Medicare Enrolled
Dr. Christopher Walls, M.D
Vascular Surgery Physician · Savannah, 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. Walls 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. Walls?
Request a correction or review of any data shown here. Provider portal →
What this data tells you about Dr. Walls
Dr. Christopher Walls is a vascular surgery physician in Savannah, GA, with 20 years of NPI registration. Based on federal Medicare data, Dr. Walls performed 3,138 Medicare services across 731 unique beneficiaries.
Between the years covered by Open Payments, Dr. Walls received a total of $23,387 from 34 pharmaceutical and/or device companies across 148 individual payments. These payments are legal, publicly disclosed under the federal Sunshine Act, and common in vascular surgery physician. Payments are distributed across multiple categories and often reflect legitimate professional engagement with the medical industry. Patients may wish to discuss these relationships with their provider.
The Data Coverage level for Dr. Walls 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.
✓ 20 years in practice
▲ Top 12% volume in GA
$23,387 industry payments
Medicare Practice Summary
Medicare Utilization ↗3,138
Medicare services
Top 12% in GA for vascular surgery physician
731
Unique beneficiaries
$24
Avg. Medicare payment
Medicare patients only (65+ / disabled) · How to read this →
~157 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, lower concentration | 2,127 | $0 | $2 |
| 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. |
176 | $60 | $173 |
| 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. |
103 | $93 | $256 |
| Ultrasound of head and neck blood flow, bilateral An ultrasound exam that uses sound waves to visualize and assess blood flow in the vessels of both the head and the neck. |
90 | $127 | $507 |
| Additional sedation, per 15 minutes Administration of a drug to deepen sedation during a procedure. This code covers each additional 15-minute increment of sedation beyond the initial period. |
72 | $8 | $25 |
| 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. |
69 | $38 | $81 |
| Midazolam injection, per 1 mg Administration of midazolam hydrochloride, a sedative medication, measured in 1 mg increments. |
62 | $0 | $2 |
| Ultrasound of leg arteries or grafts An ultrasound exam that uses sound waves to create images of the arteries in one leg or any grafts present in that leg. |
50 | $88 | $384 |
| 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. |
41 | $98 | $336 |
| Ultrasound guidance for blood vessel access Use of ultrasound imaging to help locate and access a blood vessel. This guidance assists healthcare providers in performing procedures such as inserting IV lines or drawing blood. |
38 | $29 | $80 |
| Ultrasound of arm or leg veins An ultrasound exam of the veins in one arm or leg using compression and other maneuvers to assess blood flow and check for blockages. |
33 | $81 | $371 |
| 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. |
32 | $122 | $344 |
| 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. |
29 | $37 | $120 |
| Injection, fentanyl citrate, 0.1 mg | 27 | $1 | $2 |
| Ultrasound of arm and leg arteries This procedure uses sound waves to create images of the blood vessels in the arms and legs. It allows healthcare providers to examine the structure and blood flow within these arteries. |
25 | $52 | $320 |
| Ultrasound of arm or leg veins An ultrasound exam of the veins in the arm or leg. The test uses sound waves to check blood flow and may include compression and other maneuvers. |
25 | $136 | $560 |
| 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. |
24 | $81 | $256 |
| Complete ultrasound of abdomen and pelvis blood flow This procedure uses sound waves to create images of blood flow in the arteries and veins of the abdomen and pelvis. It evaluates the rate and direction of blood movement within these vessels. |
23 | $193 | $836 |
| 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. |
20 | $109 | $396 |
| Radiologist review of arm or leg artery image A radiologist reviews images of the arteries in the arm or leg. This process involves analyzing the visual data to assess the blood vessels. |
16 | $113 | $1,178 |
| Ultrasound of leg arteries or grafts An imaging test that uses sound waves to create pictures of the blood vessels in the legs or any surgical grafts present. |
16 | $151 | $654 |
| Complete ultrasound of aorta, vena cava, groin vessels or bypass grafts A complete ultrasound exam of the aorta, vena cava, groin vessels, or bypass grafts. This imaging test uses sound waves to visualize these blood vessels. |
16 | $115 | $527 |
| Endoscopic insertion of abdominal cavity tube A tube is placed into the abdominal cavity using an endoscope, which is a flexible instrument with a camera used to guide the procedure. |
12 | $301 | $832 |
| Ultrasound of aorta, vena cava, groin vessels or bypass grafts This procedure uses sound waves to create images of the aorta, vena cava, groin vessels, or bypass grafts. It allows for the visualization of these blood vessels and any surgical grafts. |
12 | $79 | $364 |
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.
0.9% high complexity
80.2% medium
18.9% routine
Industry Payment Transparency
Open Payments through 2024 ↗$23,387
Total received (2018-2024)
Avg $3,341/year across 7 years
Top 14% in GA for vascular surgery physician
A higher payment rank reflects disclosed industry relationships (consulting, research, speaking) common among subspecialists — not wrongdoing.
34
Companies
148
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.
Other
Charitable contributions, space rental, and other categories
$15,337 (65.6%)
Meals & Travel
Food, beverages, travel, and lodging — typically low-value
$8,050 (34.4%)
Payment trend by year
Annual totals from pharmaceutical and medical device companies.
2024
$11,101
2023
$6,538
2022
$552
2021
$540
2020
$1,983
2019
$2,101
2018
$570
Payments by company (2024)
Consulting
Speaking
Meals & Travel
Research
AngioDynamics, Inc.
$9,722
GE HEALTHCARE
$412
W. L. Gore & Associates, Inc.
$372
Cook Medical LLC
$185
Silk Road Medical, Inc.
$132
MIMEDX Group, Inc.
$125
Inari Medical, Inc.
$69
CVRx, Inc.
$47
Abbott Laboratories
$37
Top 3 companies account for 94.6% of 2024 payments
All-time payments by company (2018-2024) ›
AngioDynamics, Inc.
$15,394
GE HEALTHCARE
$1,809
W. L. Gore & Associates, Inc.
$1,322
Silk Road Medical, Inc.
$1,095
Medtronic Vascular, Inc.
$611
Cook Medical LLC
$558
Penumbra, Inc.
$392
CVRx, Inc.
$335
Endologix LLC
$288
Boston Scientific Corporation
$246
Medtronic, Inc.
$209
Endologix, Inc.
$179
MIMEDX Group, Inc.
$125
Philips Electronics North America Corporation
$124
Inari Medical, Inc.
$100
Bard Peripheral Vascular, Inc.
$83
E.R. Squibb & Sons, L.L.C.
$67
Abbott Laboratories
$61
BOSTON SCIENTIFIC CORPORATION
$57
Smith & Nephew, Inc.
$47
Smith+Nephew, Inc.
$44
Cardiovascular Systems Inc.
$37
Medtronic USA, Inc.
$32
CARDIVA MEDICAL, INC.
$25
Organogenesis Inc.
$22
Prytime Medical Devices, Inc.
$19
Terumo Medical Corporation
$16
Janssen Pharmaceuticals, Inc
$15
ARALEZ PHARMACEUTICALS US INC.
$14
LeMaitre Vascular, Inc.
$13
PFIZER INC.
$13
Integra LifeSciences Corporation
$12
Tactile Systems Technology Inc
$11
ARGON MEDICAL DEVICES, INC.
$11
Top 3 companies account for 79.2% of all-time payments
Associated products mentioned in payments ›
(6582) Visions 035 · ABRE · AFX · AFX2 Bifurcated Endograft System · ANGIOJET · AURYON LASER SYSTEM 100-120 VAC · AngioJet Ultra 5000A · Auryon Laser System 100-120 Vac · Balloon Sheath with Dilator · Barostim Neo System · COOK · Cardiva VASCADE MVP VVCS 6-12F · Cook Celect · Cook Medical Angioplasty · Cook Medical Zilver PTX · Diamondback Peripheral · ELIQUIS · ENDURANT IIS · ENROUTE Transcarotid Neuroprotection System · ER-REBOA · ESPRIT · EverFlex · FLEXITOUCH · FLOWTRIEVER CATHETER · GENERAL BALLOONS · GENERAL - VASCULAR INTERVENTION · GENERAL THROMBECTOMY · GORE VIABAHN Endoprosthesis · GORE VIABAHN VBX Balloon Expandable Endo · General - Atherectomy · HawkOne · IN.PACT AV · IN.PACT Admiral · INSTRUMENTS-ORTHOPEDIC · Indigo · JETSTREAM · NAVICROSS · OPTION · Ovation · Ovation iX Iliac Stent Graft · PICO · Perclose ProGlide suture mediated closure system · Peripheral Orbital Atherectomy System · Peripheral RotaLink Plus · PlasmaBlade · Puraply · RESTOREFLOW · ROTAPRO · S · SUPERA · Santyl · Stravix · TAG Thoracic Endoprosthesis · TURBOHAWK · VIABAHN Endoprosthesis · VIABAHN Endoprosthesis with Heparin Bioactive Surface · VIABAHN VBX Balloon Expandable Endoprosthesis · WALLSTENT · XARELTO · ZENITH SPIRAL-Z · ZILVER PTX · ZONTIVITY
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.
Geographic Context
Vascular surgery physicians within 10 mi
10
Per 100K population
3.4
County median income
$69,575
Nearest hospital
SAVANNAH HEALTH SERVICES LLC DBA MEMORIAL HEALTH UNIVERSITY 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. Walls is a mixed practice specialist, with above-average Medicare volume (top 12% in GA), with mixed engagement industry engagement in the top 14% of GA peers, with 20 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. Walls experienced with contrast dye for imaging, lower concentration?
Based on Medicare claims data, Dr. Walls performed 2,127 contrast dye for imaging, lower concentration 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. Walls receive payments from pharmaceutical companies?
Yes. Dr. Walls received a total of $23,387 from 34 companies across 148 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. Walls's costs compare to other vascular surgery physicians in Savannah?
Dr. Walls's average Medicare payment per service is $24. 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. Walls) 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
Same specialty & city
Vascular Surgery Physicians in Savannah
Browse vascular surgery physicians in Savannah ranked by procedure volume and transparency data.
Highest volume
Top Vascular Surgery Physicians in GA
Vascular surgery physicians ranked by total Medicare services performed statewide.
Industry payments
Pharma Payments to Vascular Surgery Physicians in GA
Which GA vascular surgery physicians receive the most from drug and device companies.
By company
AngioDynamics, Inc. Payments to Doctors
See all physicians who received payments from AngioDynamics, Inc.
By company
GE HEALTHCARE Payments to Doctors
See all physicians who received payments from GE HEALTHCARE.
By company
W. L. Gore & Associates, Inc. Payments to Doctors
See all physicians who received payments from W. L. Gore & Associates, 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