Medicare Enrolled
Dr. Betsy Grunch, MD
Neurological Surgery · Gainesville, GA
Practice pattern: Mixed Practice
— Diverse clinical practice across multiple procedure types
Mixed 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. Grunch 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. Grunch
Dr. Betsy Grunch is a neurological surgery specialist in Gainesville, GA, with 18 years of NPI registration. Based on federal Medicare data, Dr. Grunch performed 1,913 Medicare services across 1,589 unique beneficiaries.
Between the years covered by Open Payments, Dr. Grunch received a total of $925,051 from 59 pharmaceutical and/or device companies across 656 individual payments. These payments are legal, publicly disclosed under the federal Sunshine Act, and common in neurological surgery. The majority of payments are classified as financial or ownership interests (royalties, licensing fees, or investment interests). Patients may wish to discuss these relationships with their provider.
The Data Coverage level for Dr. Grunch 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.
✓ 18 years in practice
▲ Top 5% volume in GA
$925,051 industry payments
Medicare Practice Summary
Medicare Utilization ↗1,913
Medicare services
Top 5% in GA for neurological surgery
1,589
Unique beneficiaries
$145
Avg. Medicare payment
Medicare patients only (65+ / disabled) · How to read this →
~106 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| X-ray of lower and sacral spine, minimum of 4 views An X-ray imaging test of the lower back and sacrum using at least four different angles to visualize the bones and joints. |
371 | $33 | $151 |
| 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. |
188 | $24 | $111 |
| X-ray of upper spine, 4-5 views An X-ray imaging test of the upper spine using 4 to 5 different views to visualize the bones and structures in that area. |
128 | $34 | $146 |
| 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. |
116 | $132 | $225 |
| 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. |
105 | $26 | $199 |
| 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. |
97 | $91 | $160 |
| X-ray of middle spine, 2 views An X-ray imaging test that produces two views of the middle section of the spine to visualize the bones and joints. |
68 | $23 | $106 |
| Spinal fusion of additional segment A surgical procedure to join an additional section of the spine to the existing fusion. This is performed as a separate or subsequent step to stabilize more of the spinal column. |
66 | $275 | $2,115 |
| Imaging guidance for procedure, 60 minutes or less Use of imaging technology to guide a medical procedure. This service lasts 60 minutes or less. |
63 | $12 | $77 |
| Blood draw (venipuncture) Insertion of a needle into a vein to collect a blood sample. |
58 | $8 | $30 |
| Spine fusion with cage or mesh device insertion A surgical procedure to fuse spine bones by inserting a cage or mesh device into the disc space. |
56 | $199 | $1,600 |
| 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. |
47 | $64 | $115 |
| 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. |
43 | $8 | $45 |
| Ketorolac injection, per 15 mg An injection of ketorolac tromethamine, a nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug, administered in doses measured per 15 mg. |
41 | $0 | $20 |
| Partial removal of spine bone with nerve release, each additional segment This procedure involves the partial removal of spinal bone to relieve pressure on the spinal cord or nerves. It is billed for each additional spinal segment treated beyond the initial segment. |
39 | $163 | $2,450 |
| Basic metabolic blood panel A blood test that measures a group of basic chemicals, including total calcium levels. |
33 | $8 | $50 |
| Spinal neurostimulator generator insertion Surgical placement of a spinal neurostimulator generator or receiver device. |
32 | $153 | $3,084 |
| Spinal bone removal for neurostimulator electrode insertion This procedure involves removing a portion of the spine bone to create space for inserting a neurostimulator electrode plate into the spinal area. |
29 | $649 | $5,890 |
| Betamethasone steroid injection An injection containing a combination of betamethasone acetate and betamethasone sodium phosphate. |
28 | $5 | $15 |
| Partial removal of spine bone with nerve release, 1 segment A surgical procedure involving the partial removal of a bone segment in the spine to relieve pressure on the spinal cord or nerves. This is performed on a single spinal segment. |
25 | $788 | $7,519 |
| X-ray of middle and lower spine, 2 views An X-ray imaging test that captures two views of the middle and lower sections of the spine to visualize the bones and joints. |
25 | $22 | $111 |
| Anterior lumbar interbody fusion with partial disc removal A surgical procedure to fuse the lower spine bones by accessing the area through the abdomen and partially removing a spinal disc. |
20 | $724 | $6,260 |
| Spinal stabilization device placement, 2-3 segments Surgical placement of a device to stabilize the front of two to three spinal segments. |
20 | $571 | $6,090 |
| Spinal fusion with disc removal and nerve release, 1 disc This surgery connects two or more vertebrae in the upper spine to stabilize the area. It involves removing a damaged disc and relieving pressure on the spinal cord or nerve. |
18 | $1,325 | $7,143 |
| Injection, methylprednisolone acetate, 40 mg | 18 | $5 | $15 |
| Fusion of spine in lower back | 17 | $1,203 | $7,147 |
| Computer-assisted spinal procedure A surgical or diagnostic procedure involving the spine that utilizes computer technology to assist with planning, navigation, or execution. |
16 | $163 | $1,565 |
| 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 | $112 | $245 |
| Partial removal of spine bone with nerve release, 1-2 segments Surgical removal of part of the spinal bone to explore and release the lower spinal cord or nerves. This procedure involves one to two spinal segments. |
15 | $835 | $5,210 |
| Hemoglobin A1c test (diabetes monitoring) A blood test that measures your average blood sugar levels over the past two to three months. |
15 | $10 | $70 |
| Fusion of upper spine bone with removal of disc and release of spinal cord or nerve, each additional disc | 14 | $311 | $1,980 |
| Spinal stabilization device placement, 3-6 segments Surgical placement of a device to stabilize three to six vertebrae in the back. |
13 | $572 | $5,480 |
| Spinal bone removal with nerve release, single segment Surgical removal of a single segment of bone from the middle, lower, or sacral spine to release pressure on the spinal cord or nerves. The procedure is performed through an approach inside the abdominal cavity or behind it. |
13 | $1,463 | $8,365 |
| Spinal stabilization device placement Surgical procedure to stabilize a fractured vertebra in the lower spine by inserting a supportive device. |
12 | $216 | $11,333 |
| Placement of mesh or cage device into spine disc space | 12 | $261 | $2,100 |
| Partial removal of spine bone with nerve release A surgical procedure involving the partial removal of spinal bone to release pressure on the lower spinal cord or nerves, and/or the removal of a spinal disc. |
12 | $652 | $6,043 |
| Partial spine bone removal with nerve release, 1 interspace This procedure involves removing part of the spine bone, re-exploring the area, and releasing the lower spinal cord or nerves, along with removing a disc at one spinal level. |
12 | $899 | $7,858 |
| 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. |
12 | $10 | $40 |
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.
10.0% high complexity
8.5% medium
81.5% routine
Industry Payment Transparency
Open Payments through 2024 ↗$925,051
Total received (2018-2024)
Avg $132,150/year across 7 years
Top 3% in GA for neurological surgery
A higher payment rank reflects disclosed industry relationships (consulting, research, speaking) common among subspecialists — not wrongdoing.
59
Companies
656
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.
Financial / Ownership
Ownership or investment interests, royalties, and licensing fees
$409,610 (44.3%)
Consulting
Expert advisory fees, typically reflecting recognized clinical expertise
$270,639 (29.3%)
Speaking / Promotional
Speaker programs, honoraria, and industry-sponsored educational events
$166,360 (18.0%)
Meals & Travel
Food, beverages, travel, and lodging — typically low-value
$78,442 (8.5%)
Payment trend by year
Annual totals from pharmaceutical and medical device companies.
2024
$277,192
2023
$191,052
2022
$133,408
2021
$101,411
2020
$72,569
2019
$107,148
2018
$42,271
Payments by company (2024)
Consulting
Speaking
Meals & Travel
Research
Hyhte Holdings Inc.
$73,982
ACADIA Pharmaceuticals Inc
$56,000
Spineology Inc.
$40,683
Intrinsic Therapeutics
$19,135
Medtronic, Inc.
$18,339
Choice Spine, LLC
$17,278
MEDACTA USA, INC.
$16,315
Nevro Corp.
$13,616
Cerapedics Inc.
$8,240
Zavation Medical Products, LLC
$4,925
Stryker Corporation
$2,625
MIMEDX Group, Inc.
$1,611
Centinel Spine, LLC
$1,401
Arthrex, Inc.
$1,172
ZIMVIE INC.
$1,126
Boston Scientific Corporation
$447
United Orthopedics LLC
$128
SpineGuard, Inc.
$100
Medical Device Business Services, Inc.
$34
Orthofix Medical, Inc.
$19
Radius Health, Inc.
$17
Top 3 companies account for 61.6% of 2024 payments
All-time payments by company (2018-2024) ›
Hyhte Holdings Inc.
$335,208
Spineology Inc.
$177,686
Choice Spine, LLC
$83,547
ACADIA Pharmaceuticals Inc
$56,000
Nevro Corp.
$48,770
Intrinsic Therapeutics
$41,594
TITAN SPINE, LLC
$32,223
RTI Surgical, Inc.
$18,750
Aesculap Implant Systems, LLC
$18,578
Medtronic, Inc.
$18,382
MEDACTA USA, INC.
$16,397
Clariance SAS
$14,578
Orthofix Medical, Inc.
$12,159
Cerapedics Inc.
$8,656
Medacta USA, Inc.
$6,379
Stryker Corporation
$6,170
Zavation Medical Products, LLC
$5,281
Clariance, Inc.
$4,627
GT Medical Technologies, Inc
$3,625
Centinel Spine, LLC
$2,301
Boston Scientific Corporation
$1,621
MIMEDX Group, Inc.
$1,611
Brainlab, Inc.
$1,603
Titan Spine, LLC
$1,301
Arthrex, Inc.
$1,172
ZIMVIE INC.
$1,126
Alevio, LLC
$961
United Orthopedics LLC
$929
Medtronic USA, Inc.
$423
VGI Medical, LLC
$309
CoreLink, LLC
$286
KCI USA, Inc
$280
Abbott Laboratories
$265
Zimmer Biomet Holdings, Inc.
$248
Radius Health, Inc.
$236
Sanara MedTech Inc.
$200
Ethicon US, LLC
$189
Curiteva, Inc.
$150
Medical Device Business Services, Inc.
$149
Globus Medical, Inc.
$149
DePuy Synthes Sales Inc.
$136
BOSTON SCIENTIFIC CORPORATION
$134
icotec Medical Inc.
$128
SpineGuard, Inc.
$100
Wound Management Technologies, Inc
$91
Kyocera Medical Technologies, Inc.
$53
Smith+Nephew, Inc.
$44
Xtant Medical Inc
$36
Spine Wave, Inc.
$31
Mallinckrodt LLC
$25
PARADIGM SPINE, LLC
$21
SPR Therapeutics, Inc
$21
Pacira Pharmaceuticals Incorporated
$18
Providence Medical Technology, Inc.
$18
Ethicon Inc.
$17
Zyla Life Sciences
$16
Olympus America Inc.
$15
Nanovis LLC
$14
Integra LifeSciences Corporation
$14
Top 3 companies account for 64.5% of all-time payments
Associated products mentioned in payments ›
ACTIVL ARTIFICIAL DISC · AIRO · AMINOS-RT · ASCENT · ASCENT;ASCENT LE;CENTURION · ASCENT;ASCENT LE;FIREBIRD SFS;ICON SFS;SFS · AVS NAVIGATOR · Airo · Arthrex · BARRICAID ACD (ANNULAR CLOSURE DEVICE) · Barricaid Annular Closure Device · Biomet SpinalPak · Biomet SpinalPak Non-invasive Spine Fusion Stimulator System · Buzz · CAVUX Cervical Cage · CODMAN CERTAS · CellerateRx · Cervical Cage · Cervical Plate · Curve · ENNOVATE SPINAL SYSTEM · EVEREST SPINAL SYSTEM · EXPAREL · Elements · Erisma-LP MIS · Exact Trac · FORZA PTC · FREESTYLE LIBRE · FREESTYLE LIBRE 2 · GAMMATILE · GENERAL THERAPIES · GENERAL PAIN MANAGEMENT · GammaTile · General - Pain Management · HARRIER-SA LUMBAR INTERBODY SYSTEM · Harrier SA · Harrier SA Lumbar Interbody System · I-FACTOR PEPTIDE ENHANCED BONE GRAFT · INTELLIS ADAPTIVESTIM · Image Guided Surgical Device · KYPHON Balloon Kyphoplasty · Kick · M6-C · MATRIXNEURO · MYSPINE · MySpine · N/A · NUPLAZID · Node · Novalis · OFIRMEV · OPTIMESH EXPANDABLE INTERBODY FUSION SYSTEM · Olympic MIS · Omnia · OptiMesh Graft Containment · OptiMesh Interbody Fusion System · PICO7 · PREVENA · PRODISC L · PROFICIENT POSTERIOR CERVICAL SPINE SYSTEM · PROLIFT · Pico 14 · Proclaim Family of SCS IPGs · Proclaim IPG · Raven · ReLive · SICURE SACROILIAC JOINT FUSION SYSTEM · SImmetry Sacroiliac Joint Fusion System · SPINEJACK · SPRINT PNS System · SPRIX · STALIF C · STALIF C FLX · STRATAFIX · Senza · Senza Spinal Cord Stimulation System · SiJoin · SlMMETRY · SpF XL IIb Implantable Spinal Fusion Stimulator · Spectra WaveWriter · TITAN ENDOSKELETON · TRITANIUM · Tiger Shark C · TramaCad · Tymlos · UNID_PASS · VICRYL · VIPER · VISTASEAL · VIVIGEN MIS DELIVERY SYSTEM · WAVEWRITER ALPHA · WaveWriter Alpha Prime 16 · XIA · coflex · icotec Medical BlackArmor Spine Oncology System · nanoLOCK · nanoLOCK-C · nanoLOCK-L
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 →
Payments are distributed across multiple categories with no single dominant type. Total industry engagement is in the top 3% for neurological surgery in GA.
Geographic Context
Neurological surgerists within 10 mi
6
Per 100K population
2.9
County median income
$77,430
Nearest hospital
NORTHEAST GEORGIA MEDICAL CENTER, 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. Grunch is a mixed practice specialist, with above-average Medicare volume (top 5% in GA), with mixed engagement industry engagement in the top 3% of GA peers, with 18 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. Grunch experienced with x-ray of lower and sacral spine, minimum of 4 views?
Based on Medicare claims data, Dr. Grunch performed 371 x-ray of lower and sacral spine, minimum of 4 views 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. Grunch receive payments from pharmaceutical companies?
Yes. Dr. Grunch received a total of $925,051 from 59 companies across 656 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. Grunch's costs compare to other neurological surgerists in Gainesville?
Dr. Grunch's average Medicare payment per service is $145. 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. Grunch) 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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