Medicare Enrolled
Dr. Surendra Avula, MD
Interventional Cardiology · Oak Lawn, IL
Practice pattern: Clinical Cardiology
— Primarily office-based clinical cardiology
Speaking/Promotional
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. Avula 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. Avula
Dr. Surendra Avula is an interventional cardiology specialist in Oak Lawn, IL, with 20 years of NPI registration. Based on federal Medicare data, Dr. Avula performed 2,281 Medicare services across 1,568 unique beneficiaries.
Between the years covered by Open Payments, Dr. Avula received a total of $70,536 from 27 pharmaceutical and/or device companies across 297 individual payments. These payments are legal, publicly disclosed under the federal Sunshine Act, and common in interventional cardiology. The majority of payments are for speaking programs and promotional activities, reflecting participation in industry-sponsored events. Patients may wish to discuss these relationships with their provider.
The Data Coverage level for Dr. Avula 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 43% volume in IL
$70,536 industry payments
Medicare Practice Summary
Medicare Utilization ↗2,281
Medicare services
Top 43% in IL for interventional cardiology
1,568
Unique beneficiaries
$83
Avg. Medicare payment
Medicare patients only (65+ / disabled) · How to read this →
~114 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 (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. |
514 | $66 | $300 |
| Hospital follow-up visit, moderate complexity Follow-up hospital visit for an existing patient involving moderate medical decision making. The visit requires at least 35 minutes of time spent on the date of service. |
378 | $66 | $238 |
| 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. |
143 | $11 | $52 |
| Regadenoson injection (Lexiscan) for heart stress test An injection of regadenoson, a medication used to stress the heart during diagnostic testing. |
136 | $47 | $212 |
| 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. |
128 | $11 | $43 |
| 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. |
116 | $41 | $140 |
| Echocardiogram, transthoracic An ultrasound of the heart that uses color to show blood flow, rate, direction, and valve function. |
105 | $143 | $720 |
| 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. |
96 | $102 | $400 |
| 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. |
75 | $145 | $694 |
| Prothrombin time test (blood clotting) A laboratory test that measures how long it takes for blood to clot. This procedure evaluates the body's coagulation process. |
73 | $4 | $16 |
| Technetium Tc-99m sestamibi diagnostic injection A diagnostic injection of technetium Tc-99m sestamibi used for imaging studies. |
68 | $90 | $420 |
| 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. |
66 | $107 | $467 |
| 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. |
55 | $99 | $356 |
| Coronary angiography A procedure to insert a tube into a coronary artery to capture diagnostic images of the heart's blood vessels. |
41 | $150 | $3,500 |
| Ultrasound of heart blood vessel or graft An ultrasound exam to evaluate blood flow in a heart blood vessel or graft, including a radiologist's review of the initial vessel. |
37 | $78 | $323 |
| 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. |
34 | $351 | $1,700 |
| Exercise or drug-induced heart stress test with ECG A heart stress test performed using exercise or medication while monitoring the electrocardiogram under physician supervision and review. |
34 | $50 | $250 |
| Cardiac catheterization | 33 | $221 | $3,900 |
| Coronary stent placement A procedure to insert a stent into a coronary artery or its branch to keep it open, using balloon dilation during the process. |
27 | $511 | $2,230 |
| 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. |
20 | $145 | $690 |
| Office visit for established patient An office visit for an existing patient that may not require the healthcare professional to be present. |
18 | $19 | $80 |
| Intravascular ultrasound of heart vessel, initial An ultrasound procedure used to evaluate a blood vessel within the heart during a diagnostic or treatment procedure. |
17 | $63 | $245 |
| Right heart catheterization with coronary angiography A procedure to insert a tube into the right side of the heart and coronary arteries to gather diagnostic information, with review by a radiologist. |
16 | $244 | $4,400 |
| Tube insertion in bypass graft for diagnosis A tube is inserted into a bypass graft to allow for diagnostic evaluation. A radiologist reviews the procedure. |
14 | $190 | $3,960 |
| Insertion of tube in right and left heart chambers and coronary artery for diagnosis with review by radiologist | 13 | $300 | $4,700 |
| New patient office visit, complex (60-74 min) | 13 | $154 | $770 |
| Continuous ECG monitoring with transmission and review Continuous electrocardiogram monitoring for up to 30 days with symptom tracking. The data is transmitted and reviewed by a healthcare professional who provides a report. |
11 | $20 | $85 |
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.
8.5% high complexity
15.2% medium
76.3% routine
Industry Payment Transparency
Open Payments through 2024 ↗$70,536
Total received (2018-2024)
Avg $10,077/year across 7 years
Top 4% in IL for interventional cardiology
A higher payment rank reflects disclosed industry relationships (consulting, research, speaking) common among subspecialists — not wrongdoing.
27
Companies
297
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.
Speaking / Promotional
Speaker programs, honoraria, and industry-sponsored educational events
$40,772 (57.8%)
Consulting
Expert advisory fees, typically reflecting recognized clinical expertise
$20,851 (29.6%)
Meals & Travel
Food, beverages, travel, and lodging — typically low-value
$8,913 (12.6%)
Payment trend by year
Annual totals from pharmaceutical and medical device companies.
2024
$801
2023
$4,430
2022
$5,475
2021
$3,838
2020
$2,639
2019
$24,156
2018
$29,196
Payments by company (2024)
Consulting
Speaking
Meals & Travel
Research
Boston Scientific Corporation
$316
Novartis Pharmaceuticals Corporation
$122
Abbott Laboratories
$115
AstraZeneca Pharmaceuticals LP
$93
CARDIVA MEDICAL, INC.
$63
HEARTFLOW, INC.
$23
Novo Nordisk Inc
$22
Janssen Pharmaceuticals, Inc
$21
CVRx, Inc.
$13
ZOLL Services LLC (A/K/A ZOLL LifeCor Corp)
$12
Top 3 companies account for 69.1% of 2024 payments
All-time payments by company (2018-2024) ›
Cardiovascular Systems Inc.
$34,029
Philips Electronics North America Corporation
$20,369
Abbott Laboratories
$9,647
Medtronic Vascular, Inc.
$1,971
ABIOMED
$1,126
Janssen Pharmaceuticals, Inc
$573
Boston Scientific Corporation
$553
BIOTRONIK INC.
$386
AstraZeneca Pharmaceuticals LP
$368
Novartis Pharmaceuticals Corporation
$290
Medtronic, Inc.
$183
Terumo Medical Corporation
$153
Shockwave Medical, Inc
$149
Amgen Inc.
$125
Edwards Lifesciences Corporation
$121
ZOLL Services LLC (A/K/A ZOLL LifeCor Corp)
$103
CARDIVA MEDICAL, INC.
$63
Janssen Scientific Affairs, LLC
$59
E.R. Squibb & Sons, L.L.C.
$54
Esperion Therapeutics, Inc.
$41
Opsens Inc.
$38
PFIZER INC.
$38
Johnson & Johnson Health Care Systems Inc.
$25
HEARTFLOW, INC.
$23
Novo Nordisk Inc
$22
W. L. Gore & Associates, Inc.
$14
CVRx, Inc.
$13
Top 3 companies account for 90.8% of all-time payments
Associated products mentioned in payments ›
(6554) Periph Vasc Undiv · (9266) ELCA · 3F · AZUR · Asahi Fielder coronary guide wire · BRILINTA · Barostim Neo System · CARDIOMEMS · CRESTOR · CVX-300 · Corlanor · Coronary Orbital Atherectomy System · DIAMONDBACK CORONARY · Diamondback Coronary · Diamondback Peripheral · ELIQUIS · ENTRESTO · Euphora · FARXIGA · FFRct · GlideWire · HeartMate Touch · IVUS Systems · Impella · LEQVIO · LINQ II · LifeVest · MetaCross · Misago · NEXLETOL · ONYX FRONTIER · OPTIS · OPTOWIRE · OptoWire · Orsiro · Other · PASCAL · PK Papyrus · PRO-Kinetic Energy · Perclose ProGlide suture mediated closure system · Peripheral Orbital Atherectomy System · Phoenix Catheter System · Pulsar · ROTABLATOR · Repatha · Resolute · SAVVYWIRE · SYNERGY · TR Band · Telescope · US Und · VIABAHN Endoprosthesis · Vascular Lithotripsy · WATCHMAN · WATCHMAN Access System · WATCHMAN FLX · Wegovy · XARELTO · XIENCE V · Xience Sierra Coronary Stent System · Xience V coronary stent system · iFR
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 →
The majority of payments (58%) are for speaking programs and promotional activities, which reflect participation in industry-sponsored educational or marketing events. This is common in interventional cardiology and does not inherently indicate bias, but patients may wish to be aware. Total industry engagement is in the top 4% for interventional cardiology in IL.
Geographic Context
Interventional cardiologists within 10 mi
70
Per 100K population
1.3
County median income
$81,797
Nearest hospital
ADVOCATE CHRIST HOSPITAL & 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. Avula is a clinical cardiology specialist, with moderate Medicare volume, with speaking/promotional industry engagement in the top 4% of IL 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. Avula experienced with office visit, established patient (20-29 min)?
Based on Medicare claims data, Dr. Avula performed 514 office visit, established patient (20-29 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. Avula receive payments from pharmaceutical companies?
Yes. Dr. Avula received a total of $70,536 from 27 companies across 297 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. Avula's costs compare to other interventional cardiologists in Oak Lawn?
Dr. Avula's average Medicare payment per service is $83. 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. Avula) 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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