Medicare Enrolled
Dr. Christopher Kwolek, MD
Surgery · Wellesley, 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. Kwolek 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. Kwolek
Dr. Christopher Kwolek is a surgery specialist in Wellesley, MA, with 20 years of NPI registration. Based on federal Medicare data, Dr. Kwolek performed 1,323 Medicare services across 861 unique beneficiaries.
Between the years covered by Open Payments, Dr. Kwolek received a total of $53,497 from 37 pharmaceutical and/or device companies across 198 individual payments. These payments are legal, publicly disclosed under the federal Sunshine Act, and common in 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. Kwolek 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 MA
$53,497 industry payments
Medicare Practice Summary
Medicare Utilization ↗1,323
Medicare services
Top 6% in MA for surgery
861
Unique beneficiaries
$228
Avg. Medicare payment
Medicare patients only (65+ / disabled) · How to read this →
~66 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. |
384 | $105 | $642 |
| Additional sedation, per 15 minutes Administration of a drug to deepen sedation during a procedure. This code covers each additional 15-minute increment of sedation beyond the initial period. |
258 | $10 | $60 |
| Telephone medical discussion, 11-20 minutes A phone conversation with a physician lasting between 11 and 20 minutes. |
146 | $73 | $455 |
| 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. |
100 | $134 | $832 |
| Additional blood vessel ultrasound evaluation An ultrasound exam of a blood vessel that includes a radiologist's review. This code applies to each additional vessel evaluated beyond the initial one. |
94 | $147 | $891 |
| Telephone medical discussion, 21-30 minutes A telephone conversation with a physician lasting between 21 and 30 minutes. This code covers the time spent discussing medical matters over the phone. |
70 | $106 | $639 |
| Ultrasound of blood vessel, initial vessel An ultrasound exam of a blood vessel that includes a radiologist's review of the initial vessel. |
53 | $860 | $5,203 |
| 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. |
49 | $44 | $267 |
| Radiologist review of arm or leg artery image A radiologist reviews images of the arteries in the arm or leg. This process involves analyzing the visual data to assess the blood vessels. |
38 | $124 | $834 |
| 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. |
29 | $67 | $455 |
| Ultrasound guidance for blood vessel access Use of ultrasound imaging to help locate and access a blood vessel. This guidance assists healthcare providers in performing procedures such as inserting IV lines or drawing blood. |
24 | $32 | $217 |
| Balloon angioplasty of leg artery, initial vessel A procedure to widen a narrowed or blocked artery in the leg using a balloon catheter. This is performed on the first vessel treated during the session. |
18 | $2,693 | $25,061 |
| Radiologist review of abdominal aorta image A radiologist reviews images of the abdominal aorta to evaluate the blood vessel. |
17 | $97 | $656 |
| Radiologist review of arm or leg artery images A radiologist reviews images of the arteries in one or both arms or legs to assess blood flow and vessel health. |
16 | $125 | $840 |
| Leg artery stent insertion A procedure to place a stent in the arteries of the leg to keep them open and improve blood flow. |
14 | $7,392 | $49,681 |
| 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. |
13 | $143 | $896 |
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.
1.1% high complexity
12.9% medium
86.0% routine
Industry Payment Transparency
Open Payments through 2024 ↗$53,497
Total received (2018-2024)
Avg $7,642/year across 7 years
Top 4% in MA for surgery
A higher payment rank reflects disclosed industry relationships (consulting, research, speaking) common among subspecialists — not wrongdoing.
37
Companies
198
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
$32,882 (61.5%)
Meals & Travel
Food, beverages, travel, and lodging — typically low-value
$12,014 (22.5%)
Speaking / Promotional
Speaker programs, honoraria, and industry-sponsored educational events
$7,868 (14.7%)
Other
Charitable contributions, space rental, and other categories
$733 (1.4%)
Payment trend by year
Annual totals from pharmaceutical and medical device companies.
2024
$11,580
2023
$8,836
2022
$3,883
2021
$12,215
2020
$9,396
2019
$7,017
2018
$569
Payments by company (2024)
Consulting
Speaking
Meals & Travel
Research
Philips North America LLC
$7,868
CORDIS US CORP.
$1,900
Medtronic, Inc.
$573
Boston Scientific Corporation
$336
Silk Road Medical, Inc.
$169
Bard Peripheral Vascular, Inc.
$141
Endologix LLC
$138
PFIZER INC.
$121
Innovation Technologies Inc
$49
Acera Surgical, Inc.
$46
Veryan Medical Incorporated
$39
LeMaitre Vascular, Inc.
$36
Tactile Systems Technology Inc
$30
Solventum Corporation
$24
AngioDynamics, Inc.
$23
Novartis Pharmaceuticals Corporation
$20
CorMedix Inc.
$18
Smith+Nephew, Inc.
$18
Vasorum USA Inc.
$17
PolyNovo North America LLC
$15
Top 3 companies account for 89.3% of 2024 payments
All-time payments by company (2018-2024) ›
Endologix LLC
$10,979
Endologix, LLC
$9,396
Philips North America LLC
$7,868
Silk Road Medical, Inc.
$6,970
Philips Electronics North America Corporation
$6,608
Endologix, Inc.
$3,551
CORDIS US CORP.
$2,410
Medtronic, Inc.
$1,231
AngioDynamics, Inc.
$756
Veryan Medical Incorporated
$639
Boston Scientific Corporation
$499
Cardiovascular Systems Inc.
$409
Surmodics, Inc.
$260
PFIZER INC.
$250
Vasorum USA Inc.
$210
Bolton Medical Inc
$156
Cook Medical LLC
$153
Bard Peripheral Vascular, Inc.
$141
Janssen Pharmaceuticals, Inc
$123
Viz.ai, Inc.
$115
LeMaitre Vascular, Inc.
$101
Amgen Inc.
$99
Shockwave Medical, Inc
$71
Smith+Nephew, Inc.
$66
Novartis Pharmaceuticals Corporation
$61
Janssen Scientific Affairs, LLC
$54
Innovation Technologies Inc
$49
Acera Surgical, Inc.
$46
LivaNova USA, Inc.
$44
CARDIVA MEDICAL, INC.
$33
Tactile Systems Technology Inc
$30
Abbott Laboratories
$24
Solventum Corporation
$24
Organogenesis Inc.
$22
CorMedix Inc.
$18
Reprise Biomedical, Inc.
$18
PolyNovo North America LLC
$15
Top 3 companies account for 52.8% of all-time payments
Associated products mentioned in payments ›
(1748) HS SSC Other · (4066) Tack Endovascular Systems ATK · (4067) Tack Endo Sys BTK · (4067) Tack Endovascular Systems BTK · (5027) Intact Vascular Und · (6371) Laser CVX300 · (6536) Phoenix · (6554) Peripheral Vascular Undivided · (6582) Visions 035 · (7881) US Und · (8977) Zenition 70 · (9260) QC · (9281) Turbo Elite · (9282) Turbo Power · (9520) IGT Devices Undivided · (AZ7) Lasers · (BH4) IGT Devices Undivided · ABRE · AFX · AFX2 · AFX2 Bifurcated Endograft System · ARTEGRAFT VASCULAR GRAFT · AURYON LASER SYSTEM 100-120 VAC · Alto Abdominal Stent Graft System · Auryon Laser System 100-120 Vac · BRITE TIP RADIANZ · BioMimics · BioMimics 3D Vascular Stent System · CARDIVA VASCADE 6/7F VCS · CELT ACD · DefenCath · Diamondback Peripheral · ELIQUIS · ELLIPSYS VASCULAR ACCESS SYSTEM · ELUVIA · ENROUTE .014 Guidewire · ENROUTE Transcarotid Neuroprotection System · ENROUTE Transcarotid Stent · EVERFLEX · Endo · Endurant · Flexitouch Plus · GENERAL ANGIOPLASTY · GRAFIX PL · Grafts · HAWKONE · HYDRO LEMAITRE VALVULOTOME · HawkOne · IRRISEPT · JETI PERIPHERAL CATHETER · LEQVIO · Miro3D · NOVOSORB BTM · Ovation · PRECISE PRO RX · PREVENA · Pounce Thrombectomy System · Puraply · RAIN SHEATH TRANSRADIAL · Repatha · Restrata Wound Matrix · RotarexS 6 F x 135 cm · SHOCKWAVE IVL SYSTEM WITH THE SHOCKWAVE C2 CORONARY IVL CATHETER · Sublime 014 Rx PTA Balloon Dilatation Catheter · Sublime Radial Access 018 RX PTA Dilatation Catheter · TURBOHAWK · Torus Stent Graft System · VNS THERAPY SENTIVA MODEL 1000 GENERATOR · Viz.AI LVO · XARELTO · Zenith Alpha
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 (62%) are consulting fees, which typically reflect recognized clinical expertise sought by manufacturers. Total industry engagement is in the top 4% for surgery in MA.
Geographic Context
Surgerists within 10 mi
736
Per 100K population
101.6
County median income
$126,497
Nearest hospital
BETH ISRAEL DEACONESS HOSPITAL - NEEDHAM
3.4 mi
3.4 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. Kwolek is a clinical cardiology specialist, with above-average Medicare volume (top 6% in MA), with consulting-driven industry engagement in the top 4% 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. Kwolek experienced with office visit, established patient (30-39 min)?
Based on Medicare claims data, Dr. Kwolek performed 384 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. Kwolek receive payments from pharmaceutical companies?
Yes. Dr. Kwolek received a total of $53,497 from 37 companies across 198 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. Kwolek's costs compare to other surgerists in Wellesley?
Dr. Kwolek's average Medicare payment per service is $228. 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. Kwolek) 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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