Medicare Enrolled
Dr. Charlie Foster, MD
Family Medicine · Cary, NC
Practice pattern: Clinical Cardiology
— Primarily office-based clinical cardiology
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. Foster 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. Foster
Dr. Charlie Foster is a family medicine specialist in Cary, NC, with 20 years of NPI registration. Based on federal Medicare data, Dr. Foster performed 503 Medicare services across 410 unique beneficiaries.
Between the years covered by Open Payments, Dr. Foster received a total of $22,304 from 68 pharmaceutical and/or device companies across 1325 individual payments. These payments are legal, publicly disclosed under the federal Sunshine Act, and common in family medicine. 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. Foster 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
▲ 503 Medicare services
$22,304 industry payments
Medicare Practice Summary
Medicare Utilization ↗503
Medicare services
Bottom 47% in NC for family medicine
410
Unique beneficiaries
$51
Avg. Medicare payment
Medicare patients only (65+ / disabled) · How to read this →
~25 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. |
100 | $77 | $240 |
| Automated urinalysis An automated laboratory test performed on a urine sample to analyze its chemical and physical properties. The procedure uses machinery to detect various substances and cells within the urine. |
56 | $2 | $18 |
| 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. |
53 | $59 | $155 |
| Annual wellness visit, follow-up A follow-up annual wellness visit that includes a personalized prevention plan of service. |
44 | $122 | $240 |
| Hemoglobin A1c test (diabetes monitoring) A blood test that measures your average blood sugar levels over the past two to three months. |
43 | $10 | $65 |
| 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. |
39 | $8 | $60 |
| Annual depression screening | 38 | $17 | $55 |
| Creatinine test (kidney function) A blood test that measures the amount of creatinine to assess kidney function or detect muscle injury. |
31 | $5 | $50 |
| Urine microalbumin test (kidney screening) A laboratory test that measures the amount of microalbumin, a small protein, in a urine sample. This test is used to detect early signs of kidney damage. |
30 | $6 | $134 |
| Annual wellness visit, initial visit A yearly appointment to review your health and create a personalized prevention plan. This initial visit focuses on preventive care and health assessment. |
15 | $156 | $300 |
| Pneumococcal conjugate vaccine (PCV20) An intramuscular injection of the 20-valent pneumococcal conjugate vaccine. It is used to protect against diseases caused by Streptococcus pneumoniae bacteria. |
14 | $261 | $396 |
| Flu vaccine administration This procedure involves the administration of the influenza virus vaccine. It covers the process of delivering the vaccine to the patient. |
14 | $29 | $50 |
| Flu vaccine, high-dose High-dose seasonal influenza vaccine for adults aged 65 and older. Contains four times the antigen of standard-dose flu vaccines (60 mcg per strain), split-virus formulation, preservative-free, single-dose syringe. |
13 | $72 | $79 |
| Pneumonia vaccine administration This procedure involves the injection of a vaccine to protect against pneumococcal disease. It is administered by a healthcare provider. |
13 | $29 | $35 |
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 ↗$22,304
Total received (2018-2024)
Avg $3,186/year across 7 years
Top 1% in NC for family medicine
A higher payment rank reflects disclosed industry relationships (consulting, research, speaking) common among subspecialists — not wrongdoing.
68
Companies
1,325
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
$21,663 (97.1%)
Speaking / Promotional
Speaker programs, honoraria, and industry-sponsored educational events
$640 (2.9%)
Payment trend by year
Annual totals from pharmaceutical and medical device companies.
2024
$3,276
2023
$3,809
2022
$3,134
2021
$3,673
2020
$3,005
2019
$2,785
2018
$2,622
Payments by company (2024)
Consulting
Speaking
Meals & Travel
Research
Novo Nordisk Inc
$506
AstraZeneca Pharmaceuticals LP
$479
ABBVIE INC.
$420
PFIZER INC.
$241
Lilly USA, LLC
$234
Amgen Inc.
$233
Boehringer Ingelheim Pharmaceuticals, Inc.
$173
Esperion Therapeutics, Inc.
$146
Bayer Healthcare Pharmaceuticals Inc.
$114
GlaxoSmithKline, LLC.
$96
Bausch Health US, LLC
$73
Teva Pharmaceuticals USA, Inc.
$68
Exact Sciences Corporation
$54
Sumitomo Pharma America, Inc.
$53
Amneal Pharmaceuticals LLC
$53
Abbott Laboratories
$50
Astellas Pharma US Inc
$41
Gilead Sciences, Inc.
$40
SANOFI-AVENTIS U.S. LLC
$37
Merck Sharp & Dohme LLC
$35
Medicure Pharma Inc.
$25
Optinose US, Inc.
$24
Medtronic, Inc.
$20
Dexcom, Inc.
$16
Azurity Pharmaceuticals, Inc.
$16
IDORSIA PHARMACEUTICALS US INC
$16
Kowa Pharmaceuticals America, Inc.
$14
Top 3 companies account for 42.9% of 2024 payments
All-time payments by company (2018-2024) ›
Novo Nordisk Inc
$2,440
AstraZeneca Pharmaceuticals LP
$2,284
Amgen Inc.
$1,660
ABBVIE INC.
$1,456
Janssen Pharmaceuticals, Inc
$1,312
Lilly USA, LLC
$1,192
Boehringer Ingelheim Pharmaceuticals, Inc.
$1,055
Esperion Therapeutics, Inc.
$1,041
Astellas Pharma US Inc
$922
PFIZER INC.
$909
GlaxoSmithKline, LLC.
$523
ARBOR PHARMACEUTICALS, INC.
$517
Bausch Health US, LLC
$497
Amarin Pharma Inc.
$494
Takeda Pharmaceuticals U.S.A., Inc.
$486
AbbVie Inc.
$444
Abbott Laboratories
$338
Teva Pharmaceuticals USA, Inc.
$310
Merck Sharp & Dohme Corporation
$303
Salix Pharmaceuticals, a division of Bausch Health US, LLC
$264
Biohaven Pharmaceuticals, Inc.
$262
SANOFI-AVENTIS U.S. LLC
$229
Boston Scientific Corporation
$210
Sunovion Pharmaceuticals Inc.
$189
Arbor Pharmaceuticals, Inc.
$186
Bayer HealthCare Pharmaceuticals Inc.
$182
Gilead Sciences, Inc.
$159
IDORSIA PHARMACEUTICALS US INC
$151
Exact Sciences Corporation
$145
JAZZ PHARMACEUTICALS INC.
$142
Biohaven Pharmaceutical Holding Company Ltd.
$140
Bayer Healthcare Pharmaceuticals Inc.
$133
Amneal Pharmaceuticals LLC
$131
Merck Sharp & Dohme LLC
$126
Allergan, Inc.
$126
Daiichi Sankyo Inc.
$116
IBSA Pharma Inc.
$96
Sumitomo Pharma America, Inc.
$89
AbbVie, Inc.
$88
Eisai Inc.
$75
Medtronic, Inc.
$67
Horizon Therapeutics plc
$65
Dexcom, Inc.
$63
Scilex Pharmaceuticals Inc.
$53
Genentech USA, Inc.
$53
Azurity Pharmaceuticals, Inc.
$52
EISAI INC.
$41
Melinta Therapeutics, Inc.
$40
Antares Pharma, Inc.
$38
Mission Pharmacal Company
$37
Nestle HealthCare Nutrition Inc.
$35
Shire North American Group Inc
$31
Kowa Pharmaceuticals America, Inc.
$28
Shield Therapeutics Inc
$27
Janssen Biotech, Inc.
$27
Medicure Pharma Inc.
$25
Optinose US, Inc.
$24
Medtronic MiniMed, Inc.
$23
DERMIRA, INC.
$20
Currax Pharmaceuticals LLC
$17
Avanir Pharmaceuticals, Inc.
$17
Kaleo, Inc.
$16
Ironwood Pharmaceuticals, Inc
$15
Sanofi Pasteur Inc.
$15
Sonex Health, Inc.
$15
Aytu BioScience, Inc
$15
Dynavax Technologies Corporation
$14
DEXCOM, INC.
$13
Top 3 companies account for 28.6% of all-time payments
Associated products mentioned in payments ›
ACCRUFER · AIRSUPRA · AJOVY · ANORO · APLENZIN · Aimovig · Androgel · BASAGLAR · BELSOMRA · BREO · BREZTRI · BREZTRI AEROSPHERE · BYDUREON · Baxdela · CHANTIX · COLOGUARD · COMIRNATY · CONTRAVE · CREON · Cologuard Collection Kit · DEXCOM G6 TRANSMITTER · DUZALLO · Dayvigo · Dexcom G6 Transmitter · EDARBI · EMGALITY · EUCRISA · EVENITY · EVUSHELD · EVZIO · Edarbi · Edarbyclor · FARXIGA · FLUZONE HIGH-DOSE · FREESTYLE LIBRE 3 · Ferralet · GARDASIL · GARDASIL 9 · GEMTESA · GENERAL - THERAPIES · GLYXAMBI · General - Pain Management · General - Therapies · HUMIRA · Heplisav-B · Horizant · INJECTAFER · INTELLIS · INTELLIS ADAPTIVESTIM · INVOKANA · JANUVIA · JARDIANCE · KRYSTEXXA · Kerendia · LICART · LINZESS · LYRICA · Levemir · Livalo · MIGRANAL · MOUNJARO · MYRBETRIQ · NEXLETOL · NEXLIZET · NUEDEXTA · NURTEC ODT · Natesto · OCTRODE · OTREXUP · Otezla · Otrexup · Ozempic · PAXLOVID · PNEUMOVAX 23 · PREVNAR 13 · PREVNAR 20 · PROCLAIM · Proclaim IPG · Prolia · QBREXZA · QULIPTA · QUVIVIQ · RELISTOR · RYBELSUS · Repatha · Rybelsus · SHINGRIX · SIMPONI · SOLIQUA · SOLIQUA 100/33 · SPIRIVA RESPIMAT · STEGLATRO · STIOLTO RESPIMAT · SUNOSI · SX-ONE MICROKNIFE · SYMBICORT · SYNJARDY · SYNTHROID · Saxenda · Synthroid · TOUJEO · TOVIAZ · TRADJENTA · TRELEGY ELLIPTA · TRINTELLIX · TRULANCE · TRULICITY · TZIELD · Tirosint · Tresiba · Trintellix · UBRELVY · UNITHROID · VESICARE · VRAYLAR · VYVANSE · Vascepa · Veozah · Victoza · WELLBUTRIN · Wegovy · XARELTO · XIFAXAN · Xhance · Xofluza · Xultophy 100/3.6 · ZENPEP · ZORYVE · ZTLido 30 POUCH in 1 CARTON 1 PATCH in 1 POUCH · Zypitamag · iPro2
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 (97%) are for meals and travel — low-value interactions that are common across virtually all practicing physicians. Total industry engagement is in the top 1% for family medicine in NC.
Geographic Context
Family medicine physicians within 10 mi
725
Per 100K population
63.0
County median income
$101,763
Nearest hospital
WAKEMED, CARY 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. Foster is a clinical cardiology specialist, with moderate Medicare volume, with low-engagement industry engagement in the top 1% 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. Foster experienced with office visit, established patient (30-39 min)?
Based on Medicare claims data, Dr. Foster performed 100 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. Foster receive payments from pharmaceutical companies?
Yes. Dr. Foster received a total of $22,304 from 68 companies across 1,325 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. Foster's costs compare to other family medicine physicians in Cary?
Dr. Foster's average Medicare payment per service is $51. 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. Foster) 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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