Medicare Enrolled
Dr. Karthik Challa, M.D.
Cardiovascular Disease · Elgin, IL
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. Challa 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. Challa
Dr. Karthik Challa is a cardiovascular disease specialist in Elgin, IL, with 16 years of NPI registration. Based on federal Medicare data, Dr. Challa performed 2,248 Medicare services across 1,740 unique beneficiaries.
Between the years covered by Open Payments, Dr. Challa received a total of $13,092 from 34 pharmaceutical and/or device companies across 307 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. Challa 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.
✓ 16 years in practice
▲ Top 44% volume in IL
$13,092 industry payments
Medicare Practice Summary
Medicare Utilization ↗2,248
Medicare services
Top 44% in IL for cardiovascular disease
1,740
Unique beneficiaries
$81
Avg. Medicare payment
Medicare patients only (65+ / disabled) · How to read this →
~140 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, 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. |
634 | $132 | $366 |
| 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. |
598 | $6 | $31 |
| 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. |
108 | $136 | $437 |
| Hospital follow-up visit, high complexity Subsequent hospital inpatient or observation care for an existing patient involving high-level medical decision making, with at least 50 minutes total time on the date of the encounter. |
108 | $90 | $248 |
| 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. |
102 | $11 | $82 |
| Echocardiogram, transthoracic An ultrasound of the heart that uses color to show blood flow, rate, direction, and valve function. |
100 | $160 | $841 |
| 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. |
93 | $155 | $724 |
| 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. |
71 | $10 | $163 |
| 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. |
61 | $16 | $81 |
| 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. |
61 | $10 | $54 |
| 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. |
55 | $54 | $350 |
| Follow-up heart ultrasound An ultrasound of the heart performed to monitor or reassess a previously identified condition or treatment progress. |
34 | $19 | $160 |
| Cardiac catheterization | 34 | $220 | $1,197 |
| Critical care, first 30-74 min Emergency medical care for a critically ill or injured patient lasting between 30 and 74 minutes. This service involves direct patient care and medical decision making to stabilize the patient. |
34 | $166 | $678 |
| New patient office visit, complex (60-74 min) | 30 | $182 | $465 |
| Ultrasound of abdominal aorta An imaging test that uses sound waves to create pictures of the abdominal aorta, the large blood vessel that carries blood from the heart to the lower body. |
21 | $112 | $269 |
| 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. |
21 | $183 | $898 |
| 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. |
20 | $94 | $259 |
| Heart muscle strain imaging | 17 | $8 | $86 |
| 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. |
12 | $5 | $26 |
| 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. |
12 | $134 | $754 |
| Echocardiogram with color Doppler An ultrasound of the heart that uses color imaging to visualize blood flow, measure flow rate, and assess valve function. |
11 | $2 | $32 |
| Insertion of tube in right and left heart chambers and coronary artery for diagnosis with review by radiologist | 11 | $282 | $1,498 |
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.
7.0% high complexity
16.6% medium
76.3% routine
Industry Payment Transparency
Open Payments through 2024 ↗$13,092
Total received (2018-2024)
Avg $1,870/year across 7 years
Top 20% in IL for cardiovascular disease
A higher payment rank reflects disclosed industry relationships (consulting, research, speaking) common among subspecialists — not wrongdoing.
34
Companies
307
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
$13,092 (100.0%)
Payment trend by year
Annual totals from pharmaceutical and medical device companies.
2024
$1,235
2023
$2,595
2022
$1,781
2021
$2,218
2020
$897
2019
$1,141
2018
$3,225
Payments by company (2024)
Consulting
Speaking
Meals & Travel
Research
Boston Scientific Corporation
$219
Siemens Medical Solutions USA, Inc.
$201
Janssen Pharmaceuticals, Inc
$165
Inari Medical, Inc.
$137
Amgen Inc.
$100
Novo Nordisk Inc
$76
ShockWave Medical, Inc
$51
CVRx, Inc.
$48
Edwards Lifesciences Corporation
$46
HEARTFLOW, INC.
$33
Boehringer Ingelheim Pharmaceuticals, Inc.
$28
Novartis Pharmaceuticals Corporation
$27
Abbott Laboratories
$23
AstraZeneca Pharmaceuticals LP
$20
E.R. Squibb & Sons, L.L.C.
$17
W. L. Gore & Associates, Inc.
$16
SCPHARMACEUTICALS INC.
$15
BIOTRONIK INC.
$14
Top 3 companies account for 47.3% of 2024 payments
All-time payments by company (2018-2024) ›
Abbott Laboratories
$3,062
Janssen Pharmaceuticals, Inc
$3,012
Boston Scientific Corporation
$2,182
ABIOMED
$715
Amgen Inc.
$648
BIOTRONIK INC.
$501
Boehringer Ingelheim Pharmaceuticals, Inc.
$362
Inari Medical, Inc.
$312
Siemens Medical Solutions USA, Inc.
$246
Novartis Pharmaceuticals Corporation
$189
BOSTON SCIENTIFIC CORPORATION
$189
PFIZER INC.
$182
Penumbra, Inc.
$147
Shockwave Medical, Inc
$138
Cardiovascular Systems Inc.
$114
LivaNova USA, Inc.
$108
CVRx, Inc.
$107
Medtronic Vascular, Inc.
$106
Edwards Lifesciences Corporation
$103
Novo Nordisk Inc
$99
Terumo Medical Corporation
$96
E.R. Squibb & Sons, L.L.C.
$74
Medtronic, Inc.
$51
ShockWave Medical, Inc
$51
ZOLL Services LLC (A/K/A ZOLL LifeCor Corp)
$50
SANOFI-AVENTIS U.S. LLC
$48
Actelion Pharmaceuticals US, Inc.
$36
SCPHARMACEUTICALS INC.
$35
HEARTFLOW, INC.
$33
Veryan Medical Incorporated
$29
AstraZeneca Pharmaceuticals LP
$20
W. L. Gore & Associates, Inc.
$16
Kestra Medical Technology Services, Inc.
$15
Surmodics, Inc.
$14
Top 3 companies account for 63.1% of all-time payments
Associated products mentioned in payments ›
ACCULINK · AVVIGO Guidance System · AZUR CX DETACHABLE · Asahi Fielder coronary guide wire · Assure WCD · Azur CX Detachable · Barostim Neo System · BioMimics 3D Vascular Stent System · CAMZYOS · CARDIOMEMS · CHANTIX · CONFIRM RX · CROSSBOSS · CT THROMBECTOMY SYSTEM KIT · CardioMEMS HF System · Comet · Corlanor · EDWARDS SAPIEN 3 TRANSCATHETER HEART VALVE (THV) · ELIQUIS · ELUVIA · ENTRESTO · EXCLUDER Conformable AAA Endoprosthesis with Active Control · Emboshield NAV6 system · FARXIGA · FFRct · FLOWTRIEVER CATHETER · FUROSCIX · GENERAL VASCULAR ACCESS · GLIDESHEATH SLENDER · HAWKONE · HeartMate Touch · HeartWare HVAD · HemoSphere · Impella · Indigo System · JARDIANCE · LEQVIO · LIFESPARC · LUX-Dx Insertable Cardiac Monitor · LifeVest · MAMBA · MITRACLIP · Mitra Clip system · MitraClip System · OPSUMIT · Orsiro Mission · PRALUENT · Perclose ProGlide suture mediated closure system · Pounce Thrombectomy System · ROTABLATOR · ROTAPRO · Repatha · Resolute · Rivacor 7 DR-T · Rybelsus · S · SAPIEN 3 Ultra RESILIA · SYNERGY · Shockwave IVL System with the Shockwave C2 Coronary IVL Catheter · THORATEC HEARTMATE 3 LVAS IMPLANT KIT · TR BAND · TandemLife · UPTRAVI · Vascular Lithotripsy · WATCHMAN · WATCHMAN Access System · WATCHMAN FLX · WOLVERINE · Wegovy · XACT · XARELTO · Xact carotid stent system
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
213
Per 100K population
41.3
County median income
$100,678
Nearest hospital
ADVOCATE SHERMAN 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. Challa is a clinical cardiology specialist, with moderate Medicare volume, with low-engagement industry engagement in the top 20% of IL peers, with 16 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. Challa experienced with office visit, established patient, complex (40-54 min)?
Based on Medicare claims data, Dr. Challa performed 634 office visit, established patient, complex (40-54 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. Challa receive payments from pharmaceutical companies?
Yes. Dr. Challa received a total of $13,092 from 34 companies across 307 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. Challa's costs compare to other cardiologists in Elgin?
Dr. Challa's average Medicare payment per service is $81. 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. Challa) 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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