Medicare Enrolled
Dr. Benjamin Hess, MD
Family Medicine · Tifton, GA
Practice pattern: Mixed Practice
— Diverse clinical practice across multiple procedure types
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. Hess 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. Hess
Dr. Benjamin Hess is a family medicine specialist in Tifton, GA, with 17 years of NPI registration. Based on federal Medicare data, Dr. Hess performed 16,957 Medicare services in 2023. These records do not provide a deduplicated patient total.
Between the years covered by Open Payments, Dr. Hess received a total of $250 from 7 pharmaceutical and/or device companies across 14 payment records. A record can group multiple payments. These transfers are publicly reported through CMS Open Payments. Disclosure alone does not establish their effect on care. A reliable breakdown by payment category is not available in this snapshot. Patients may wish to discuss these relationships with their provider.
The Data Coverage level for Dr. Hess 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.
✓ 17 years of NPI registration
▲ Top 1% volume in GA
$250 industry payments
Medicare Practice Summary — 2023
Medicare Utilization ↗16,957
Medicare services
Top 1% in GA for family medicine
Not available
Unique patients (not deduplicated)
$14
Avg. Medicare payment
Medicare patients only (65+ / disabled) · How to read this →
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. |
6,086 | $0 | $7 |
| 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. |
2,882 | $0 | $14 |
| 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. |
1,861 | $79 | $145 |
| 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. |
1,728 | $9 | $20 |
| Influenza virus detection test A laboratory test that uses an immunoassay technique to detect the presence of the influenza virus through direct visual observation. |
700 | $16 | $35 |
| Ketorolac injection, per 15 mg An injection of ketorolac tromethamine, a nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug, administered in doses measured per 15 mg. |
482 | $0 | $17 |
| SARS-CoV-2 immunoassay test A laboratory test using immunoassay techniques to detect the presence of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus. |
464 | $34 | $65 |
| 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. |
414 | $2 | $17 |
| Blood draw (venipuncture) Insertion of a needle into a vein to collect a blood sample. |
302 | $8 | $10 |
| 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. |
246 | $22 | $70 |
| Albuterol inhalation solution, 1 mg A unit dose of FDA-approved albuterol solution administered via durable medical equipment for inhalation. |
204 | $0 | $2 |
| Steroid injection (triamcinolone) A 10 mg injection of triamcinolone acetonide, a corticosteroid medication. This code specifies the drug and dosage administered. |
190 | $1 | $5 |
| 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. |
174 | $97 | $215 |
| 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. |
154 | $3 | $15 |
| 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. |
101 | $9 | $65 |
| Anti-nausea injection (ondansetron/Zofran) | 98 | $0 | $7 |
| Strep A rapid test A rapid test to detect Group A Streptococcus bacteria using an immunoassay method with direct visual observation. |
78 | $16 | $39 |
| Inhalation treatment for airway obstruction or sputum production A treatment involving the inhalation of medication to help clear airway obstructions or reduce sputum production. |
72 | $6 | $30 |
| Abdominal X-ray, 2 views An X-ray imaging test of the abdomen using two different angles to visualize internal structures. |
52 | $24 | $120 |
| Normal saline infusion, 1000 cc Administration of 1000 cc of normal saline solution into a vein. This procedure involves the intravenous delivery of a sterile saltwater solution. |
50 | $2 | $3 |
| Inhaled ipratropium bromide, unit dose Administration of FDA-approved ipratropium bromide inhalation solution via durable medical equipment in a unit dose form. |
49 | $0 | $5 |
| Ear wax removal A procedure to remove impacted ear wax from the ear canal. |
42 | $32 | $65 |
| Intravenous hydration infusion, 31-60 minutes Administration of fluids into a vein to maintain hydration. This procedure involves an infusion lasting between 31 and 60 minutes. |
39 | $19 | $130 |
| 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. |
39 | $113 | $200 |
| 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. |
37 | $25 | $80 |
| 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. |
34 | $49 | $145 |
| Hip X-ray, 2-3 views An X-ray imaging test of the hip joint using two to three different angles to visualize the bones and surrounding structures. |
30 | $33 | $100 |
| Rib X-ray, minimum 3 views An X-ray imaging test of the ribs on one side of the body. The procedure includes a minimum of three different views to capture detailed images. |
29 | $27 | $100 |
| Shoulder X-ray, 2+ views An X-ray imaging test of the shoulder joint using at least two different angles to visualize the bones and surrounding structures. |
28 | $21 | $75 |
| Foot X-ray, 3+ views An X-ray imaging test of the foot that captures at least three different views to evaluate the bones and joints. |
27 | $20 | $75 |
| 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. |
27 | $57 | $100 |
| Flu vaccine administration This procedure involves the administration of the influenza virus vaccine. It covers the process of delivering the vaccine to the patient. |
27 | $29 | $30 |
| Joint injection, major joint Removal of fluid from a large joint and/or injection of medication into the joint space. |
25 | $40 | $94 |
| Quadrivalent influenza vaccine, preservative-free A flu shot containing four strains of the influenza virus, formulated without preservatives, administered in a 0.5 ml dose. |
23 | $22 | $30 |
| Knee X-ray, 1-2 views An X-ray imaging test of the knee joint using one to two different angles to visualize the bones and surrounding structures. |
22 | $22 | $60 |
| Methylprednisolone injection, up to 125 mg An injection of methylprednisolone sodium succinate, a corticosteroid medication, with a dosage of up to 125 mg. |
21 | $4 | $25 |
| Trigger point injection, 1-2 muscles A procedure involving the injection of medication into one or two specific muscles to treat trigger points. |
19 | $39 | $120 |
| X-ray of hand, minimum of 3 views An X-ray imaging test of the hand that captures at least three different angles to visualize the bones and joints. |
17 | $23 | $73 |
| Wrist X-ray, minimum 3 views An imaging test using X-rays to capture at least three different angles of the wrist bones and joints. |
16 | $28 | $65 |
| 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. |
15 | $21 | $75 |
| Vaccine administration The process of giving a vaccine to a patient. This code covers the administration service only and does not include the cost of the vaccine itself. |
15 | $14 | $30 |
| Ankle X-ray, minimum 3 views An X-ray imaging test of the ankle that captures at least three different angles to evaluate the bones and joints. |
13 | $27 | $70 |
| Abdominal X-ray series with chest X-ray This procedure involves taking a series of X-ray images of the abdomen along with a single X-ray image of the chest. |
13 | $28 | $150 |
| Annual wellness visit, follow-up A follow-up annual wellness visit that includes a personalized prevention plan of service. |
12 | $121 | $148 |
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. These counts do not measure clinical quality or years of experience.
0.5% high complexity
68.0% medium
31.5% routine
Industry Payment Transparency
Open Payments through 2024 ↗$250
Total received (2018-2024)
Avg $50/year across 5 years
Bottom 36% in GA for family medicine
7
Companies
14
Payment records
Payments are publicly reported; disclosure does not establish legality · Not evidence of wrongdoing · How to interpret →
Payment categories are unavailable while the source breakdown is being rebuilt. Company and year totals do not identify how much belongs to each category.
Payment trend by year
Annual totals from pharmaceutical and medical device companies.
2024
$57
2023
$59
2022
$72
2021
$49
2018
$13
Payments by company (2024)
ABBVIE INC.
$57
Top 3 companies account for 100.0% of 2024 payments
All-time payments by company (2018-2024) ›
ABBVIE INC.
$98
Galderma Laboratories, L.P.
$61
Baxter Healthcare
$23
Welch Allyn
$23
Allergan, Inc.
$18
Inogen, Inc.
$15
Horizon Pharma plc
$13
Top 3 companies account for 72.8% of all-time payments
Associated products mentioned in payments ›
BOTOX · DUEXIS · InogenOne · None
Should you be concerned? Industry payments are disclosed through CMS Open Payments. Disclosure alone does not establish their purpose, legality, or effect on care. 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 →
Geographic Context
Family medicine physicians in nearby ZIP areas
40
County median income
$53,165
Nearest hospital to ZIP centroid (approximate)
TIFT REGIONAL MEDICAL CENTER
0.0 mi
0.0 mi
Data Sources
| Provider Registry | ✓ NPPES | NPPES snapshot; verify current record |
| Medicare Enrollment | ✓ PECOS | PECOS snapshot |
| Practice Data | ✓ Medicare Util. | Annual (CY lag) |
| Industry Payments | ✓ Open Payments | CY 2024 |
| Disciplinary History | — Not included | 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. Hess is a mixed practice specialist, with above-average Medicare volume (top 1% in GA), with 17 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. Hess experienced with dexamethasone injection (steroid)?
Based on Medicare claims data, Dr. Hess performed 6,086 dexamethasone injection (steroid) services. These records cover Medicare fee-for-service activity, including eligible younger beneficiaries; they do not measure total practice volume or clinical quality.
Does Dr. Hess receive payments from pharmaceutical companies?
Yes. Dr. Hess received a total of $250 from 7 companies across 14 payment records. A record can group multiple payments. These transfers are publicly disclosed through CMS Open Payments. Disclosure alone does not establish their legality or effect on care. 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. Hess's costs compare to other family medicine physicians in Tifton?
Dr. Hess's average Medicare payment per service is $14. 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. Hess) 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 the presence of registry, enrollment, activity or payment records, not verified experience or clinical quality. 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?
Source publication dates and the snapshots loaded on this site can differ. Rebuilding a page does not refresh its source records. Check the Medicare reporting year and the payment interval shown above; consult the linked official sources for newer releases and current registry details. See our data freshness policy →
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About this page
This page combines public CMS records with calculated summaries and explanatory procedure labels. These transformations are not verbatim federal records. Sources: 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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