Medicare Enrolled
Dr. Robert Armstrong, MD
Neurology · Asheville, NC
Practice pattern: Clinical Cardiology
— Primarily office-based clinical cardiology
Speaking/Promotional
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. Armstrong 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. Armstrong
Dr. Robert Armstrong is a neurology specialist in Asheville, NC, with 20 years of NPI registration. Based on federal Medicare data, Dr. Armstrong performed 2,000 Medicare services across 1,370 unique beneficiaries.
Between the years covered by Open Payments, Dr. Armstrong received a total of $83,549 from 102 pharmaceutical and/or device companies across 1012 individual payments. These payments are legal, publicly disclosed under the federal Sunshine Act, and common in neurology. The majority of payments are for speaking programs and promotional activities, reflecting participation in industry-sponsored events. Patients may wish to discuss these relationships with their provider.
The Data Coverage level for Dr. Armstrong 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 13% volume in NC
$83,549 industry payments
Medicare Practice Summary
Medicare Utilization ↗2,000
Medicare services
Top 13% in NC for neurology
1,370
Unique beneficiaries
$70
Avg. Medicare payment
Medicare patients only (65+ / disabled) · How to read this →
~100 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. |
500 | $80 | $347 |
| Nursing facility visit, moderate complexity A follow-up visit by a healthcare provider at a nursing facility for an established patient. The visit involves moderate medical decision making and takes at least 30 minutes. |
264 | $56 | $275 |
| 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. |
231 | $53 | $244 |
| Electronic analysis of neurostimulator generator An electronic check of the neurostimulator device to review its function and settings. |
193 | $27 | $551 |
| Blood draw (venipuncture) Insertion of a needle into a vein to collect a blood sample. |
143 | $8 | $20 |
| 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. |
139 | $114 | $485 |
| Nursing facility visit, low complexity A daily follow-up visit for an existing patient in a nursing facility involving straightforward medical decision making. The visit requires at least 15 minutes of time if time is used to determine the level of care. |
94 | $27 | $195 |
| 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. |
82 | $113 | $449 |
| New patient office visit, complex (60-74 min) | 80 | $141 | $594 |
| Intravenous chemotherapy infusion, 1 hour or less Administration of chemotherapy medication directly into a vein. The procedure takes one hour or less to complete. |
64 | $98 | $379 |
| 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. |
47 | $66 | $347 |
| Electromyography of arm or leg muscles A test that measures the electrical activity in the muscles of the arm or leg using a needle electrode. It helps evaluate the health of muscles and the nerve cells that control them. |
36 | $75 | $272 |
| Telephone medical discussion, 11-20 minutes A phone conversation with a physician lasting between 11 and 20 minutes. |
34 | $46 | $245 |
| Electronic analysis of implanted neurostimulator with complex programming This procedure involves electronically analyzing an implanted neurostimulator generator and performing complex programming for a cranial nerve stimulator. |
21 | $39 | $815 |
| Nerve conduction studies, 7-8 tests A series of 7 to 8 nerve conduction tests to evaluate how well nerves are sending signals to muscles. |
19 | $127 | $527 |
| Initial nursing facility care, moderate complexity Initial care provided to a patient in a nursing facility with moderate medical decision making, taking at least 35 minutes. |
19 | $41 | $354 |
| Awake and drowsy EEG A test that records electrical activity in the brain while the patient is awake and drowsy. |
17 | $279 | $994 |
| EEG, extended monitoring A test that records electrical activity in the brain while the patient is both awake and asleep. |
17 | $336 | $1,190 |
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.
3.2% high complexity
1.7% medium
95.1% routine
Industry Payment Transparency
Open Payments through 2024 ↗$83,549
Total received (2018-2024)
Avg $11,936/year across 7 years
Top 7% in NC for neurology
A higher payment rank reflects disclosed industry relationships (consulting, research, speaking) common among subspecialists — not wrongdoing.
102
Companies
1,012
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.
Speaking / Promotional
Speaker programs, honoraria, and industry-sponsored educational events
$58,013 (69.4%)
Meals & Travel
Food, beverages, travel, and lodging — typically low-value
$21,542 (25.8%)
Consulting
Expert advisory fees, typically reflecting recognized clinical expertise
$3,994 (4.8%)
Payment trend by year
Annual totals from pharmaceutical and medical device companies.
2024
$3,195
2023
$3,216
2022
$6,516
2021
$4,117
2020
$12,260
2019
$20,382
2018
$33,863
Payments by company (2024)
Consulting
Speaking
Meals & Travel
Research
MDD US Operations, LLC
$738
ABBVIE INC.
$403
UCB, Inc.
$232
Biogen, Inc.
$149
Alexion Pharmaceuticals, Inc.
$126
Neurocrine Biosciences, Inc.
$102
Novartis Pharmaceuticals Corporation
$99
Amgen Inc.
$92
SK Life Science, Inc.
$69
JAZZ PHARMACEUTICALS INC.
$69
Lilly USA, LLC
$61
CATALYST PHARMACEUTICALS, INC.
$60
Eisai Inc.
$60
PFIZER INC.
$55
Lundbeck LLC
$54
Ultragenyx Pharmaceutical Inc.
$48
Teva Pharmaceuticals USA, Inc.
$47
TG Therapeutics, Inc.
$46
ARGENX US, INC.
$44
Medtronic, Inc.
$42
E.R. Squibb & Sons, L.L.C.
$40
Neurelis, Inc.
$40
Takeda Pharmaceuticals U.S.A., Inc.
$33
AstraZeneca Pharmaceuticals LP
$32
ACADIA Pharmaceuticals Inc
$31
EMD Serono, Inc.
$29
Ipsen Biopharmaceuticals, Inc
$26
Amneal Pharmaceuticals LLC
$26
Averitas Pharma Inc.
$26
CSL Behring
$26
Celgene Corporation
$25
Xeris Pharmaceuticals, Inc.
$24
SCILEX PHARMACEUTICALS INC.
$24
Alnylam Pharmaceuticals Inc.
$24
GE HEALTHCARE
$23
Mylan Specialty L.P.
$23
MITSUBISHI TANABE PHARMA AMERICA, INC.
$22
Merz Pharmaceuticals, LLC
$22
Sumitomo Pharma America, Inc.
$21
Sandoz Inc.
$21
Nevro Corp.
$17
LivaNova USA, Inc.
$15
ANI Pharmaceuticals, Inc.
$14
Genentech USA, Inc.
$13
Top 3 companies account for 43.0% of 2024 payments
All-time payments by company (2018-2024) ›
Eisai Inc.
$18,494
EISAI INC.
$13,469
Sunovion Pharmaceuticals Inc.
$11,444
LivaNova USA, Inc.
$9,509
UCB, Inc.
$7,156
SK Life Science, Inc.
$4,687
AQUESTIVE THERAPEUTICS, INC.
$4,213
Biogen, Inc.
$1,068
MDD US Operations, LLC
$853
Novartis Pharmaceuticals Corporation
$748
ABBVIE INC.
$611
Supernus Pharmaceuticals, Inc.
$544
Alexion Pharmaceuticals, Inc.
$480
JAZZ PHARMACEUTICALS INC.
$440
EMD Serono, Inc.
$416
Teva Pharmaceuticals USA, Inc.
$399
Amgen Inc.
$390
GENZYME CORPORATION
$381
Allergan Inc.
$363
Lilly USA, LLC
$360
PFIZER INC.
$344
Celgene Corporation
$339
Neurocrine Biosciences, Inc.
$330
AbbVie Inc.
$320
ACADIA Pharmaceuticals Inc
$309
Greenwich Biosciences, Inc.
$302
Genentech USA, Inc.
$268
Averitas Pharma Inc.
$265
CSL Behring
$229
Acorda Therapeutics, Inc
$225
Amneal Pharmaceuticals LLC
$213
Lundbeck LLC
$206
Neurelis, Inc.
$204
TG THERAPEUTICS, INC.
$189
Allergan, Inc.
$149
ARGENX US, INC.
$142
E.R. Squibb & Sons, L.L.C.
$138
Janssen Pharmaceuticals, Inc
$134
Sumitomo Pharma America, Inc.
$130
CATALYST PHARMACEUTICALS, INC.
$129
Avanir Pharmaceuticals, Inc.
$117
Mallinckrodt Hospital Products Inc.
$115
Abbott Laboratories
$111
Grifols USA, LLC
$110
Mallinckrodt Enterprises LLC
$110
Merz Pharmaceuticals, LLC
$109
Horizon Therapeutics plc
$105
Ipsen Biopharmaceuticals, Inc
$94
UPSHER-SMITH LABORATORIES LLC
$90
Mallinckrodt LLC
$79
Merz North America, Inc.
$77
NOVARTIS PHARMACEUTICALS CORPORATION
$75
Kyowa Kirin, Inc.
$75
Alnylam Pharmaceuticals Inc.
$75
Xeris Pharmaceuticals, Inc.
$70
Scilex Pharmaceuticals Inc.
$65
MITSUBISHI TANABE PHARMA AMERICA, INC.
$63
Takeda Pharmaceuticals U.S.A., Inc.
$60
Jazz Pharmaceuticals Inc.
$59
InSightec,Inc
$57
Biohaven Pharmaceutical Holding Company Ltd.
$56
Biohaven Pharmaceuticals, Inc.
$54
GRT US Holding, Inc.
$52
Merck Sharp & Dohme Corporation
$49
AstraZeneca Pharmaceuticals LP
$49
Ultragenyx Pharmaceutical Inc.
$48
Banner Life Sciences, LLC
$47
TG Therapeutics, Inc.
$46
Bayer HealthCare Pharmaceuticals Inc.
$43
Cala Health, Inc.
$43
Impax Laboratories, Inc.
$42
Medtronic, Inc.
$42
Octapharma USA, Inc.
$42
Piramal Critical Care
$42
ANI Pharmaceuticals, Inc.
$41
NEUROPACE, INC.
$39
Upsher-Smith Laboratories LLC
$36
Adamas Pharmaceuticals, Inc.
$34
Axsome Therapeutics, Inc.
$26
SCILEX PHARMACEUTICALS INC.
$24
GE HEALTHCARE
$23
Mylan Specialty L.P.
$23
Aprecia Pharmaceuticals, LLC
$22
Medtronic USA, Inc.
$22
Corium, LLC
$22
Avion Pharmaceuticals
$22
Exeltis, USA Inc.
$21
Sandoz Inc.
$21
Zogenix Inc.
$19
Catalyst Pharmaceuticals, Inc.
$19
HOSPIRA, INC.
$18
Nevro Corp.
$17
Bausch Health US, LLC
$17
Akcea Therapeutics, Inc.
$17
US WorldMeds, LLC
$15
Saol Therapeutics Inc.
$15
ASSERTIO THERAPEUTICS, Inc.
$14
Promius Pharma LLC
$13
SANOFI-AVENTIS U.S. LLC
$12
Strongbridge US INC.
$12
Assertio Therapeutics, Inc.
$12
Mylan Pharmaceuticals Inc.
$12
Top 3 companies account for 52.0% of all-time payments
Associated products mentioned in payments ›
ACTHAR · ACTIVA · ADUHELM · AIMOVIG · AJOVY · AMPYRA · AMVUTTRA · AMYVID · APOKYN · APTIOM · AUBAGIO · AUSTEDO · Adlarity · Aimovig · Austedo XR · BAFIERTAM · BELSOMRA · BOTOX · BOTOX THERAPEUTIC · BRILINTA · BRIUMVI · Betaseron · Briviact · CALA TRIO · CAMBIA · COMIRNATY · COPAXONE · Cambia · Cenobamate · DUOPA · DYSPORT · Dhivy · Dojolvi · Dysport · EMGALITY · EPIDIOLEX · Enspryng · Epidiolex · Exablate · FIRDAPSE · FYCOMPA · Fintepla · Fycompa · GABLOFEN · GILENYA · GLATIRAMER ACETATE · GOCOVRI · Gamunex-C · Glatiramer Acetate · Gocovri · HYQVIA · Hizentra · INBRIJA · INFINITY · INGREZZA · INTELLIS ADAPTIVESTIM · Infinity DBS Pulse Generators · KESIMPTA · KEVEYIS · KISUNLA · KYNMOBI · LEMTRADA · LINZESS · LYRICA · Leqembi · MAVENCLAD · MAYZENT · MIGRANAL · MYOBLOC · Mavenclad · NAMZARIC · NEXVIAZYME · NOURIANZ · NUEDEXTA · NUPLAZID · NURTEC ODT · Nayzilam · Nuedexta · OCREVUS · OCTAGAM IMMUNE GLOBULIN (HUMAN) · ONFI · ONPATTRO · OXTELLAR XR · Ocrevus · Ongentys · Ozanimod · PANZYGA · POMPE - DISEASE · PURIFIED CORTROPHIN GEL · Ponvory · Proclaim IPG · QUDEXY XR Topiramate Extended Release Capsules · QULIPTA · QUTENZA · Quartet CRT Lead · Qutenza · RADICAVA · RNS Neurostimulator Kit · RYTARY · Radicava · Rebif · SKYCLARYS · SOLIRIS · SPINRAZA · SUNOSI · SYMPAZAN · Senza · Soliris · Spritam · Sunosi · TECFIDERA · TEGSEDI · TOSYMRA · TROKENDI XR · TYSABRI · Trintellix · UBRELVY · ULTOMIRIS · UPLIZNA · VALTOCO · VIIBRYD · VNS - Sentiva · VNS THERAPY SENTIVA MODEL 1000 GENERATOR · VNS Therapy · VNS Therapy SenTiva Model 1000 Generator · VRAYLAR · VUMERITY · VYALEV · VYEPTI · VYVGART · VYVGART HYTRULO · Vimpat · WAINUA · XADAGO · XCOPRI · XEOMIN · XYREM · XYWAV · Xeomin · ZEMBRACE SYMTOUCH · ZEPOSIA · ZTLido
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 (69%) are for speaking programs and promotional activities, which reflect participation in industry-sponsored educational or marketing events. This is common in neurology and does not inherently indicate bias, but patients may wish to be aware. Total industry engagement is in the top 7% for neurology in NC.
Geographic Context
Neurologists within 10 mi
31
Per 100K population
11.4
County median income
$70,578
Nearest hospital
MEMORIAL MISSION HOSPITAL AND ASHEVILLE SURGERY CE
3.7 mi
3.7 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. Armstrong is a clinical cardiology specialist, with above-average Medicare volume (top 13% in NC), with speaking/promotional industry engagement in the top 7% of NC 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. Armstrong experienced with office visit, established patient (30-39 min)?
Based on Medicare claims data, Dr. Armstrong performed 500 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. Armstrong receive payments from pharmaceutical companies?
Yes. Dr. Armstrong received a total of $83,549 from 102 companies across 1,012 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. Armstrong's costs compare to other neurologists in Asheville?
Dr. Armstrong's average Medicare payment per service is $70. 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. Armstrong) 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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