Medicare Enrolled
Dr. Merrie Hamby, NP
Nurse Practitioner - Family · Toccoa, 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. Hamby 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. Hamby?
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What this data tells you about Dr. Hamby
Dr. Merrie Hamby is a nurse practitioner - family in Toccoa, GA, with 8 years of NPI registration. Based on federal Medicare data, Dr. Hamby performed 3,158 Medicare services across 1,783 unique beneficiaries.
Between the years covered by Open Payments, Dr. Hamby received a total of $2,065 from 27 pharmaceutical and/or device companies across 122 individual payments. These payments are legal, publicly disclosed under the federal Sunshine Act, and common in nurse practitioner - family. 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. Hamby 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
$2,065 industry payments
Medicare Practice Summary
Medicare Utilization ↗3,158
Medicare services
Top 3% in GA for nurse practitioner - family
1,783
Unique beneficiaries
$24
Avg. Medicare payment
Medicare patients only (65+ / disabled) · How to read this →
~395 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. |
445 | $72 | $217 |
| Blood draw (venipuncture) Insertion of a needle into a vein to collect a blood sample. |
294 | $8 | $19 |
| Steroid injection (triamcinolone) A 10 mg injection of triamcinolone acetonide, a corticosteroid medication. This code specifies the drug and dosage administered. |
212 | $1 | $4 |
| Lipid panel (cholesterol and triglycerides) A blood test that measures cholesterol and triglyceride levels. |
207 | $13 | $45 |
| 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. |
175 | $8 | $23 |
| Basic metabolic blood panel A blood test that measures a group of basic chemicals, including total calcium levels. |
168 | $8 | $28 |
| Thyroid stimulating hormone (TSH) test A blood test that measures the level of thyroid stimulating hormone to evaluate thyroid function. |
151 | $16 | $54 |
| 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. |
145 | $8 | $55 |
| 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. |
144 | $0 | $31 |
| Urinalysis with microscopic exam A urine test performed manually that includes examining the sample under a microscope to check for abnormalities. |
131 | $3 | $10 |
| Hemoglobin A1c test (diabetes monitoring) A blood test that measures your average blood sugar levels over the past two to three months. |
129 | $9 | $29 |
| Vitamin D level test A blood test to measure the amount of Vitamin D-3 in your body. |
112 | $29 | $93 |
| Comprehensive metabolic blood panel A blood test that measures a group of chemicals, including glucose, electrolytes, and kidney and liver function markers. |
110 | $10 | $37 |
| 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. |
94 | $53 | $145 |
| Vitamin B-12 level test A blood test that measures the amount of vitamin B-12 in your body. |
86 | $15 | $46 |
| Annual wellness visit, follow-up A follow-up annual wellness visit that includes a personalized prevention plan of service. |
82 | $105 | $243 |
| Liver function blood test panel | 71 | $8 | $33 |
| Iron level test | 57 | $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. |
57 | $9 | $26 |
| Vitamin B-12 injection An injection of vitamin B-12 (cyanocobalamin) with a dose of up to 1000 mcg. |
49 | $1 | $5 |
| Urine microalbumin test (kidney screening) A laboratory test that measures the amount of microalbumin, a small protein, in a urine sample. This test is used to detect early signs of kidney damage. |
41 | $6 | $18 |
| 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. |
36 | $140 | $250 |
| 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. |
27 | $2 | $6 |
| Ferritin level test (iron stores) A blood test that measures the level of ferritin, a protein that stores iron in the body. |
21 | $13 | $41 |
| PSA test (prostate cancer screening) A blood test that measures the level of prostate-specific antigen to screen for prostate cancer. |
21 | $19 | $105 |
| Cholesterol level test A blood test that measures the amount of cholesterol in your body. |
20 | $4 | $15 |
| Free thyroxine (T4) test A blood test that measures the level of free thyroxine, a thyroid hormone, in the bloodstream. |
17 | $9 | $28 |
| 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. |
15 | $26 | $266 |
| 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. |
14 | $72 | $95 |
| Flu vaccine administration This procedure involves the administration of the influenza virus vaccine. It covers the process of delivering the vaccine to the patient. |
14 | $29 | $44 |
| 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. |
13 | $17 | $90 |
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
17.4% medium
81.7% routine
Industry Payment Transparency
Open Payments through 2024 ↗$2,065
Total received (2021-2024)
Avg $516/year across 4 years
Top 16% in GA for nurse practitioner - family
A higher payment rank reflects disclosed industry relationships (consulting, research, speaking) common among subspecialists — not wrongdoing.
27
Companies
122
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
$2,065 (100.0%)
Payment trend by year
Annual totals from pharmaceutical and medical device companies.
2024
$362
2023
$445
2022
$675
2021
$583
Payments by company (2024)
Consulting
Speaking
Meals & Travel
Research
Boehringer Ingelheim Pharmaceuticals, Inc.
$59
ABBVIE INC.
$49
Bayer Healthcare Pharmaceuticals Inc.
$46
Amgen Inc.
$45
Novo Nordisk Inc
$41
PFIZER INC.
$30
Novartis Pharmaceuticals Corporation
$27
GlaxoSmithKline, LLC.
$21
Salix Pharmaceuticals, a division of Bausch Health US, LLC
$16
Lilly USA, LLC
$15
Corcept Therapeutics
$14
Top 3 companies account for 42.5% of 2024 payments
All-time payments by company (2021-2024) ›
ABBVIE INC.
$238
PFIZER INC.
$227
Novo Nordisk Inc
$209
Boehringer Ingelheim Pharmaceuticals, Inc.
$190
Amgen Inc.
$187
Bayer Healthcare Pharmaceuticals Inc.
$137
SANOFI-AVENTIS U.S. LLC
$122
AstraZeneca Pharmaceuticals LP
$110
Lilly USA, LLC
$102
Novartis Pharmaceuticals Corporation
$64
Corcept Therapeutics
$55
GlaxoSmithKline, LLC.
$54
Bayer HealthCare Pharmaceuticals Inc.
$52
Takeda Pharmaceuticals U.S.A., Inc.
$46
Otsuka America Pharmaceutical, Inc.
$46
Amarin Pharma Inc.
$34
Nestle HealthCare Nutrition Inc.
$27
Daiichi Sankyo Inc.
$21
Biohaven Pharmaceutical Holding Company Ltd.
$21
Astellas Pharma US Inc
$20
Genentech USA, Inc.
$18
Salix Pharmaceuticals, a division of Bausch Health US, LLC
$16
Mylan Specialty L.P.
$15
Janssen Pharmaceuticals, Inc
$14
ARBOR PHARMACEUTICALS, INC.
$14
Abbott Laboratories
$13
Merck Sharp & Dohme Corporation
$12
Top 3 companies account for 32.7% of all-time payments
Associated products mentioned in payments ›
Aimovig · BREZTRI · COLOGUARD DNA CAPTURE REAGENTS · ELIQUIS · EMGALITY · ENTRESTO · EVENITY · Edarbyclor · FARXIGA · FreeStyle Libre 2 · GARDASIL 9 · INJECTAFER · INVOKANA · JARDIANCE · Kerendia · Korlym · LEQVIO · MOUNJARO · MYRBETRIQ · NURTEC ODT · Otezla · Ozempic · REXULTI · RYBELSUS · Repatha · Rybelsus · SHINGRIX · SOLIQUA 100/33 · Saxenda · TOUJEO · TRELEGY ELLIPTA · TRINTELLIX · TRULICITY · VIBERZI · VRAYLAR · Vascepa · Wegovy · XIFAXAN · Xofluza · 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.
Geographic Context
Family nurse practitioners within 10 mi
122
Per 100K population
454.5
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. Hamby is a clinical cardiology specialist, with above-average Medicare volume (top 3% in GA), with low-engagement industry engagement in the top 16% of GA peers.
This summary is auto-generated from federal data, describing data availability and patterns. Read our methodology →
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Dr. Hamby experienced with office visit, established patient (30-39 min)?
Based on Medicare claims data, Dr. Hamby performed 445 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. Hamby receive payments from pharmaceutical companies?
Yes. Dr. Hamby received a total of $2,065 from 27 companies across 122 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. Hamby's costs compare to other family nurse practitioners in Toccoa?
Dr. Hamby'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. Hamby) 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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