Medicare Enrolled
Dr. Susan Decoste, M.D.
Dermatology · Weymouth, MA
Practice pattern: Mixed Practice
— Diverse clinical practice across multiple procedure types
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. Decoste 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 →
Are you Dr. Decoste?
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What this data tells you about Dr. Decoste
Dr. Susan Decoste is a dermatology specialist in Weymouth, MA, with 20 years of NPI registration. Based on federal Medicare data, Dr. Decoste performed 15,578 Medicare services across 4,683 unique beneficiaries.
Between the years covered by Open Payments, Dr. Decoste received a total of $16,712 from 42 pharmaceutical and/or device companies across 637 individual payments. These payments are legal, publicly disclosed under the federal Sunshine Act, and common in dermatology. 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. Decoste 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 2% volume in MA
$16,712 industry payments
Medicare Practice Summary
Medicare Utilization ↗15,578
Medicare services
Top 2% in MA for dermatology
4,683
Unique beneficiaries
$28
Avg. Medicare payment
Medicare patients only (65+ / disabled) · How to read this →
~779 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Photodynamic therapy gel for precancerous skin | 7,400 | $1 | $4 |
| Destruction of precancerous skin growths, 2-14 This procedure involves the removal or destruction of two to fourteen precancerous skin lesions. It is performed to eliminate abnormal skin cells that have the potential to develop into cancer. |
3,219 | $6 | $50 |
| 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. |
1,375 | $69 | $200 |
| Destruction of precancerous skin growth, 1 Removal of a single precancerous skin growth. This procedure destroys abnormal skin cells to prevent them from developing into cancer. |
1,002 | $42 | $200 |
| Destruction of skin growths (warts/lesions), 1-14 This procedure involves the removal or destruction of one to fourteen skin growths. It is a minor surgical intervention performed on the skin surface. |
617 | $96 | $300 |
| Skin biopsy, tangential A procedure to remove a sample of the first identified skin growth for laboratory examination. |
572 | $75 | $274 |
| 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. |
467 | $99 | $300 |
| Additional skin growth biopsy Removal of a sample of an additional skin growth for laboratory examination. This code is used for each extra lesion biopsied during the same session. |
217 | $47 | $200 |
| 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. |
120 | $44 | $150 |
| Intermediate wound repair, 2.6-7.5 cm A medical procedure to close a wound on the scalp, underarms, trunk, arms, or legs that measures between 2.6 and 7.5 centimeters. This type of repair involves cleaning the wound and stitching it closed to promote healing. |
117 | $264 | $796 |
| Surgical removal of skin cancer, 1.1-2.0 cm Surgical excision of a cancerous skin growth measuring between 1.1 and 2.0 centimeters on the body, arms, or legs. |
73 | $112 | $632 |
| 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. |
66 | $80 | $270 |
| Surgical removal of skin cancer, 2.1-3.0 cm This procedure involves the surgical excision of a cancerous skin growth located on the body, arms, or legs. The size of the removed tissue measures between 2.1 and 3.0 centimeters. |
64 | $129 | $712 |
| Destruction of 15 or more precancerous skin growths This procedure involves the removal or destruction of fifteen or more precancerous skin lesions. It is performed to treat abnormal skin cells that have the potential to develop into cancer. |
55 | $155 | $500 |
| 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. |
45 | $113 | $400 |
| Light application with debridement to destroy precancerous skin growth This procedure involves applying light to the skin along with debridement to destroy precancerous skin growths. |
38 | $253 | $790 |
| Simple drainage of skin abscess A minor procedure to drain a localized collection of pus from the skin. The abscess is opened to allow the fluid to escape and promote healing. |
29 | $105 | $320 |
| Complicated wound repair, scalp/arms/legs, 2.6-7.5 cm A complex surgical procedure to close a wound on the scalp, arms, or legs that measures between 2.6 and 7.5 centimeters in length. |
20 | $358 | $1,108 |
| Destruction of cancer skin growth, 1.1-2.0 cm Removal of a cancerous skin growth on the trunk, arms, or legs that measures between 1.1 and 2.0 centimeters. |
18 | $141 | $462 |
| Punch biopsy of first skin growth A small, circular piece of skin is removed from a skin growth using a circular blade. The sample is then sent to a laboratory for examination. |
14 | $112 | $340 |
| Surgical removal of skin cancer, 3.1-4.0 cm This procedure involves the surgical excision of a cancerous skin growth located on the body, arms, or legs. The size of the removed tissue is between 3.1 and 4.0 centimeters. |
13 | $198 | $790 |
| Ear tissue biopsy A procedure to remove a small sample of tissue from the ear for laboratory examination. |
13 | $61 | $252 |
| Removal of noncancer skin growth, 1.1-2.0 cm This procedure involves the surgical removal of a benign skin growth located on the body, arms, or legs. The growth measured between 1.1 and 2.0 centimeters in diameter. |
12 | $80 | $448 |
| Complicated wound repair of trunk, 2.6-7.5 cm A surgical procedure to close a complex wound on the trunk that measures between 2.6 and 7.5 centimeters in length. |
12 | $355 | $1,042 |
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.
Industry Payment Transparency
Open Payments through 2024 ↗$16,712
Total received (2018-2024)
Avg $2,387/year across 7 years
Top 12% in MA for dermatology
A higher payment rank reflects disclosed industry relationships (consulting, research, speaking) common among subspecialists — not wrongdoing.
42
Companies
637
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
$16,598 (99.3%)
Speaking / Promotional
Speaker programs, honoraria, and industry-sponsored educational events
$114 (0.7%)
Payment trend by year
Annual totals from pharmaceutical and medical device companies.
2024
$2,836
2023
$2,974
2022
$2,701
2021
$2,484
2020
$1,789
2019
$2,136
2018
$1,792
Payments by company (2024)
Consulting
Speaking
Meals & Travel
Research
ABBVIE INC.
$603
E.R. Squibb & Sons, L.L.C.
$457
LEO Pharma Inc.
$250
Incyte Corporation
$225
Regeneron Healthcare Solutions, Inc.
$134
Galderma Laboratories, L.P.
$133
UCB, Inc.
$130
Janssen Biotech, Inc.
$102
GENZYME CORPORATION
$99
SUN PHARMACEUTICAL INDUSTRIES INC.
$97
Amgen Inc.
$95
REVANCE THERAPEUTICS, INC.
$91
Dermavant Sciences, Inc.
$73
MERZ NORTH AMERICA, INC.
$69
Arcutis Biotherapeutics, Inc.
$65
STRATA Skin Sciences, Inc.
$49
Ortho Dermatologics, a division of Bausch Health US, LLC
$35
Novartis Pharmaceuticals Corporation
$33
Boehringer Ingelheim Pharmaceuticals, Inc.
$32
Verrica Pharmaceuticals Inc.
$28
PFIZER INC.
$19
Lilly USA, LLC
$17
Top 3 companies account for 46.2% of 2024 payments
All-time payments by company (2018-2024) ›
LEO Pharma Inc.
$2,013
AbbVie Inc.
$1,528
Novartis Pharmaceuticals Corporation
$965
ABBVIE INC.
$961
Incyte Corporation
$934
GENZYME CORPORATION
$876
Merz North America, Inc.
$845
Allergan Inc.
$806
Janssen Biotech, Inc.
$704
E.R. Squibb & Sons, L.L.C.
$695
PFIZER INC.
$601
Amgen Inc.
$569
AbbVie, Inc.
$547
Galderma Laboratories, L.P.
$505
MERZ NORTH AMERICA, INC.
$502
Regeneron Healthcare Solutions, Inc.
$497
Sientra, Inc.
$364
Lilly USA, LLC
$349
Biofrontera Inc.
$279
Allergan, Inc.
$274
Sun Pharmaceutical Industries Inc.
$246
UCB, Inc.
$206
Janssen Scientific Affairs, LLC
$182
Arcutis Biotherapeutics, Inc.
$149
Ortho Dermatologics, a division of Bausch Health US, LLC
$146
SUN PHARMACEUTICAL INDUSTRIES INC.
$139
Genentech USA, Inc.
$120
Dermavant Sciences, Inc.
$117
Celgene Corporation
$94
REVANCE THERAPEUTICS, INC.
$91
Boehringer Ingelheim Pharmaceuticals, Inc.
$74
Helsinn Therapeutics (U.S.), Inc.
$67
STRATA Skin Sciences, Inc.
$49
DUSA Pharmaceuticals, Inc.
$32
Mission Pharmacal Company
$29
Verrica Pharmaceuticals Inc.
$28
VYNE Pharmaceuticals Inc.
$28
Mayne Pharma Inc.
$26
Pierre Fabre Pharmaceuticals, Inc.
$25
Bayer HealthCare Pharmaceuticals Inc.
$22
Surgical Specialties Corporation (US), Inc.
$15
Mylan Pharmaceuticals Inc.
$14
Top 3 companies account for 27.0% of all-time payments
Associated products mentioned in payments ›
20% · ADBRY · AKLIEF · AMELUZ · AMZEEQ · ARAZLO · Avar · BOTOX · BOTOX COSMETIC · Bimzelx · COSENTYX · CYLTEZO · Cimzia · DORYX · DUOBRII · DUPIXENT · DUPIXENT DUPILUMAB INJECTION · EFUDEX · ENSTILAR · EPIDUO FORTE · EPSOLAY · EUCRISA · Erivedge · FINACEA · Finacea · HUMIRA · Humira · ILUMYA · Ilumya · JUBLIA · LEVULAN KERASTICK · LIBTAYO · Levulan Kerastick (aminolevulinic acid HCl) for Topical Solution · OLUMIANT · OPZELURA · ORACEA · Olux-E · Otezla · PICATO · REMICADE · RINVOQ · SIENTRA HIGH STRENGTH COHESIVE SILICONE GEL BREAST IMPLANT · SKYRIZI · SPEVIGO · Skyrizi · Sotyktu · Surgical wound closure product · TALTZ · TREMFYA · Tremfya · VALCHLOR · VTAMA · Winlevi · XEOMIN · XTRAC · Xeomin · YCANTH · Zoryve
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 (99%) are for meals and travel — low-value interactions that are common across virtually all practicing physicians.
Geographic Context
Dermatologists within 10 mi
374
Per 100K population
51.6
County median income
$126,497
Nearest hospital
SOUTH SHORE HOSPITAL
3.3 mi
3.3 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. Decoste is a mixed practice specialist, with above-average Medicare volume (top 2% in MA), with low-engagement industry engagement in the top 12% 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. Decoste experienced with photodynamic therapy gel for precancerous skin?
Based on Medicare claims data, Dr. Decoste performed 7,400 photodynamic therapy gel for precancerous skin 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. Decoste receive payments from pharmaceutical companies?
Yes. Dr. Decoste received a total of $16,712 from 42 companies across 637 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. Decoste's costs compare to other dermatologists in Weymouth?
Dr. Decoste's average Medicare payment per service is $28. 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. Decoste) 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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