Medicare Enrolled
Dr. James Merritt, MD
Cardiovascular Disease · Rome, 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. Merritt 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. Merritt
Dr. James Merritt is a cardiovascular disease specialist in Rome, GA, with 19 years of NPI registration. Based on federal Medicare data, Dr. Merritt performed 4,059 Medicare services across 3,513 unique beneficiaries.
Between the years covered by Open Payments, Dr. Merritt received a total of $4,091 from 30 pharmaceutical and/or device companies across 221 individual payments. These payments are legal, publicly disclosed under the federal Sunshine Act, and common in cardiovascular disease. 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. Merritt 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 15% volume in GA
$4,091 industry payments
Medicare Practice Summary
Medicare Utilization ↗4,059
Medicare services
Top 15% in GA for cardiovascular disease
3,513
Unique beneficiaries
$50
Avg. Medicare payment
Medicare patients only (65+ / disabled) · How to read this →
~214 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. |
451 | $59 | $177 |
| 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. |
427 | $80 | $234 |
| 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. |
408 | $9 | $64 |
| Echocardiogram, transthoracic An ultrasound of the heart that uses color to show blood flow, rate, direction, and valve function. |
386 | $51 | $202 |
| EKG interpretation and report A standard electrocardiogram test that records the heart's electrical activity using at least 12 leads. The service includes a professional interpretation of the results and a written report. |
293 | $6 | $25 |
| Sedation by physician, initial 15 minutes Administration of a drug to induce depression of consciousness by the physician performing a procedure. This code covers the initial 15 minutes of sedation for patients aged 5 years or older. |
171 | $10 | $40 |
| Hospital follow-up visit, moderate complexity Follow-up hospital visit for an existing patient involving moderate medical decision making. The visit requires at least 35 minutes of time spent on the date of service. |
168 | $60 | $193 |
| 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. |
166 | $4 | $30 |
| Blood draw (venipuncture) Insertion of a needle into a vein to collect a blood sample. |
117 | $8 | $15 |
| Hospital follow-up visit, low complexity Follow-up hospital visit for an established patient with straightforward or low-level medical decision making. The visit requires at least 25 minutes of time spent on the day of service. |
116 | $38 | $105 |
| Exercise or drug-induced heart stress test with ECG A heart stress test performed using exercise or medication while an electrocardiogram is monitored under physician supervision. |
110 | $15 | $79 |
| Exercise or drug-induced heart stress test with ECG A heart stress test performed using exercise or medication while monitoring the electrocardiogram, with physician review of the results. |
102 | $10 | $80 |
| Echocardiogram with color Doppler An ultrasound of the heart that uses color imaging to visualize blood flow, measure flow rate, and assess valve function. |
96 | $2 | $134 |
| Cardiac catheterization | 94 | $195 | $1,187 |
| Initial hospital admission, high complexity Initial hospital inpatient or observation care for a new patient involving high-level medical decision making, with at least 75 minutes total time on the date of the encounter. |
91 | $133 | $405 |
| Nuclear stress test of heart muscle A nuclear medicine imaging test that evaluates blood flow to the heart muscle at rest and during stress using a special camera. |
88 | $55 | $474 |
| Follow-up heart ultrasound An ultrasound of the heart performed to monitor or reassess a previously identified condition or treatment progress. |
86 | $19 | $116 |
| Initial hospital admission, moderate complexity Initial hospital inpatient or observation care for a new patient involving moderate-level medical decision making, with at least 55 minutes total time on the date of the encounter. |
70 | $95 | $296 |
| Basic metabolic blood panel A blood test that measures a group of basic chemicals, including total calcium levels. |
64 | $8 | $50 |
| Echocardiogram, transthoracic An ultrasound test that uses sound waves to create images of the heart's blood flow, valves, and chambers. |
58 | $13 | $109 |
| Lipid panel (cholesterol and triglycerides) A blood test that measures cholesterol and triglyceride levels. |
53 | $13 | $70 |
| Coronary stent placement A procedure to insert a stent into a coronary artery or its branch to keep it open, using balloon dilation during the process. |
53 | $411 | $2,455 |
| Follow-up ultrasound of heart blood flow, valves and chambers An ultrasound exam that follows up on the heart's blood flow, valves, and chambers. It uses sound waves to create images of the heart's structure and function. |
43 | $6 | $22 |
| 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. |
41 | $14 | $80 |
| 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. |
41 | $8 | $40 |
| Transesophageal echocardiogram An ultrasound of the heart performed using a probe inserted into the esophagus to obtain detailed images of heart structures and function. |
41 | $78 | $447 |
| 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. |
41 | $106 | $284 |
| Natriuretic peptide level test A blood test that measures the level of natriuretic peptide, a protein produced by the heart and blood vessels. |
33 | $38 | $90 |
| Hospital discharge day management, 30 minutes or less This service covers the final day of hospital care when the patient is being discharged. It includes coordination of care and instructions for the patient within a time frame of 30 minutes or less. |
33 | $60 | $160 |
| Insertion of tube in left lower heart chamber, coronary artery and bypass graft for diagnosis with review by radiologist | 30 | $212 | $1,241 |
| External shock to heart to regulate heart beat A procedure that delivers an electric shock to the heart from outside the body to restore a normal heart rhythm. |
20 | $78 | $546 |
| Transcatheter aortic valve replacement via femoral artery A minimally invasive procedure to replace a diseased aortic heart valve using a catheter inserted through the skin and femoral artery. |
16 | $583 | $5,407 |
| Stress echocardiogram An ultrasound of the heart performed while at rest and during exercise or drug-induced stress to evaluate heart function under different conditions. |
14 | $49 | $226 |
| Intravascular ultrasound of heart vessel, initial An ultrasound procedure used to evaluate a blood vessel within the heart during a diagnostic or treatment procedure. |
14 | $55 | $244 |
| Comprehensive metabolic blood panel A blood test that measures a group of chemicals, including glucose, electrolytes, and kidney and liver function markers. |
13 | $10 | $60 |
| Thyroid stimulating hormone (TSH) test A blood test that measures the level of thyroid stimulating hormone to evaluate thyroid function. |
11 | $16 | $70 |
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.
16.8% high complexity
13.6% medium
69.7% routine
Industry Payment Transparency
Open Payments through 2024 ↗$4,091
Total received (2018-2024)
Avg $584/year across 7 years
Top 40% in GA for cardiovascular disease
A higher payment rank reflects disclosed industry relationships (consulting, research, speaking) common among subspecialists — not wrongdoing.
30
Companies
221
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
$4,091 (100.0%)
Payment trend by year
Annual totals from pharmaceutical and medical device companies.
2024
$1,159
2023
$690
2022
$548
2021
$534
2020
$471
2019
$380
2018
$310
Payments by company (2024)
Consulting
Speaking
Meals & Travel
Research
Boston Scientific Corporation
$396
Edwards Lifesciences Corporation
$329
Novartis Pharmaceuticals Corporation
$239
CARDIVA MEDICAL, INC.
$46
E.R. Squibb & Sons, L.L.C.
$43
Janssen Pharmaceuticals, Inc
$32
ZOLL Services LLC (A/K/A ZOLL LifeCor Corp)
$19
Novo Nordisk Inc
$19
Lexicon Pharmaceuticals, Inc.
$18
PFIZER INC.
$17
Top 3 companies account for 83.2% of 2024 payments
All-time payments by company (2018-2024) ›
Edwards Lifesciences Corporation
$1,344
Boston Scientific Corporation
$544
Novartis Pharmaceuticals Corporation
$454
Janssen Pharmaceuticals, Inc
$263
AstraZeneca Pharmaceuticals LP
$195
ABIOMED
$159
Abbott Laboratories
$157
Medtronic Vascular, Inc.
$134
Medtronic, Inc.
$98
E.R. Squibb & Sons, L.L.C.
$95
CVRx, Inc.
$76
BOSTON SCIENTIFIC CORPORATION
$61
W. L. Gore & Associates, Inc.
$58
PFIZER INC.
$57
ZOLL Services LLC (A/K/A ZOLL LifeCor Corp)
$48
Chiesi USA, Inc.
$48
CARDIVA MEDICAL, INC.
$46
Cardiovascular Systems Inc.
$37
Actelion Pharmaceuticals US, Inc.
$27
Amgen Inc.
$26
Boehringer Ingelheim Pharmaceuticals, Inc.
$23
Novo Nordisk Inc
$19
Lexicon Pharmaceuticals, Inc.
$18
PORTOLA PHARMACEUTICALS, INC.
$17
Philips Electronics North America Corporation
$16
Horizon Therapeutics plc
$16
ShockWave Medical, Inc
$16
SANOFI-AVENTIS U.S. LLC
$16
Amarin Pharma Inc.
$12
Bardy Diagnostics, Inc.
$10
Top 3 companies account for 57.2% of all-time payments
Associated products mentioned in payments ›
ANDEXXA · AVVIGO Guidance System · BRILINTA · Barostim Neo System · Baylis Medical Company Radiofrequency Puncture Generator · CAMZYOS · CARDIOFORM Septal Occluder · CHANTIX · Carnation Ambulatory Monitor · CoreValve Evolut · Coronary Orbital Atherectomy System · Diamondback Coronary · EDWARDS SAPIEN 3 TRANSCATHETER HEART VALVE (THV) · ELCA · ELIQUIS · ENTRESTO · Edwards SAPIEN 3 Transcatheter Heart Valve · Edwards SAPIEN 3 Ultra Transcatheter Heart Valve · Engager · FARXIGA · GENERAL - THERAPIES · GORE CARDIOFORM Septal Occluder · Impella · KENGREAL · KRYSTEXXA · LEQVIO · LOTUS EDGE · LifeVest · OPSUMIT · OPTOWIRE · Ozempic · PRADAXA · PRALUENT · ROTABLATOR · Repatha · Resolute · SAPIEN 3 Ultra RESILIA · SAVVYWIRE · SHOCKWAVE IVL SYSTEM WITH THE SHOCKWAVE C2 CORONARY IVL CATHETER · SYNERGY · UPTRAVI · VYNDAQEL · Vascepa · WATCHMAN Access System · WATCHMAN FLX · XARELTO · Xience Sierra CSS · Xience Sierra Coronary Stent
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
Cardiologists within 10 mi
15
Per 100K population
15.2
County median income
$62,540
Nearest hospital
ADVENTHEALTH REDMOND
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. Merritt is a clinical cardiology specialist, with above-average Medicare volume (top 15% 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. Merritt experienced with office visit, established patient (20-29 min)?
Based on Medicare claims data, Dr. Merritt performed 451 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. Merritt receive payments from pharmaceutical companies?
Yes. Dr. Merritt received a total of $4,091 from 30 companies across 221 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. Merritt's costs compare to other cardiologists in Rome?
Dr. Merritt's average Medicare payment per service is $50. 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. Merritt) 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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