Medicare Enrolled
Dr. Riddhi Merchant, MD
Emergency Medicine · Mcdonough, 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. Merchant 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. Merchant
Dr. Riddhi Merchant is an emergency medicine specialist in Mcdonough, GA, with 18 years of NPI registration. Based on federal Medicare data, Dr. Merchant performed 5,933 Medicare services across 2,580 unique beneficiaries.
Between the years covered by Open Payments, Dr. Merchant received a total of $81 from 5 pharmaceutical and/or device companies across 5 individual payments. These payments are legal, publicly disclosed under the federal Sunshine Act, and common in emergency 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. Merchant 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 0% volume in GA
$81 industry payments
Medicare Practice Summary
Medicare Utilization ↗5,933
Medicare services
Top 0% in GA for emergency medicine
2,580
Unique beneficiaries
$25
Avg. Medicare payment
Medicare patients only (65+ / disabled) · How to read this →
~330 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Dexamethasone injection (steroid) An injection of dexamethasone sodium phosphate, a corticosteroid medication, administered in a dose of 1 milligram. |
1,716 | $0 | $0 |
| 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. |
523 | $89 | $275 |
| 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. |
416 | $0 | $4 |
| 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. |
338 | $9 | $54 |
| 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. |
338 | $62 | $197 |
| Lidocaine HCl injection for IV infusion, 10 mg Administration of a 10 mg dose of lidocaine hydrochloride via intravenous infusion. |
288 | $0 | $15 |
| Urinalysis, manual A manual laboratory examination of a urine sample to check for various substances and cells. |
256 | $3 | $22 |
| Influenza virus detection test A laboratory test that uses an immunoassay technique to detect the presence of the influenza virus through direct visual observation. |
242 | $16 | $73 |
| COVID-19 viral test, non-CDC A laboratory test to detect the SARS-CoV-2 virus (COVID-19) using any technique and targeting multiple types or subtypes. This specific code is for tests performed by laboratories that are not the CDC. |
197 | $49 | $100 |
| 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. |
139 | $46 | $92 |
| Strep A rapid test A rapid test to detect Group A Streptococcus bacteria using an immunoassay method with direct visual observation. |
131 | $16 | $41 |
| 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. |
125 | $80 | $267 |
| SARS-CoV-2 immunoassay test A laboratory test using immunoassay techniques to detect the presence of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus. |
119 | $33 | $138 |
| Ketorolac injection, per 15 mg An injection of ketorolac tromethamine, a nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug, administered in doses measured per 15 mg. |
110 | $0 | $1 |
| 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. |
90 | $120 | $393 |
| Annual depression screening | 85 | $17 | $40 |
| Intravenous infusion, 1 hour or less Administration of medication or fluid directly into a vein for therapeutic, preventive, or diagnostic purposes. The procedure lasts one hour or less. |
81 | $46 | $250 |
| Multiplex respiratory virus test (COVID-19, flu, RSV) A laboratory test that uses a multiplex amplified probe technique to detect severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), influenza virus types A and B, and respiratory syncytial virus (RSV). |
79 | $140 | $250 |
| 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. |
74 | $34 | $75 |
| Blood draw (venipuncture) Insertion of a needle into a vein to collect a blood sample. |
72 | $8 | $13 |
| Blood glucose test using hand-held instrument A test that measures the level of sugar in the blood using a portable device. The result helps monitor blood glucose levels. |
71 | $3 | $18 |
| 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. |
53 | $21 | $113 |
| Anti-nausea injection (ondansetron/Zofran) | 53 | $0 | $15 |
| Inhaled albuterol and ipratropium bromide via DME Administration of FDA-approved albuterol and ipratropium bromide medication through durable medical equipment. |
51 | $0 | $5 |
| Spirometry test before and after medication A test that measures the amount of air you can exhale and the speed of your breathing before and after taking a medication. |
40 | $23 | $145 |
| 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. |
39 | $10 | $66 |
| Advance care planning consultation, first 30 min A session focused on discussing and documenting future healthcare preferences and goals. This service covers the initial 30 minutes of the planning discussion. |
36 | $63 | $75 |
| Inhalation treatment for airway obstruction or sputum production A treatment involving the inhalation of medication to help clear airway obstructions or reduce sputum production. |
33 | $6 | $60 |
| Breathing device use evaluation An assessment of how a patient uses a breathing device. The provider reviews the patient's technique and device handling. |
33 | $11 | $45 |
| Drug test with direct observation A drug screening test performed under direct observation to ensure the sample is provided correctly. This method is used to verify the integrity of the specimen collection process. |
30 | $11 | $46 |
| Annual wellness visit, follow-up A follow-up annual wellness visit that includes a personalized prevention plan of service. |
21 | $122 | $243 |
| Wound tissue removal, 20 sq cm or less This procedure involves the removal of tissue from a wound area measuring 20 square centimeters or less. |
15 | $56 | $117 |
| Intravenous drug injection A procedure involving the administration of a medication or substance directly into a vein. |
14 | $25 | $88 |
| Chronic care management services Comprehensive assessment and care planning for patients requiring ongoing chronic care management. |
13 | $41 | $120 |
| Vitamin B-12 injection An injection of vitamin B-12 (cyanocobalamin) with a dose of up to 1000 mcg. |
12 | $1 | $14 |
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.
6.2% high complexity
44.8% medium
49.0% routine
Industry Payment Transparency
Open Payments through 2024 ↗$81
Total received (2020-2024)
Avg $20/year across 4 years
Bottom 44% in GA for emergency medicine
5
Companies
5
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
$61 (75.3%)
Speaking / Promotional
Speaker programs, honoraria, and industry-sponsored educational events
$20 (24.7%)
Payment trend by year
Annual totals from pharmaceutical and medical device companies.
2024
$35
2023
$15
2021
$18
2020
$13
Payments by company (2024)
Consulting
Speaking
Meals & Travel
Research
CSL Behring
$20
Bayer Healthcare Pharmaceuticals Inc.
$15
Top 3 companies account for 100.0% of 2024 payments
All-time payments by company (2020-2024) ›
CSL Behring
$20
AbbVie Inc.
$18
Bayer Healthcare Pharmaceuticals Inc.
$15
ABBVIE INC.
$15
Novo Nordisk Inc
$13
Top 3 companies account for 65.9% of all-time payments
Associated products mentioned in payments ›
Kcentra · Kerendia · Saxenda · VRAYLAR
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 (75%) are for meals and travel — low-value interactions that are common across virtually all practicing physicians.
Geographic Context
Emergency medicines within 10 mi
356
Per 100K population
145.1
County median income
$81,612
Nearest hospital
PIEDMONT HENRY HOSPITAL
7.2 mi
7.2 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. Merchant is a clinical cardiology specialist, with above-average Medicare volume (top 0% in GA), with low-engagement industry engagement, 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. Merchant experienced with dexamethasone injection (steroid)?
Based on Medicare claims data, Dr. Merchant performed 1,716 dexamethasone injection (steroid) 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. Merchant receive payments from pharmaceutical companies?
Yes. Dr. Merchant received a total of $81 from 5 companies across 5 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. Merchant's costs compare to other emergency medicines in Mcdonough?
Dr. Merchant's average Medicare payment per service is $25. 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. Merchant) 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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