Medicare Enrolled
Dr. Robert Cowles, M.D.
Family Medicine · Greensboro, 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. Cowles 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. Cowles
Dr. Robert Cowles is a family medicine specialist in Greensboro, GA, with 21 years of NPI registration. Based on federal Medicare data, Dr. Cowles performed 9,352 Medicare services across 5,039 unique beneficiaries.
Between the years covered by Open Payments, Dr. Cowles received a total of $9,068 from 24 pharmaceutical and/or device companies across 67 individual payments. These payments are legal, publicly disclosed under the federal Sunshine Act, and common in family medicine. 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. Cowles 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.
✓ 21 years in practice
▲ Top 2% volume in GA
$9,068 industry payments
Medicare Practice Summary
Medicare Utilization ↗9,352
Medicare services
Top 2% in GA for family medicine
5,039
Unique beneficiaries
$64
Avg. Medicare payment
Medicare patients only (65+ / disabled) · How to read this →
~445 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 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. |
2,426 | $2 | $12 |
| 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. |
1,707 | $85 | $237 |
| Blood draw (venipuncture) Insertion of a needle into a vein to collect a blood sample. |
767 | $8 | $12 |
| 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. |
687 | $10 | $47 |
| Bladder ultrasound after voiding An ultrasound scan performed after urination to measure the amount of urine remaining in the bladder. |
640 | $7 | $19 |
| 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. |
522 | $0 | $15 |
| Cystourethroscopy A diagnostic exam of the bladder and urethra using an endoscope to visually inspect the urinary tract. |
285 | $170 | $434 |
| 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. |
246 | $111 | $310 |
| 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. |
212 | $67 | $167 |
| Leuprolide acetate (for depot suspension), 7.5 mg | 163 | $134 | $400 |
| Bladder irrigation and/or instillation This procedure involves flushing the bladder with fluid to clear it or introducing medication directly into the bladder. |
143 | $54 | $138 |
| Injection, garamycin, gentamicin, up to 80 mg | 141 | $2 | $11 |
| Complex urodynamic pressure flow study A test that measures the pressure of urine flow in the bladder during voiding to evaluate how well the bladder and urethra are functioning. |
117 | $242 | $655 |
| Electronic assessment of bladder emptying A test that uses electronic monitoring to evaluate how well the bladder empties urine. |
117 | $5 | $26 |
| Non-needle muscle activity measurement of bladder and bowel openings This procedure measures and records the electrical activity of muscles at the bladder and bowel openings without using needles. |
107 | $23 | $122 |
| Abdominal device insertion with pressure and urine flow study A procedure involving the placement of a device into the abdomen, accompanied by a study to measure pressure and urine flow rate. |
107 | $137 | $300 |
| Additional urethral implant in prostate Placement of an additional implant into the urethra within the prostate gland using an endoscope. |
107 | $615 | $1,531 |
| Telephone medical discussion, 11-20 minutes A phone conversation with a physician lasting between 11 and 20 minutes. |
98 | $61 | $167 |
| Injection, cefepime hydrochloride, 500 mg | 71 | $1 | $30 |
| Subcutaneous or intramuscular chemotherapy injection This procedure involves administering anti-cancer hormonal medication through an injection into the tissue under the skin or into a muscle. |
62 | $24 | $60 |
| Ketorolac injection, per 15 mg An injection of ketorolac tromethamine, a nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug, administered in doses measured per 15 mg. |
60 | $0 | $6 |
| Transrectal ultrasound of the pelvis An ultrasound imaging procedure where a probe is inserted into the rectum to visualize pelvic structures. |
57 | $98 | $200 |
| Ultrasound guidance for needle placement Use of ultrasound imaging to guide the precise placement of a needle during a medical procedure. |
56 | $43 | $400 |
| Prostate radiation therapy needle insertion A needle or tube is inserted into the prostate to deliver radiation therapy. |
40 | $587 | $1,459 |
| Ultrasound guidance for radiation therapy Use of ultrasound imaging to guide the administration of radiation therapy. |
40 | $51 | $126 |
| Sacral nerve stimulator electrode insertion A procedure to place an electrode array in the sacral area to deliver electrical stimulation to the nerves. |
39 | $791 | $2,500 |
| Insertion of peripheral or gastric neurostimulator generator A surgical procedure to implant the pulse generator device for a neurostimulator system. The generator is placed under the skin to deliver electrical impulses to nerves or the stomach. |
37 | $71 | $315 |
| Imaging of urinary tract with contrast An imaging test of the urinary tract performed after a contrast agent is injected to enhance visibility of the structures. |
34 | $19 | $46 |
| Simple insertion of temporary bladder tube A procedure to place a temporary tube into the bladder. This allows for the drainage of urine from the bladder. |
31 | $43 | $112 |
| Prostate gland biopsy A procedure to remove small samples of tissue from the prostate gland for laboratory examination. |
30 | $173 | $442 |
| Urethral implant insertion in prostate A single implant is placed into the urethra within the prostate gland using an endoscope. |
25 | $901 | $2,261 |
| Endoscopic urethral incision A procedure where a doctor uses an endoscope to make an incision in the urethra. |
22 | $193 | $494 |
| Injection of biodegradable material next to prostate A procedure involving the injection of a biodegradable substance into the tissue surrounding the prostate gland. |
22 | $2,048 | $5,700 |
| Ureteral stone crushing with stent insertion An endoscope is used to break up a stone in the ureter, followed by the placement of a stent to keep the ureter open. |
21 | $296 | $1,250 |
| Imaging guidance for procedure, 60 minutes or less Use of imaging technology to guide a medical procedure. This service lasts 60 minutes or less. |
21 | $12 | $100 |
| Endoscopic removal of foreign body, stone, or stent from urethra or bladder A procedure to remove a foreign object, stone, or stent from the urethra or bladder using an endoscope. The endoscope is a thin tube with a camera inserted into the urinary tract to locate and extract the item. |
20 | $230 | $582 |
| Sacral nerve stimulator electrode insertion A procedure to place an electrode in the sacral area for nerve stimulation therapy. |
20 | $500 | $1,800 |
| Shock wave crushing of kidney stones A procedure that uses shock waves to break kidney stones into smaller pieces so they can pass more easily from the body. |
19 | $422 | $1,371 |
| Waterjet prostate destruction via urethra A procedure that uses a high-pressure water jet to destroy prostate tissue, accessed through the urethra. |
18 | $599 | $3,000 |
| Midazolam injection, per 1 mg Administration of midazolam hydrochloride, a sedative medication, measured in 1 mg increments. |
15 | $0 | $5 |
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.
0.4% high complexity
26.7% medium
72.9% routine
Industry Payment Transparency
Open Payments through 2024 ↗$9,068
Total received (2018-2024)
Avg $1,295/year across 7 years
Top 6% in GA for family medicine
A higher payment rank reflects disclosed industry relationships (consulting, research, speaking) common among subspecialists — not wrongdoing.
24
Companies
67
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
$7,716 (85.1%)
Meals & Travel
Food, beverages, travel, and lodging — typically low-value
$1,352 (14.9%)
Payment trend by year
Annual totals from pharmaceutical and medical device companies.
2024
$69
2023
$143
2022
$465
2021
$411
2020
$56
2019
$1,996
2018
$5,929
Payments by company (2024)
Consulting
Speaking
Meals & Travel
Research
Axonics, Inc.
$21
PROCEPT BioRobotics Corporation
$18
Olympus America Inc.
$16
Teleflex LLC
$14
Top 3 companies account for 80.1% of 2024 payments
All-time payments by company (2018-2024) ›
NeoTract Inc.
$7,694
Axonics, Inc.
$538
Palette Life Sciences, Inc.
$146
Astellas Pharma US Inc
$143
Richard Wolf Medical Instruments Corp.
$100
Allergan, Inc.
$67
PROCEPT BioRobotics Corporation
$60
AbbVie, Inc.
$45
PALETTE LIFE SCIENCES, INC.
$38
Blue Earth Diagnostics Limited
$28
TOLMAR Pharmaceuticals, Inc.
$25
AbbVie Inc.
$24
Janssen Biotech, Inc.
$18
Olympus America Inc.
$16
Rochester Medical Corporation
$15
BOSTON SCIENTIFIC CORPORATION
$15
UROVANT SCIENCES INC
$14
Travere Therapeutics, Inc.
$14
Teleflex LLC
$14
Boston Scientific Corporation
$13
Allergan Inc.
$13
Cook Medical LLC
$11
Ambu Inc.
$9
Retrophin, Inc.
$7
Top 3 companies account for 92.4% of all-time payments
Associated products mentioned in payments ›
(815) Thiola · AQUABEAM ROBOTIC SYSTEM · AQUABEAM SYSTEM · Androgel · Axonics · Axonics r-SNM System · Axumin · BOTOX · BOTOX THERAPEUTIC · Bulkamid · COOK MEDICAL LASERS · ELIGARD · ERLEADA · GEMTESA · LUPRON DEPOT · Lupron · Lupron Depot · MYRBETRIQ · Myrbetriq · REZUM · SPACEOAR VUE · Thiola · UROLIFT · UroLift · XTANDI · iTIND System
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 (85%) are for speaking programs and promotional activities, which reflect participation in industry-sponsored educational or marketing events. This is common in family medicine and does not inherently indicate bias, but patients may wish to be aware. Total industry engagement is in the top 6% for family medicine in GA.
Geographic Context
Family medicine physicians within 10 mi
46
Per 100K population
234.9
County median income
$84,530
Nearest hospital
ST MARYS GOOD SAMARITAN 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. Cowles is a clinical cardiology specialist, with above-average Medicare volume (top 2% in GA), with speaking/promotional industry engagement in the top 6% of GA peers, with 21 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. Cowles experienced with automated urinalysis?
Based on Medicare claims data, Dr. Cowles performed 2,426 automated urinalysis 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. Cowles receive payments from pharmaceutical companies?
Yes. Dr. Cowles received a total of $9,068 from 24 companies across 67 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. Cowles's costs compare to other family medicine physicians in Greensboro?
Dr. Cowles's average Medicare payment per service is $64. 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. Cowles) 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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