Medicare Enrolled
Dr. Christopher Sward, MD
Family Medicine · Cartersville, 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. Sward 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. Sward?
Request a correction or review of any data shown here. Provider portal →
What this data tells you about Dr. Sward
Dr. Christopher Sward is a family medicine specialist in Cartersville, GA, with 19 years of NPI registration. Based on federal Medicare data, Dr. Sward performed 7,410 Medicare services across 4,210 unique beneficiaries.
Between the years covered by Open Payments, Dr. Sward received a total of $1,302 from 20 pharmaceutical and/or device companies across 70 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. Sward 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 3% volume in GA
$1,302 industry payments
Medicare Practice Summary
Medicare Utilization ↗7,410
Medicare services
Top 3% in GA for family medicine
4,210
Unique beneficiaries
$22
Avg. Medicare payment
Medicare patients only (65+ / disabled) · How to read this →
~390 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Contrast dye for imaging (iodine-based) A contrast agent containing 300-399 mg/ml of iodine used to enhance imaging studies. It is administered per milliliter to improve the visibility of internal structures. |
2,120 | $0 | $1 |
| 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. |
777 | $75 | $157 |
| Blood draw (venipuncture) Insertion of a needle into a vein to collect a blood sample. |
735 | $8 | $15 |
| Comprehensive metabolic blood panel A blood test that measures a group of chemicals, including glucose, electrolytes, and kidney and liver function markers. |
374 | $10 | $60 |
| Lipid panel (cholesterol and triglycerides) A blood test that measures cholesterol and triglyceride levels. |
347 | $13 | $70 |
| 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. |
324 | $7 | $40 |
| 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. |
272 | $53 | $107 |
| Office visit for established patient An office visit for an existing patient that may not require the healthcare professional to be present. |
241 | $15 | $35 |
| Thyroid stimulating hormone (TSH) test A blood test that measures the level of thyroid stimulating hormone to evaluate thyroid function. |
223 | $16 | $70 |
| Hemoglobin A1c test (diabetes monitoring) A blood test that measures your average blood sugar levels over the past two to three months. |
215 | $9 | $45 |
| Basic metabolic blood panel A blood test that measures a group of basic chemicals, including total calcium levels. |
180 | $8 | $50 |
| 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. |
121 | $2 | $20 |
| Flu vaccine administration This procedure involves the administration of the influenza virus vaccine. It covers the process of delivering the vaccine to the patient. |
107 | $29 | $40 |
| 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. |
102 | $71 | $98 |
| Annual wellness visit, follow-up A follow-up annual wellness visit that includes a personalized prevention plan of service. |
91 | $122 | $167 |
| Complete blood count (CBC), automated An automated laboratory test that measures the levels of red blood cells, white blood cells, and platelets in the blood. |
82 | $6 | $40 |
| 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. |
67 | $14 | $80 |
| Annual depression screening | 66 | $17 | $40 |
| Vitamin B-12 level test A blood test that measures the amount of vitamin B-12 in your body. |
65 | $15 | $65 |
| 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. |
55 | $9 | $72 |
| COVID-19 amplified DNA/RNA probe detection A laboratory test that uses amplified DNA or RNA probes to detect the presence of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (COVID-19) antigen. |
51 | $50 | $158 |
| Urine culture, bacterial colony count A laboratory test that measures the number of bacteria growing in a urine sample to help identify infections. |
49 | $8 | $45 |
| 3D screening mammography (tomosynthesis) A screening imaging test of the breast using 3D technology to detect potential abnormalities. |
46 | $20 | $70 |
| Screening mammography An X-ray of the breast used to detect breast cancer in women who have no signs or symptoms of the disease. |
46 | $78 | $320 |
| 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. |
39 | $6 | $50 |
| Creatinine test (kidney function) A blood test that measures the amount of creatinine to assess kidney function or detect muscle injury. |
39 | $5 | $25 |
| Uric acid level test A blood test that measures the level of uric acid in your body. Uric acid is a waste product formed when the body breaks down purines. |
39 | $4 | $30 |
| Vitamin D level test A blood test to measure the amount of Vitamin D-3 in your body. |
37 | $29 | $110 |
| 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. |
37 | $10 | $53 |
| Ferritin level test (iron stores) A blood test that measures the level of ferritin, a protein that stores iron in the body. |
35 | $13 | $85 |
| 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. |
30 | $273 | $417 |
| Pneumonia vaccine administration This procedure involves the injection of a vaccine to protect against pneumococcal disease. It is administered by a healthcare provider. |
30 | $29 | $35 |
| PSA test (prostate cancer screening) A blood test that measures the level of prostate-specific antigen to screen for prostate cancer. |
28 | $19 | $95 |
| Low dose CT scan of chest for lung cancer screening A specialized CT scan of the chest using a lower radiation dose to screen for lung cancer. |
27 | $74 | $415 |
| 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. |
26 | $154 | $470 |
| 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. |
23 | $157 | $295 |
| CT scan of abdomen and pelvis with contrast A CT scan that uses dye to create detailed images of the abdomen and pelvis. This imaging test helps doctors examine internal organs and structures in these areas. |
22 | $161 | $1,400 |
| Iron level test | 20 | $6 | $30 |
| C-reactive protein test (inflammation marker) A blood test that measures the level of C-reactive protein to detect the presence of infection or inflammation in the body. |
18 | $5 | $40 |
| Stool test for hidden blood (FIT) A laboratory test that analyzes a stool sample to detect hidden blood using an immunoassay method. |
17 | $16 | $45 |
| Bacterial culture, aerobic A laboratory test that grows and identifies bacteria capable of surviving in oxygen. The results help determine the presence of specific aerobic microorganisms. |
17 | $8 | $45 |
| Antibiotic sensitivity test A laboratory test that determines which antibiotics, antifungals, or antivirals are effective against a specific microorganism using microdilution or agar dilution methods. |
17 | $8 | $40 |
| Liver function blood test panel | 16 | $8 | $50 |
| Folic acid level test A blood test that measures the amount of folic acid in the serum. |
16 | $14 | $75 |
| 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. |
16 | $9 | $45 |
| Sed rate test (inflammation marker) This automated test measures how quickly red blood cells settle in a tube to detect inflammation in the body. |
16 | $3 | $25 |
| 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. |
16 | $77 | $243 |
| 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. |
16 | $36 | $125 |
| PSA test (prostate cancer screening) | 15 | $18 | $85 |
| Injection, methylprednisolone acetate, 40 mg | 15 | $6 | $35 |
| LDL cholesterol level test A blood test that measures the amount of low-density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol in your blood. LDL is often referred to as "bad" cholesterol. |
14 | $10 | $35 |
| MRI of brain with and without contrast An MRI scan of the brain using contrast dye both before and after administration to provide detailed images of brain structures. |
13 | $160 | $2,030 |
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 ↗$1,302
Total received (2018-2024)
Avg $325/year across 4 years
Top 37% in GA for family medicine
A higher payment rank reflects disclosed industry relationships (consulting, research, speaking) common among subspecialists — not wrongdoing.
20
Companies
70
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
$1,302 (100.0%)
Payment trend by year
Annual totals from pharmaceutical and medical device companies.
2024
$937
2023
$294
2019
$45
2018
$26
Payments by company (2024)
Consulting
Speaking
Meals & Travel
Research
Novo Nordisk Inc
$166
ABBVIE INC.
$108
PFIZER INC.
$101
GlaxoSmithKline, LLC.
$101
Boehringer Ingelheim Pharmaceuticals, Inc.
$64
Phathom Pharmaceuticals, Inc.
$64
Lilly USA, LLC
$51
Abbott Laboratories
$49
Janssen Pharmaceuticals, Inc
$47
Amgen Inc.
$45
Optinose US, Inc.
$29
Axsome Therapeutics, Inc.
$26
SHIELD THERAPEUTICS INC
$23
IDORSIA PHARMACEUTICALS US INC
$20
AstraZeneca Pharmaceuticals LP
$15
Bayer Healthcare Pharmaceuticals Inc.
$15
SCILEX PHARMACEUTICALS INC.
$14
Top 3 companies account for 39.9% of 2024 payments
All-time payments by company (2018-2024) ›
Novo Nordisk Inc
$197
GlaxoSmithKline, LLC.
$167
PFIZER INC.
$155
ABBVIE INC.
$108
Lilly USA, LLC
$94
Amgen Inc.
$82
Boehringer Ingelheim Pharmaceuticals, Inc.
$64
Abbott Laboratories
$64
Phathom Pharmaceuticals, Inc.
$64
Axsome Therapeutics, Inc.
$55
AbbVie Inc.
$54
Janssen Pharmaceuticals, Inc
$47
Optinose US, Inc.
$29
Ethicon US, LLC
$25
SHIELD THERAPEUTICS INC
$23
IDORSIA PHARMACEUTICALS US INC
$20
AstraZeneca Pharmaceuticals LP
$15
Bayer Healthcare Pharmaceuticals Inc.
$15
SCILEX PHARMACEUTICALS INC.
$14
Sumitomo Pharma America, Inc.
$11
Top 3 companies account for 39.9% of all-time payments
Associated products mentioned in payments ›
ACCRUFER · AREXVY · Auvelity · BEXSERO · BREZTRI · ELIQUIS · ELYXYB - CELECOXIB · EVENITY · FREESTYLE LIBRE 3 · FreeStyle Libre blood glucose Flash Monitoring System · GEMTESA · JARDIANCE · Kerendia · LINX Reflux Management System · MOUNJARO · NURTEC ODT · OFEV · Otezla · Ozempic · PREVNAR 20 · QULIPTA · QUVIVIQ · Rybelsus · TRELEGY ELLIPTA · UBRELVY · VOQUEZNA · VRAYLAR · Wegovy · XARELTO · Xhance
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.
Geographic Context
Family medicine physicians within 10 mi
265
Per 100K population
238.4
County median income
$79,431
Nearest hospital
PIEDMONT CARTERSVILLE MEDICAL CENTER
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. Sward is a clinical cardiology specialist, with above-average Medicare volume (top 3% in GA), with low-engagement 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. Sward experienced with contrast dye for imaging (iodine-based)?
Based on Medicare claims data, Dr. Sward performed 2,120 contrast dye for imaging (iodine-based) 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. Sward receive payments from pharmaceutical companies?
Yes. Dr. Sward received a total of $1,302 from 20 companies across 70 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. Sward's costs compare to other family medicine physicians in Cartersville?
Dr. Sward's average Medicare payment per service is $22. 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. Sward) 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 Family Medicine
Common procedures, typical costs, and what industry payments mean in family medicine.
Same specialty & city
Family Medicine Physicians in Cartersville
Browse family medicine physicians in Cartersville ranked by procedure volume and transparency data.
Highest volume
Top Family Medicine Physicians in GA
Family medicine physicians ranked by total Medicare services performed statewide.
Industry payments
Pharma Payments to Family Medicine Physicians in GA
Which GA family medicine physicians receive the most from drug and device companies.
By company
Novo Nordisk Inc Payments to Doctors
See all physicians who received payments from Novo Nordisk Inc.
By company
GlaxoSmithKline, LLC. Payments to Doctors
See all physicians who received payments from GlaxoSmithKline, LLC.
By company
PFIZER INC. Payments to Doctors
See all physicians who received payments from PFIZER INC.
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