Medicare Enrolled
Dr. Paul Houle, MD
Neurological Surgery · Hyannis, MA
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. Houle 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. Houle
Dr. Paul Houle is a neurological surgery specialist in Hyannis, MA, with 20 years of NPI registration. Based on federal Medicare data, Dr. Houle performed 694 Medicare services across 609 unique beneficiaries.
Between the years covered by Open Payments, Dr. Houle received a total of $601,347 from 34 pharmaceutical and/or device companies across 577 individual payments. These payments are legal, publicly disclosed under the federal Sunshine Act, and common in neurological surgery. 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. Houle 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 11% volume in MA
$601,347 industry payments
Medicare Practice Summary
Medicare Utilization ↗694
Medicare services
Top 11% in MA for neurological surgery
609
Unique beneficiaries
$227
Avg. Medicare payment
Medicare patients only (65+ / disabled) · How to read this →
~35 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. |
154 | $70 | $225 |
| 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. |
154 | $100 | $318 |
| 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. |
69 | $165 | $694 |
| Partial removal of spine bone with nerve release, 1 segment A surgical procedure involving the partial removal of a bone segment in the spine to relieve pressure on the spinal cord or nerves. This is performed on a single spinal segment. |
40 | $810 | $2,960 |
| 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. |
29 | $136 | $705 |
| Spinal fusion of additional segment A surgical procedure to join an additional section of the spine to the existing fusion. This is performed as a separate or subsequent step to stabilize more of the spinal column. |
26 | $152 | $1,050 |
| Spinal stabilization device placement, 3-6 segments Surgical placement of a device to stabilize three to six vertebrae in the back. |
24 | $334 | $2,046 |
| Computer-assisted spinal procedure A surgical or diagnostic procedure involving the spine that utilizes computer technology to assist with planning, navigation, or execution. |
20 | $186 | $622 |
| Spinal fusion and bone/disc removal, 1 disc A surgical procedure involving the fusion of lower spine bones and the partial removal of a spine bone or disc through the back. |
19 | $1,271 | $4,223 |
| Placement of stabilizing device to back of 1 spine bone in neck A procedure involving the placement of a stabilizing device on the back of a single vertebra in the neck. |
18 | $524 | $2,037 |
| 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. |
17 | $37 | $103 |
| 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. |
16 | $536 | $4,970 |
| 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. |
16 | $106 | $362 |
| Partial removal of spine bone with nerve release, each additional segment This procedure involves the partial removal of spinal bone to relieve pressure on the spinal cord or nerves. It is billed for each additional spinal segment treated beyond the initial segment. |
15 | $150 | $566 |
| 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. |
14 | $107 | $528 |
| Home health plan of care certification Certification by a physician or allowed practitioner for Medicare-covered home health services under a home health plan of care. This includes contacting the home health agency and reviewing reports of patient status required by physicians. |
14 | $44 | $353 |
| 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. |
13 | $123 | $433 |
| Office visit, established patient (10-19 min) An office visit for an existing patient lasting 10 to 19 minutes. The visit involves medical evaluation and management of the patient's condition. |
13 | $33 | $142 |
| Spinal fusion with disc removal and nerve release, 1 disc This surgery connects two or more vertebrae in the upper spine to stabilize the area. It involves removing a damaged disc and relieving pressure on the spinal cord or nerve. |
12 | $1,385 | $4,571 |
| New patient office visit (30-44 min) An initial office visit for a new patient lasting between 30 and 44 minutes. This code is used when the total time spent on the date of the encounter falls within this range. |
11 | $57 | $284 |
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.
26.7% high complexity
0.0% medium
73.3% routine
Industry Payment Transparency
Open Payments through 2024 ↗$601,347
Total received (2018-2024)
Avg $85,907/year across 7 years
Top 1% in MA for neurological surgery
A higher payment rank reflects disclosed industry relationships (consulting, research, speaking) common among subspecialists — not wrongdoing.
34
Companies
577
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
$308,763 (51.3%)
Meals & Travel
Food, beverages, travel, and lodging — typically low-value
$292,301 (48.6%)
Speaking / Promotional
Speaker programs, honoraria, and industry-sponsored educational events
$283 (0.0%)
Payment trend by year
Annual totals from pharmaceutical and medical device companies.
2024
$155,697
2023
$237
2022
$97,608
2021
$80,789
2020
$103,505
2019
$124,607
2018
$38,905
Payments by company (2024)
Consulting
Speaking
Meals & Travel
Research
Integrity Implants Inc. dba Accelus
$134,793
Alphatec Spine, Inc
$9,003
Kuros Biosciences USA, Inc
$7,356
Arthrex, Inc.
$2,641
Kairos Surgical Inc
$721
SPINEART USA INC
$590
Cerapedics Inc.
$176
DePuy Synthes Sales Inc.
$171
Augmedics Inc.
$92
Highridge Medical LLC
$86
Medtronic, Inc.
$37
Medical Device Business Services, Inc.
$30
Top 3 companies account for 97.1% of 2024 payments
All-time payments by company (2018-2024) ›
Joimax, Inc.
$240,647
Integrity Implants Inc.
$197,869
Integrity Implants Inc. dba Accelus
$134,793
Alphatec Spine, Inc
$9,003
Kuros Biosciences USA, Inc
$7,404
Integrity Implants Inc
$3,060
Arthrex, Inc.
$2,641
Medtronic USA, Inc.
$1,859
Relievant Medsystems, Inc.
$891
Kairos Surgical Inc
$721
SPINEART USA INC
$590
IRRAS USA, Inc.
$283
Southern Spine, LLC
$250
DePuy Synthes Sales Inc.
$202
Orthofix Medical, Inc.
$180
Cerapedics Inc.
$176
KCI USA, Inc
$125
Medtronic, Inc.
$106
Augmedics Inc.
$92
Highridge Medical LLC
$86
Intrinsic Therapeutics
$75
Ethicon US, LLC
$51
Zimmer Biomet Holdings, Inc.
$41
ZSFab, Inc.
$38
Medical Device Business Services, Inc.
$30
Sanara MedTech Inc.
$24
Integra LifeSciences Corporation
$23
Bayer HealthCare Pharmaceuticals Inc.
$14
Misonix Inc
$13
Jazz Pharmaceuticals Inc.
$13
E.R. Squibb & Sons, L.L.C.
$13
ARBOR PHARMACEUTICALS, INC.
$12
Merck Sharp & Dohme Corporation
$11
Pharmacyclics LLC, An AbbVie Company
$11
Top 3 companies account for 95.3% of all-time payments
Associated products mentioned in payments ›
ARTHROPLASTY IMPLANTS SHOULDER ARTHROPLASTY & FRACTURE PARTIAL ECLIPSE & BIOTSR · ATLANTIS · Aliqopa · All Spine Stimulation · Arthrex · Barricaid Annular Closure Device · Biologics · BoneScalpel · CAPSTONE · CD HORIZON · CLYDESDALE · CellerateRx · Cervical-Stim Osteogenesis Stimulator · EXPEDIUM · FUSE · FlareHawk · FlareHawk 7 · FlareHawk 7 ENDO · GRAFTON · Horizant · I-FACTOR PEPTIDE ENHANCED BONE GRAFT · INSTRUMENTS-NEUROSURGERY · IRRASflow · IdentiTi · Imbruvica · Intracept · KEYTRUDA · KYPHON Balloon Kyphoplasty · KYPHON EXPRESS II KYPHOPAK TRAY · LIF · LineSider · MAGNETOS · Megadyne Ace Blade 700 · O-ARM · O-ARM-Spine · OPDIVO · OSTEOCOOL RF ABLATION · Other - Miscellaneous · PIVOX Oblique Lateral Spinal System · PRESTIGE · RIALTO · Remi · STRATA · Spinal-Stim · Teligen · Timberline · TrellOss · VAC VERAFLO · VERTEX · VYXEOS · Vital · Vitality · Xvision
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 (51%) are consulting fees, which typically reflect recognized clinical expertise sought by manufacturers. Total industry engagement is in the top 1% for neurological surgery in MA.
Geographic Context
Neurological surgerists within 10 mi
5
Per 100K population
2.2
County median income
$94,452
Nearest hospital
CAPE COD 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. Houle is a clinical cardiology specialist, with above-average Medicare volume (top 11% in MA), with consulting-driven industry engagement in the top 1% of MA 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. Houle experienced with office visit, established patient (20-29 min)?
Based on Medicare claims data, Dr. Houle performed 154 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. Houle receive payments from pharmaceutical companies?
Yes. Dr. Houle received a total of $601,347 from 34 companies across 577 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. Houle's costs compare to other neurological surgerists in Hyannis?
Dr. Houle's average Medicare payment per service is $227. 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. Houle) 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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