Medicare Enrolled
Dr. Carolina Thomas, FNP
Physician Assistant · Toccoa, GA
Practice pattern: Mixed Practice
— Diverse clinical practice across multiple procedure types
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. Thomas 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. Thomas
Dr. Carolina Thomas is a physician assistant in Toccoa, GA, with 8 years of NPI registration. Based on federal Medicare data, Dr. Thomas performed 2,643 Medicare services across 1,786 unique beneficiaries.
Between the years covered by Open Payments, Dr. Thomas received a total of $4,037 from 31 pharmaceutical and/or device companies across 262 individual payments. These payments are legal, publicly disclosed under the federal Sunshine Act, and common in physician assistant. 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. Thomas 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.
✓ 8 years in practice
▲ Top 3% volume in GA
$4,037 industry payments
Medicare Practice Summary
Medicare Utilization ↗2,643
Medicare services
Top 3% in GA for physician assistant
1,786
Unique beneficiaries
$23
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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 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. |
276 | $65 | $217 |
| Blood draw (venipuncture) Insertion of a needle into a vein to collect a blood sample. |
260 | $8 | $19 |
| Lipid panel (cholesterol and triglycerides) A blood test that measures cholesterol and triglyceride levels. |
151 | $13 | $45 |
| Urinalysis with microscopic exam A urine test performed manually that includes examining the sample under a microscope to check for abnormalities. |
144 | $3 | $10 |
| 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. |
135 | $8 | $23 |
| Comprehensive metabolic blood panel A blood test that measures a group of chemicals, including glucose, electrolytes, and kidney and liver function markers. |
120 | $10 | $37 |
| Vitamin D level test A blood test to measure the amount of Vitamin D-3 in your body. |
120 | $29 | $93 |
| Hemoglobin A1c test (diabetes monitoring) A blood test that measures your average blood sugar levels over the past two to three months. |
114 | $10 | $29 |
| Dexamethasone injection (steroid) An injection of dexamethasone sodium phosphate, a corticosteroid medication, administered in a dose of 1 milligram. |
101 | $0 | $2 |
| Vitamin B-12 level test A blood test that measures the amount of vitamin B-12 in your body. |
99 | $15 | $46 |
| Ferritin level test (iron stores) A blood test that measures the level of ferritin, a protein that stores iron in the body. |
99 | $13 | $41 |
| Iron level test | 99 | $6 | $24 |
| Iron binding capacity test A blood test that measures the amount of iron in the blood and the blood's ability to bind and transport iron. |
99 | $9 | $26 |
| Basic metabolic blood panel A blood test that measures a group of basic chemicals, including total calcium levels. |
95 | $8 | $28 |
| Thyroid stimulating hormone (TSH) test A blood test that measures the level of thyroid stimulating hormone to evaluate thyroid function. |
95 | $16 | $54 |
| Annual wellness visit, follow-up A follow-up annual wellness visit that includes a personalized prevention plan of service. |
90 | $105 | $255 |
| Free thyroxine (T4) test A blood test that measures the level of free thyroxine, a thyroid hormone, in the bloodstream. |
87 | $9 | $28 |
| 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. |
73 | $8 | $54 |
| Cardiac enzyme level (CK-MB) test A blood test that measures the total level of creatine kinase, specifically the cardiac enzyme fraction, to help evaluate heart muscle damage. |
56 | $6 | $21 |
| Magnesium level test A blood test to measure the amount of magnesium in your body. This helps check for magnesium deficiency or excess. |
51 | $7 | $20 |
| Vitamin B-12 injection An injection of vitamin B-12 (cyanocobalamin) with a dose of up to 1000 mcg. |
31 | $1 | $5 |
| Flu vaccine administration This procedure involves the administration of the influenza virus vaccine. It covers the process of delivering the vaccine to the patient. |
28 | $29 | $44 |
| Flu vaccine, high-dose High-dose seasonal influenza vaccine for adults aged 65 and older. Contains four times the antigen of standard-dose flu vaccines (60 mcg per strain), split-virus formulation, preservative-free, single-dose syringe. |
26 | $72 | $95 |
| PSA test (prostate cancer screening) A blood test that measures the level of prostate-specific antigen to screen for prostate cancer. |
22 | $19 | $105 |
| Folic acid level test A blood test that measures the amount of folic acid in the serum. |
21 | $14 | $54 |
| Total testosterone level test A blood test that measures the total amount of testosterone in your body. This hormone is important for various bodily functions in both men and women. |
21 | $25 | $83 |
| Pneumococcal conjugate vaccine (PCV20) An intramuscular injection of the 20-valent pneumococcal conjugate vaccine. It is used to protect against diseases caused by Streptococcus pneumoniae bacteria. |
21 | $282 | $400 |
| Pneumonia vaccine administration This procedure involves the injection of a vaccine to protect against pneumococcal disease. It is administered by a healthcare provider. |
21 | $29 | $44 |
| Phosphate level test A blood test that measures the amount of phosphate in your body. Phosphate is a mineral that helps keep bones and teeth strong. |
19 | $5 | $60 |
| Strep A rapid test A rapid test to detect Group A Streptococcus bacteria using an immunoassay method with direct visual observation. |
16 | $16 | $35 |
| Respiratory virus test for SARS-CoV-2, influenza A/B, and RSV A laboratory test that detects the presence of SARS-CoV-2 (COVID-19), influenza A, influenza B, and respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) in an upper respiratory specimen. |
15 | $140 | $250 |
| PSA test (prostate cancer screening) | 13 | $18 | $61 |
| 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. |
13 | $7 | $73 |
| Bone density scan (DEXA) A test that uses low-dose X-rays to measure bone mineral density in the hip, pelvis, and spine. It helps assess bone strength and risk of fractures. |
12 | $26 | $264 |
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.
Industry Payment Transparency
Open Payments through 2024 ↗$4,037
Total received (2021-2024)
Avg $1,009/year across 4 years
Top 8% in GA for physician assistant
A higher payment rank reflects disclosed industry relationships (consulting, research, speaking) common among subspecialists — not wrongdoing.
31
Companies
262
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
$4,037 (100.0%)
Payment trend by year
Annual totals from pharmaceutical and medical device companies.
2024
$947
2023
$1,049
2022
$1,239
2021
$803
Payments by company (2024)
Consulting
Speaking
Meals & Travel
Research
ABBVIE INC.
$226
Lilly USA, LLC
$155
Otsuka America Pharmaceutical, Inc.
$119
AstraZeneca Pharmaceuticals LP
$104
Salix Pharmaceuticals, a division of Bausch Health US, LLC
$66
Novo Nordisk Inc
$55
GlaxoSmithKline, LLC.
$53
Amgen Inc.
$40
Bayer Healthcare Pharmaceuticals Inc.
$38
Takeda Pharmaceuticals U.S.A., Inc.
$30
Janssen Pharmaceuticals, Inc
$23
Xeris Pharmaceuticals, Inc.
$20
PFIZER INC.
$19
Top 3 companies account for 52.8% of 2024 payments
All-time payments by company (2021-2024) ›
ABBVIE INC.
$905
Lilly USA, LLC
$429
Novo Nordisk Inc
$341
SANOFI-AVENTIS U.S. LLC
$281
Otsuka America Pharmaceutical, Inc.
$269
AstraZeneca Pharmaceuticals LP
$247
PFIZER INC.
$216
Takeda Pharmaceuticals U.S.A., Inc.
$191
GlaxoSmithKline, LLC.
$143
AbbVie Inc.
$132
Boehringer Ingelheim Pharmaceuticals, Inc.
$104
Novartis Pharmaceuticals Corporation
$104
Amgen Inc.
$102
Salix Pharmaceuticals, a division of Bausch Health US, LLC
$100
Bayer Healthcare Pharmaceuticals Inc.
$100
Amarin Pharma Inc.
$52
Bayer HealthCare Pharmaceuticals Inc.
$50
Janssen Pharmaceuticals, Inc
$41
Biohaven Pharmaceutical Holding Company Ltd.
$35
Xeris Pharmaceuticals, Inc.
$20
Lundbeck LLC
$20
Biohaven Pharmaceuticals, Inc.
$20
Astellas Pharma US Inc
$17
Dexcom, Inc.
$17
Esperion Therapeutics, Inc.
$17
Mylan Specialty L.P.
$16
Merck Sharp & Dohme LLC
$15
Axsome Therapeutics, Inc.
$14
Abbott Laboratories
$14
Merck Sharp & Dohme Corporation
$13
Nestle HealthCare Nutrition Inc.
$12
Top 3 companies account for 41.5% of all-time payments
Associated products mentioned in payments ›
AIRSUPRA · Auvelity · BELSOMRA · BREZTRI · COLOGUARD DNA CAPTURE REAGENTS · COMIRNATY · CREON · Dexcom G6 Transmitter · ELIQUIS · EMGALITY · ENTRESTO · EVENITY · Enbrel · FARXIGA · FreeStyle Libre 2 · GVOKE HYPOPEN · JARDIANCE · Kerendia · LEQVIO · LINZESS · MOUNJARO · NEXLETOL · NURTEC ODT · Otezla · Ozempic · PAXLOVID · PREMARIN · QULIPTA · REXULTI · RYBELSUS · Rybelsus · SHINGRIX · SOLIQUA 100/33 · STIOLTO RESPIMAT · Saxenda · TOUJEO · TRELEGY ELLIPTA · TRINTELLIX · TRULICITY · TZIELD · UBRELVY · VIBERZI · VRAYLAR · Vascepa · Veozah · Wegovy · XARELTO · XIFAXAN · Yupelri · ZENPEP
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. Total industry engagement is in the top 8% for physician assistant in GA.
Geographic Context
Physician assistants within 10 mi
21
Per 100K population
78.2
County median income
$52,264
Nearest hospital
STEPHENS COUNTY 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. Thomas is a mixed practice specialist, with above-average Medicare volume (top 3% in GA), with low-engagement industry engagement in the top 8% of GA peers.
This summary is auto-generated from federal data, describing data availability and patterns. Read our methodology →
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Dr. Thomas experienced with office visit, established patient (30-39 min)?
Based on Medicare claims data, Dr. Thomas performed 276 office visit, established patient (30-39 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. Thomas receive payments from pharmaceutical companies?
Yes. Dr. Thomas received a total of $4,037 from 31 companies across 262 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. Thomas's costs compare to other physician assistants in Toccoa?
Dr. Thomas's average Medicare payment per service is $23. 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. Thomas) 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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