Medicare Enrolled
Dr. Richard Lim, MD
Orthopaedic Surgery of the Spine Physician · Orland Park, IL
Practice pattern: Clinical Cardiology
— Primarily office-based clinical cardiology
Consulting-driven
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. Lim 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. Lim
Dr. Richard Lim is an orthopaedic surgery of the spine physician in Orland Park, IL, with 20 years of NPI registration. Based on federal Medicare data, Dr. Lim performed 3,538 Medicare services across 2,387 unique beneficiaries.
Between the years covered by Open Payments, Dr. Lim received a total of $34,092 from 14 pharmaceutical and/or device companies across 116 individual payments. These payments are legal, publicly disclosed under the federal Sunshine Act, and common in orthopaedic surgery of the spine physician. The majority of payments are for consulting, which typically reflects recognized clinical expertise sought by manufacturers. Patients may wish to discuss these relationships with their provider.
The Data Coverage level for Dr. Lim 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 6% volume in IL
$34,092 industry payments
Medicare Practice Summary
Medicare Utilization ↗3,538
Medicare services
Top 6% in IL for orthopaedic surgery of the spine physician
2,387
Unique beneficiaries
$79
Avg. Medicare payment
Medicare patients only (65+ / disabled) · How to read this →
~177 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. |
778 | $69 | $179 |
| X-ray of lower and sacral spine, minimum of 4 views An X-ray imaging test of the lower back and sacrum using at least four different angles to visualize the bones and joints. |
512 | $40 | $219 |
| MRI contrast dye injection (gadoterate) Administration of gadoterate meglumine, a contrast agent, in a 0.1 ml dose. |
445 | $0 | $9 |
| 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. |
409 | $97 | $254 |
| 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. |
242 | $122 | $302 |
| Physical therapy exercise, per 15 min A therapy session using exercises to improve strength, endurance, range of motion, and flexibility. Each 15-minute unit is billed separately. |
167 | $17 | $111 |
| 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. |
147 | $31 | $148 |
| X-ray of upper spine, 4-5 views An X-ray imaging test of the upper spine using 4 to 5 different views to visualize the bones and structures in that area. |
142 | $41 | $209 |
| MRI of lower spine, without contrast A magnetic resonance imaging scan of the lower spinal canal that does not use contrast dye to create detailed images of the spine. |
121 | $96 | $2,430 |
| Steroid injection (triamcinolone) A 10 mg injection of triamcinolone acetonide, a corticosteroid medication. This code specifies the drug and dosage administered. |
92 | $1 | $50 |
| Spine fusion with cage or mesh device insertion A surgical procedure to fuse spine bones by inserting a cage or mesh device into the disc space. |
64 | $235 | $1,174 |
| X-ray of middle spine, 2 views An X-ray imaging test that produces two views of the middle section of the spine to visualize the bones and joints. |
55 | $25 | $158 |
| Functional activity therapy A therapy procedure that utilizes functional activities as part of the treatment process. |
47 | $26 | $95 |
| MRI of upper spine without contrast An MRI scan of the upper spinal canal that does not use contrast dye. This imaging test uses magnetic fields and radio waves to create detailed pictures of the spine. |
40 | $96 | $2,945 |
| Aspiration of bone marrow for spine bone graft | 34 | $68 | $223 |
| Computer-assisted spinal procedure A surgical or diagnostic procedure involving the spine that utilizes computer technology to assist with planning, navigation, or execution. |
28 | $218 | $1,150 |
| Lower back spinal fusion with bone and disc removal A surgical procedure to fuse vertebrae in the lower back. It involves removing part of the spine bone and a disc to stabilize the area. |
27 | $1,483 | $28,200 |
| Ultrasound-guided large joint aspiration or injection This procedure uses ultrasound imaging to guide the removal of fluid from or the injection of medication into a large joint. |
26 | $107 | $558 |
| Spinal fusion with partial bone and disc removal A surgical procedure to join additional segments of the spine. It involves the partial removal of spine bone and disc tissue. |
26 | $448 | $7,306 |
| Spinal stabilization device placement, 3-6 segments Surgical placement of a device to stabilize three to six vertebrae in the back. |
20 | $673 | $13,957 |
| Partial bone removal of additional lower back spine segment during fusion This procedure involves the partial removal of bone from an additional segment of the lower spine to release the spinal cord or nerves. It is performed as part of a spinal fusion surgery in the lower back. |
20 | $209 | $1,125 |
| Neuromuscular re-education therapy, per 15 min A therapy procedure designed to re-educate the functional connection between the brain, nerves, and muscles. It is billed in 15-minute increments. |
20 | $22 | $90 |
| Partial removal of spine bone with nerve release during fusion This procedure involves removing part of the bone in a single segment of the lower spine to release the spinal cord or nerves, performed during a spinal fusion. |
19 | $238 | $1,325 |
| X-ray of entire middle and lower spine, 2-3 views An X-ray imaging test that captures 2 to 3 views of the entire middle and lower spine to visualize the bones and structures in these areas. |
17 | $54 | $221 |
| MRI of lower spine with and without contrast An MRI scan of the lower spinal canal performed both before and after the administration of contrast dye to enhance image detail. |
17 | $179 | $3,356 |
| 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. |
12 | $29 | $134 |
| X-ray of both knees, standing An X-ray image of both knees taken while the patient is standing to assess bone alignment and joint space under weight-bearing conditions. |
11 | $33 | $109 |
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.
4.4% high complexity
20.9% medium
74.6% routine
Industry Payment Transparency
Open Payments through 2024 ↗$34,092
Total received (2018-2024)
Avg $4,870/year across 7 years
Top 32% in IL for orthopaedic surgery of the spine physician
A higher payment rank reflects disclosed industry relationships (consulting, research, speaking) common among subspecialists — not wrongdoing.
14
Companies
116
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.
Consulting
Expert advisory fees, typically reflecting recognized clinical expertise
$20,664 (60.6%)
Meals & Travel
Food, beverages, travel, and lodging — typically low-value
$12,113 (35.5%)
Speaking / Promotional
Speaker programs, honoraria, and industry-sponsored educational events
$1,315 (3.9%)
Payment trend by year
Annual totals from pharmaceutical and medical device companies.
2024
$9,967
2023
$7,805
2022
$3,633
2021
$829
2020
$2,067
2019
$7,722
2018
$2,069
Payments by company (2024)
Consulting
Speaking
Meals & Travel
Research
Augmedics Inc.
$6,576
Alphatec Spine, Inc
$3,353
SI-BONE, INC.
$38
Top 3 companies account for 100.0% of 2024 payments
All-time payments by company (2018-2024) ›
Alphatec Spine, Inc
$18,723
Augmedics Inc.
$12,689
SI-BONE, INC.
$1,564
Spineology Inc.
$376
SI-BONE, Inc.
$338
PROVIDENCE MEDICAL TECHNOLOGY, INC.
$96
Stryker Corporation
$90
Zimmer Biomet Holdings, Inc.
$83
Isto Technologies II, LLC
$42
Avanos Medical
$28
Medtronic USA, Inc.
$17
Providence Medical Technology, Inc.
$17
Horizon Therapeutics plc
$16
NuVasive, Inc.
$12
Top 3 companies account for 96.7% of all-time payments
Associated products mentioned in payments ›
Arsenal · Battalion TLIF - PC · DUEXIS · IFUSE IMPLANT · IFUSE IMPLANT SYSTEM · Illico · Invictus MIS · Invictus OPEN · KODIAK · LLIF · Lateral · MULTIPLE · MazorX - Renaissance · Mobi-C · Multiple Products · ON-Q* PUMP AND ACCESSORIES · Other - MIS · Other - Miscellaneous · Rampart Duo Interbody Fusion System · Rampart Duo Ti Interbody Fusion System · TLIF · TRITANIUM · VITOSS · VLIFT · Xvision · iFuse Implant
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 (61%) are consulting fees, which typically reflect recognized clinical expertise sought by manufacturers.
Geographic Context
Orthopaedic surgery of the spine physicians within 10 mi
36
Per 100K population
0.7
County median income
$81,797
Nearest hospital
PALOS COMMUNITY HOSPITAL
6.7 mi
6.7 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. Lim is a clinical cardiology specialist, with above-average Medicare volume (top 6% in IL), with consulting-driven industry engagement, 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. Lim experienced with office visit, established patient (20-29 min)?
Based on Medicare claims data, Dr. Lim performed 778 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. Lim receive payments from pharmaceutical companies?
Yes. Dr. Lim received a total of $34,092 from 14 companies across 116 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. Lim's costs compare to other orthopaedic surgery of the spine physicians in Orland Park?
Dr. Lim's average Medicare payment per service is $79. 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. Lim) 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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