Medicare Enrolled
Dr. Joseph Donnelly, M.D.
Thoracic Surgery · Asheville, NC
Practice pattern: Remote & Electrophysiology
— Practice combining remote and electrophysiology services
Mixed 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. Donnelly 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. Donnelly
Dr. Joseph Donnelly is a thoracic surgery specialist in Asheville, NC, with 11 years of NPI registration. Based on federal Medicare data, Dr. Donnelly performed 4,646 Medicare services across 2,176 unique beneficiaries.
Between the years covered by Open Payments, Dr. Donnelly received a total of $34,573 from 17 pharmaceutical and/or device companies across 221 individual payments. These payments are legal, publicly disclosed under the federal Sunshine Act, and common in thoracic surgery. 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. Donnelly 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.
✓ 11 years in practice
▲ Top 2% volume in NC
$34,573 industry payments
Medicare Practice Summary
Medicare Utilization ↗4,646
Medicare services
Top 2% in NC for thoracic surgery
2,176
Unique beneficiaries
$48
Avg. Medicare payment
Medicare patients only (65+ / disabled) · How to read this →
~422 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Remote pacemaker/defibrillator monitoring, 90 days Remote evaluation of a pacemaker or implantable defibrillator system within 90 days of the last check. |
1,098 | $15 | $118 |
| Remote pacemaker monitoring, 90 days Remote assessment of a pacemaker system, including single, dual, multiple lead, or leadless devices, performed up to 90 days apart. |
853 | $20 | $124 |
| Remote cardiac rhythm monitor evaluation, up to 30 days Review and analysis of data from a remote cardiac rhythm monitoring system over a period of up to 30 days. |
489 | $18 | $100 |
| Remote monitoring of implantable heart rhythm device Evaluation of data transmitted remotely from an implantable cardiovascular monitor, such as a loop recorder or subcutaneous cardiac rhythm monitor, over a period up to 30 days. |
482 | $46 | $91 |
| 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. |
302 | $11 | $87 |
| Remote evaluation of implantable defibrillator system Remote assessment of a single, dual, or multiple lead implantable defibrillator system within 90 days of the previous evaluation. |
259 | $25 | $224 |
| Pacemaker programming, dual lead system Adjustment and configuration of a dual-lead pacemaker device to ensure proper operation and settings. |
199 | $53 | $147 |
| 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. |
181 | $85 | $154 |
| New patient office visit, complex (60-74 min) | 116 | $158 | $325 |
| 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. |
92 | $130 | $297 |
| 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. |
90 | $131 | $224 |
| Pacemaker programming, single lead Adjustment and testing of a single-lead pacemaker to ensure it functions correctly. |
70 | $44 | $122 |
| 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. |
67 | $90 | $150 |
| Programming of multiple lead implantable defibrillator system Adjustment and testing of the settings for an implanted heart device with multiple leads to ensure proper function. |
50 | $75 | $239 |
| Programming of single lead implantable defibrillator system Adjustment and testing of the settings for a single-lead implantable cardioverter-defibrillator (ICD) to ensure proper function. |
40 | $28 | $55 |
| Programming of dual lead implantable defibrillator system Adjustment and testing of the settings for an implanted heart device with two leads to ensure proper function. |
38 | $64 | $201 |
| Atrial fibrillation ablation with pulmonary vein isolation A procedure to treat atrial fibrillation by mapping the heart's electrical activity and destroying tissue causing irregular contractions. This is done by isolating the pulmonary veins using catheter-based destruction. |
35 | $703 | $3,322 |
| Pacemaker insertion with heart chamber electrodes A surgical procedure to implant a pacemaker device and place electrodes into the upper and lower chambers of the heart to regulate heart rhythm. |
31 | $352 | $1,708 |
| Insertion of implantable heart rhythm monitor A small device is placed under the skin to continuously record the heart's electrical activity. This helps detect irregular heart rhythms that may not appear during a standard office visit. |
23 | $59 | $307 |
| 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. |
21 | $87 | $205 |
| Radiofrequency ablation for supraventricular tachycardia A procedure to locate and destroy abnormal heart tissue in the upper chambers of the heart that causes a rapid heart rate. |
20 | $604 | $2,475 |
| Pacemaker system programming Adjustment and testing of a multi-lead pacemaker to ensure proper function and settings. |
18 | $58 | $171 |
| Catheter ablation for abnormal heart rhythm A procedure where catheters are inserted to destroy tissue causing irregular heartbeats. |
18 | $228 | $1,260 |
| Ultrasound of heart blood vessels with radiologist review An ultrasound exam that evaluates blood vessels within the heart, including a review of the results by a radiologist. |
16 | $53 | $252 |
| Heart rhythm stimulator programming after drug infusion Adjustment of a heart rhythm stimulation device following a drug infusion. This procedure involves reprogramming the device settings to ensure proper function after the medication has been administered. |
14 | $61 | $471 |
| Insertion of implantable defibrillator system A surgical procedure to place an implantable cardioverter-defibrillator (ICD) device into the body. The device is connected to the heart to monitor heart rhythm and deliver shocks if dangerous arrhythmias occur. |
12 | $606 | $2,973 |
| Cardiac rhythm monitor evaluation Review and analysis of data recorded by a cardiac rhythm monitoring device to assess heart activity. |
12 | $13 | $27 |
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.
59.3% high complexity
0.3% medium
40.4% routine
Industry Payment Transparency
Open Payments through 2024 ↗$34,573
Total received (2020-2024)
Avg $6,915/year across 5 years
Top 20% in NC for thoracic surgery
A higher payment rank reflects disclosed industry relationships (consulting, research, speaking) common among subspecialists — not wrongdoing.
17
Companies
221
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
$10,548 (30.5%)
Scientific / Research
Research funding and grants
$10,000 (28.9%)
Speaking / Promotional
Speaker programs, honoraria, and industry-sponsored educational events
$7,884 (22.8%)
Consulting
Expert advisory fees, typically reflecting recognized clinical expertise
$6,141 (17.8%)
Payment trend by year
Annual totals from pharmaceutical and medical device companies.
2024
$9,936
2023
$10,216
2022
$2,175
2021
$2,178
2020
$10,069
Payments by company (2024)
Consulting
Speaking
Meals & Travel
Research
Boston Scientific Corporation
$7,816
Medtronic, Inc.
$1,467
Biosense Webster, Inc.
$185
CARDIVA MEDICAL, INC.
$183
Boehringer Ingelheim Pharmaceuticals, Inc.
$97
ATRICURE, INC.
$97
E.R. Squibb & Sons, L.L.C.
$74
Abbott Laboratories
$18
Top 3 companies account for 95.3% of 2024 payments
All-time payments by company (2020-2024) ›
Boston Scientific Corporation
$14,464
Medtronic Vascular, Inc.
$10,000
Medtronic, Inc.
$5,035
Abbott Laboratories
$3,094
Biosense Webster, Inc.
$497
ATRICURE, INC.
$323
CARDIVA MEDICAL, INC.
$232
BIOTRONIK INC.
$186
E.R. Squibb & Sons, L.L.C.
$142
BOSTON SCIENTIFIC CORPORATION
$141
AtriCure, Inc.
$126
Boehringer Ingelheim Pharmaceuticals, Inc.
$97
PFIZER INC.
$95
Philips Electronics North America Corporation
$71
Impulse Dynamics (USA) Inc.
$30
ZOLL Services LLC (A/K/A ZOLL LifeCor Corp)
$23
Janssen Pharmaceuticals, Inc
$18
Top 3 companies account for 85.3% of all-time payments
Associated products mentioned in payments ›
(9314) Kodex System · ARCTIC FRONT ADVANCE · AZURE XT DR MRI SURESCAN · BIOMONITOR · CAMZYOS · CARDIOINSIGHT · CARDIVA VASCADE MVP VVCS 6-12F · CARTO 3 · COBALT DR MRI SURESCAN · Cable · CardioInsight · Cardioblate · Cardiva VASCADE MVP VVCS 6-12F · CryoConsole · DIAMONDTEMP BIDIRECTIONAL ABLATION CATHETER · DiamondTemp · ELIQUIS · ENSITE · ENSITE PRECISION · EPI-SENSE GUIDED COAGULATION SYSTEM WITH VISITRAX · EnSite Precision Cardiac Mapping System · GENERAL - THERAPIES · General - EP · IntellaNav Ablation Catheter · JARDIANCE · LINQ II · LifeVest · MAESTRO 4000 · MICRA · NA · OPTIMIZER · PULSESELECT · QUADRA ASSURA · RESONATE EL ICD VR · RHYTHMIA · Rhythmia Mapping System · SELECTSECURE · SPHERE-9 · SYNERGY ABLATION SYSTEM · VIEWMATE · WATCHMAN · WATCHMAN Access System · WATCHMAN FLX · XARELTO
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 (30%) are for meals and travel — low-value interactions that are common across virtually all practicing physicians.
Geographic Context
Thoracic surgerists within 10 mi
10
Per 100K population
3.7
County median income
$70,578
Nearest hospital
MEMORIAL MISSION HOSPITAL AND ASHEVILLE SURGERY CE
4.8 mi
4.8 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. Donnelly is a remote & electrophysiology specialist, with above-average Medicare volume (top 2% in NC), with mixed engagement industry engagement in the top 20% of NC peers.
This summary is auto-generated from federal data, describing data availability and patterns. Read our methodology →
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Dr. Donnelly experienced with remote pacemaker/defibrillator monitoring, 90 days?
Based on Medicare claims data, Dr. Donnelly performed 1,098 remote pacemaker/defibrillator monitoring, 90 days 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. Donnelly receive payments from pharmaceutical companies?
Yes. Dr. Donnelly received a total of $34,573 from 17 companies across 221 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. Donnelly's costs compare to other thoracic surgerists in Asheville?
Dr. Donnelly's average Medicare payment per service is $48. 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. Donnelly) 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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