vaccine, 13-valent | 11 | $253 | $300 |
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 2023 ↗$647
Total received (2018-2023)
Avg $108/year across 6 years
Top 48% in GA for family medicine
A higher payment rank reflects disclosed industry relationships (consulting, research, speaking) common among subspecialists — not wrongdoing.
16
Companies
31
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
$478 (73.8%)
Consulting
Expert advisory fees, typically reflecting recognized clinical expertise
$150 (23.2%)
Speaking / Promotional
Speaker programs, honoraria, and industry-sponsored educational events
$20 (3.0%)
Payment trend by year
Annual totals from pharmaceutical and medical device companies.
2023
$81
2022
$58
2021
$20
2020
$79
2019
$259
2018
$150
Payments by company (2023)
Consulting
Speaking
Meals & Travel
Research
ABBVIE INC.
$27
Abbott Laboratories
$21
Bayer Healthcare Pharmaceuticals Inc.
$20
PFIZER INC.
$14
Top 3 companies account for 83.0% of 2023 payments
All-time payments by company (2018-2023) ›
COMSORT, Inc
$150
GlaxoSmithKline, LLC.
$79
AstraZeneca Pharmaceuticals LP
$72
ABBVIE INC.
$61
Boehringer Ingelheim Pharmaceuticals, Inc.
$53
PFIZER INC.
$38
Takeda Pharmaceuticals U.S.A., Inc.
$32
Daiichi Sankyo Inc.
$24
Abbott Laboratories
$21
Allergan Inc.
$20
Hydrofera LLC
$20
Bayer Healthcare Pharmaceuticals Inc.
$20
Genentech USA, Inc.
$18
Novartis Pharmaceuticals Corporation
$15
Lilly USA, LLC
$14
Novo Nordisk Inc
$12
Top 3 companies account for 46.6% of all-time payments
Associated products mentioned in payments ›
ANORO · CHANTIX · ELIQUIS · ENTRESTO · FARXIGA · FREESTYLE LIBRE 2 · GARDASIL · HYDROFERA BLUE · HYQVIA · INJECTAFER · Kerendia · LINZESS · Ozempic · STIOLTO RESPIMAT · SYMBICORT · SYNTHROID · TRELEGY ELLIPTA · TRULICITY · VRAYLAR · Xofluza
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 (74%) are for meals and travel — low-value interactions that are common across virtually all practicing physicians.
Geographic Context
Family medicine physicians within 10 mi
72
Per 100K population
281.3
County median income
$65,697
Nearest hospital
UNION GENERAL 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 2023 |
| 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. Livingston is a clinical cardiology specialist, with above-average Medicare volume (top 1% in GA), with low-engagement industry engagement.
This summary is auto-generated from federal data, describing data availability and patterns. Read our methodology →
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Dr. Livingston experienced with office visit, established patient (20-29 min)?
Based on Medicare claims data, Dr. Livingston performed 1,267 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. Livingston receive payments from pharmaceutical companies?
Yes. Dr. Livingston received a total of $647 from 16 companies across 31 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. Livingston's costs compare to other family medicine physicians in Blairsville?
Dr. Livingston's average Medicare payment per service is $33. 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. Livingston) 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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