Medicare Enrolled
Dr. Rama Garimella, MD
Cardiovascular Disease · Cary, NC
Practice pattern: Remote & Electrophysiology
— Practice combining remote and electrophysiology services
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. Garimella 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. Garimella
Dr. Rama Garimella is a cardiovascular disease specialist in Cary, NC, with 20 years of NPI registration. Based on federal Medicare data, Dr. Garimella performed 6,254 Medicare services across 3,243 unique beneficiaries.
Between the years covered by Open Payments, Dr. Garimella received a total of $14,990 from 46 pharmaceutical and/or device companies across 1075 individual payments. These payments are legal, publicly disclosed under the federal Sunshine Act, and common in cardiovascular disease. 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. Garimella 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 5% volume in NC
$14,990 industry payments
Medicare Practice Summary
Medicare Utilization ↗6,254
Medicare services
Top 5% in NC for cardiovascular disease
3,243
Unique beneficiaries
$63
Avg. Medicare payment
Medicare patients only (65+ / disabled) · How to read this →
~313 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. |
1,244 | $86 | $298 |
| 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. |
673 | $10 | $54 |
| Remote vital sign monitoring management, each additional 20 minutes This code covers the time spent by a provider managing patient data from remote vital sign monitoring devices. It applies to each additional 20-minute increment beyond the initial monthly service period. |
536 | $29 | $119 |
| Remote patient monitoring device, 30 days Initial setup of devices for remote monitoring of body functions with daily data transmission or alerts. This service covers the first 30 days of the monitoring period. |
411 | $34 | $176 |
| Remote patient monitoring management, 20 min/month Management based on results from remote vital sign monitoring for the first 20 minutes per calendar month. |
405 | $35 | $146 |
| Regadenoson injection (Lexiscan) for heart stress test An injection of regadenoson, a medication used to stress the heart during diagnostic testing. |
384 | $43 | $161 |
| Technetium Tc-99m sestamibi diagnostic injection A diagnostic injection of technetium Tc-99m sestamibi used for imaging studies. |
317 | $88 | $188 |
| Tc-99m radiopharmaceutical, non-highly enriched uranium source This code covers the cost of Technetium-99m radiopharmaceuticals derived from non-highly enriched uranium sources. It is billed as an add-on per study dose for full cost recovery. |
238 | $8 | $10 |
| Echocardiogram, transthoracic An ultrasound of the heart that uses color to show blood flow, rate, direction, and valve function. |
224 | $141 | $601 |
| EKG interpretation and report A standard electrocardiogram test that records the heart's electrical activity using at least 12 leads. The service includes a professional interpretation of the results and a written report. |
219 | $6 | $36 |
| 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. |
197 | $88 | $290 |
| Remote pacemaker/defibrillator monitoring, 90 days Remote evaluation of a pacemaker or implantable defibrillator system within 90 days of the last check. |
191 | $15 | $82 |
| Nuclear stress test of heart muscle A nuclear medicine imaging test that evaluates blood flow to the heart muscle at rest and during stress using a special camera. |
160 | $320 | $1,410 |
| 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. |
157 | $21 | $96 |
| Exercise or drug-induced heart stress test with ECG A heart stress test performed using exercise or medication while monitoring the electrocardiogram under physician supervision and review. |
100 | $48 | $251 |
| 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. |
79 | $105 | $459 |
| Anticoagulant management for warfarin Management of anticoagulant therapy for a patient taking warfarin. This service involves monitoring and adjusting the medication regimen. |
78 | $8 | $35 |
| Ultrasound of head and neck blood flow, bilateral An ultrasound exam that uses sound waves to visualize and assess blood flow in the vessels of both the head and the neck. |
78 | $136 | $509 |
| Principal care management for high-risk disease, first 30 minutes This service involves 30 minutes of personal care management by a qualified healthcare professional for a patient with a single high-risk disease, billed per calendar month. |
76 | $62 | $242 |
| Pacemaker programming, dual lead system Adjustment and configuration of a dual-lead pacemaker device to ensure proper operation and settings. |
48 | $56 | $170 |
| Continuous ECG monitoring, up to 30 days Continuous heart rhythm monitoring for up to 30 days, including professional review and reporting of the results. |
47 | $20 | $74 |
| 30-day continuous ECG with patient-triggered event transmission and review This procedure involves continuous electrocardiogram monitoring for up to 30 days, including the transmission of patient-triggered events. A healthcare professional reviews the data and provides a report. |
46 | $625 | $2,075 |
| 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. |
42 | $56 | $202 |
| Initial hospital admission, moderate complexity Initial hospital inpatient or observation care for a new patient involving moderate-level medical decision making, with at least 55 minutes total time on the date of the encounter. |
42 | $96 | $384 |
| 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. |
40 | $25 | $189 |
| Hospital follow-up visit, moderate complexity Follow-up hospital visit for an existing patient involving moderate medical decision making. The visit requires at least 35 minutes of time spent on the date of service. |
40 | $57 | $203 |
| Additional 30 minutes of principal care management This service covers an additional 30 minutes of care management for a single high-risk disease, provided personally by a qualified healthcare professional each calendar month. |
33 | $45 | $174 |
| Ultrasound of arm or leg veins An ultrasound exam of the veins in the arm or leg. The test uses sound waves to check blood flow and may include compression and other maneuvers. |
27 | $25 | $103 |
| Echocardiogram, transthoracic An ultrasound test that uses sound waves to create images of the heart's blood flow, valves, and chambers. |
21 | $39 | $153 |
| Echocardiogram with color Doppler An ultrasound of the heart that uses color imaging to visualize blood flow, measure flow rate, and assess valve function. |
21 | $18 | $161 |
| Stress echocardiogram with ECG monitoring An ultrasound of the heart performed while monitoring heart rhythm during rest, exercise, or medication-induced stress, followed by a review and report of the findings. |
21 | $169 | $686 |
| Ultrasound of arm or leg veins An ultrasound exam of the veins in one arm or leg using compression and other maneuvers to assess blood flow and check for blockages. |
17 | $16 | $66 |
| Hospital discharge management, 30+ min This service covers the care provided by a physician or qualified healthcare professional on the day a patient is discharged from the hospital. It requires more than 30 minutes of total time spent on the day of discharge. |
17 | $89 | $298 |
| Remote physiologic monitoring setup and education Initial setup of remote monitoring equipment and patient education on its use. |
14 | $13 | $54 |
| Follow-up heart ultrasound An ultrasound of the heart performed to monitor or reassess a previously identified condition or treatment progress. |
11 | $19 | $77 |
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.
10.9% high complexity
18.2% medium
70.9% routine
Industry Payment Transparency
Open Payments through 2024 ↗$14,990
Total received (2018-2024)
Avg $2,141/year across 7 years
Top 18% in NC for cardiovascular disease
A higher payment rank reflects disclosed industry relationships (consulting, research, speaking) common among subspecialists — not wrongdoing.
46
Companies
1,075
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
$14,990 (100.0%)
Payment trend by year
Annual totals from pharmaceutical and medical device companies.
2024
$2,494
2023
$1,894
2022
$2,476
2021
$2,303
2020
$1,529
2019
$2,190
2018
$2,104
Payments by company (2024)
Consulting
Speaking
Meals & Travel
Research
E.R. Squibb & Sons, L.L.C.
$432
Esperion Therapeutics, Inc.
$294
Amgen Inc.
$246
AstraZeneca Pharmaceuticals LP
$204
Novartis Pharmaceuticals Corporation
$195
ZOLL Services LLC (A/K/A ZOLL LifeCor Corp)
$164
Novo Nordisk Inc
$139
SANOFI-AVENTIS U.S. LLC
$136
HEARTFLOW, INC.
$132
Boehringer Ingelheim Pharmaceuticals, Inc.
$104
Janssen Pharmaceuticals, Inc
$73
Medtronic, Inc.
$63
Kestra Medical Technology Services, Inc.
$63
Lexicon Pharmaceuticals, Inc.
$56
Merck Sharp & Dohme LLC
$43
ABIOMED
$34
Edwards Lifesciences Corporation
$32
Alnylam Pharmaceuticals Inc.
$24
Kiniksa Pharmaceuticals International, plc
$21
Becton, Dickinson and Company
$17
GENZYME CORPORATION
$13
VivaQuant Inc, dba Rhythm Express
$11
Top 3 companies account for 39.0% of 2024 payments
All-time payments by company (2018-2024) ›
Janssen Pharmaceuticals, Inc
$1,916
E.R. Squibb & Sons, L.L.C.
$1,672
AstraZeneca Pharmaceuticals LP
$1,589
Novartis Pharmaceuticals Corporation
$1,310
Amgen Inc.
$1,288
ZOLL Services LLC (A/K/A ZOLL LifeCor Corp)
$1,159
SANOFI-AVENTIS U.S. LLC
$1,158
Esperion Therapeutics, Inc.
$804
Boehringer Ingelheim Pharmaceuticals, Inc.
$761
Novo Nordisk Inc
$443
PFIZER INC.
$289
Amarin Pharma Inc.
$283
Merck Sharp & Dohme LLC
$200
Medtronic, Inc.
$179
Lundbeck LLC
$157
GENZYME CORPORATION
$148
HEARTFLOW, INC.
$132
Abbott Laboratories
$129
Actelion Pharmaceuticals US, Inc.
$127
Kowa Pharmaceuticals America, Inc.
$125
Celgene Corporation
$115
Medtronic Vascular, Inc.
$91
Edwards Lifesciences Corporation
$90
Regeneron Healthcare Solutions, Inc.
$83
Lexicon Pharmaceuticals, Inc.
$83
Merck Sharp & Dohme Corporation
$76
Baxter Healthcare
$68
Alnylam Pharmaceuticals Inc.
$66
ABIOMED
$65
Kestra Medical Technology Services, Inc.
$63
Kiniksa Pharmaceuticals, Ltd.
$40
Chiesi USA, Inc.
$40
Boston Scientific Corporation
$31
ARBOR PHARMACEUTICALS, INC.
$27
iRhythm Technologies, Inc.
$26
Kiniksa Pharmaceuticals International, plc
$21
Janssen Scientific Affairs, LLC
$20
Becton, Dickinson and Company
$17
Philips Electronics North America Corporation
$14
Otsuka America Pharmaceutical, Inc.
$14
HeartFlow, Inc.
$14
Arbor Pharmaceuticals, Inc.
$13
CARDIVA MEDICAL, INC.
$12
VivaQuant Inc, dba Rhythm Express
$11
LifeWatch Services Inc
$11
Cardiovascular Systems Inc.
$11
Top 3 companies account for 34.5% of all-time payments
Associated products mentioned in payments ›
(5044) MCOT · ABRE · ANGIOJET · Arcalyst · Assure WCD · BRILINTA · Bidil · CAMZYOS · CARDENE · CARDIOMEMS · COREVALVE EVOLUT R · Cardiac Monitoring Suite · CardioMEMS HF System · Corlanor · Coronary Orbital Atherectomy System · ELIQUIS · ENTRESTO · Edarbyclor · Edwards SAPIEN 3 Transcatheter Heart Valve · Edwards SAPIEN 3 Ultra Transcatheter Heart Valve · FABRAZYME · FARXIGA · FFRct · Hillrom - Cardiac Ambulatory Monitor · Horizant · Impella · Inpefa · JARDIANCE · LEQVIO · LifeVest · Livalo · MULTAQ · Mitra Clip system · NEXLETOL · NEXLIZET · NORTHERA · ONPATTRO · OPSUMIT · OPSUMIT MACITENTAN · Ozempic · PRADAXA · PRALUENT · PRALUENT ALIROCUMAB INJECTION · Perclose ProGlide suture mediated closure system · RYBELSUS · Repatha · Reveal LINQ · Rhythm Express · Rybelsus · SAMSCA · Saxenda · VERQUVO · VYNDAQEL · Vascepa · Vascular Closure Device · Venclose Maven Catheter · WAINUA · Wegovy · XARELTO · ZIO Patch
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 (100%) are for meals and travel — low-value interactions that are common across virtually all practicing physicians.
Geographic Context
Cardiologists within 10 mi
121
Per 100K population
10.5
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. Garimella is a remote & electrophysiology specialist, with above-average Medicare volume (top 5% in NC), with low-engagement industry engagement in the top 18% 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. Garimella experienced with office visit, established patient (30-39 min)?
Based on Medicare claims data, Dr. Garimella performed 1,244 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. Garimella receive payments from pharmaceutical companies?
Yes. Dr. Garimella received a total of $14,990 from 46 companies across 1,075 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. Garimella's costs compare to other cardiologists in Cary?
Dr. Garimella's average Medicare payment per service is $63. 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. Garimella) 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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