Medicare Enrolled
Dr. Paul Kim, MD
Neurological Surgery · Charlotte, NC
Practice pattern: Clinical Cardiology
— Primarily office-based clinical cardiology
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. Kim 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. Kim
Dr. Paul Kim is a neurological surgery specialist in Charlotte, NC, with 18 years of NPI registration. Based on federal Medicare data, Dr. Kim performed 1,362 Medicare services across 1,010 unique beneficiaries.
Between the years covered by Open Payments, Dr. Kim received a total of $1,281,751 from 24 pharmaceutical and/or device companies across 836 individual payments. These payments are legal, publicly disclosed under the federal Sunshine Act, and common in neurological surgery. The majority of payments are classified as financial or ownership interests (royalties, licensing fees, or investment interests). Patients may wish to discuss these relationships with their provider.
The Data Coverage level for Dr. Kim 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.
✓ 18 years in practice
▲ Top 1% volume in NC
$1,281,751 industry payments
Medicare Practice Summary
Medicare Utilization ↗1,362
Medicare services
Top 1% in NC for neurological surgery
1,010
Unique beneficiaries
$213
Avg. Medicare payment
Medicare patients only (65+ / disabled) · How to read this →
~76 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Spinal fusion of additional segment A surgical procedure to join an additional section of the spine to the existing fusion. This is performed as a separate or subsequent step to stabilize more of the spinal column. |
253 | $288 | $1,614 |
| 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. |
188 | $116 | $277 |
| 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. |
114 | $95 | $213 |
| X-ray of entire middle and lower spine, 2-3 views An X-ray imaging test that captures 2 to 3 views of the entire middle and lower spine to visualize the bones and structures in these areas. |
103 | $50 | $149 |
| MRI of lower spine, without contrast A magnetic resonance imaging scan of the lower spinal canal that does not use contrast dye to create detailed images of the spine. |
78 | $96 | $1,475 |
| Spine fusion with cage or mesh device insertion A surgical procedure to fuse spine bones by inserting a cage or mesh device into the disc space. |
64 | $195 | $1,107 |
| X-ray of lower and sacral spine, 2-3 views An X-ray imaging test that captures 2 to 3 views of the lower back and sacral spine to visualize the bones and joints in this area. |
53 | $22 | $125 |
| Computer-assisted spinal procedure A surgical or diagnostic procedure involving the spine that utilizes computer technology to assist with planning, navigation, or execution. |
49 | $175 | $1,092 |
| MRI of upper spine without contrast An MRI scan of the upper spinal canal that does not use contrast dye. This imaging test uses magnetic fields and radio waves to create detailed pictures of the spine. |
41 | $86 | $1,475 |
| 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. |
36 | $120 | $363 |
| Additional spine bone segment removal Surgical removal of an additional segment of bone from the spine during the same procedure. |
35 | $255 | $1,413 |
| New patient office visit, complex (60-74 min) | 33 | $153 | $399 |
| Lower back spinal fusion with bone and disc removal A surgical procedure to fuse vertebrae in the lower back. It involves removing part of the spine bone and a disc to stabilize the area. |
32 | $1,099 | $8,488 |
| X-ray of upper spine, 2-3 views An X-ray imaging test of the upper spine using two to three different angles to visualize the bones and structures. |
28 | $26 | $96 |
| Partial removal of spine bone with nerve release, each additional segment This procedure involves the partial removal of spinal bone to relieve pressure on the spinal cord or nerves. It is billed for each additional spinal segment treated beyond the initial segment. |
27 | $159 | $893 |
| CT scan of lower spine, without contrast A computed tomography scan that creates detailed images of the lower spine using X-rays without the use of contrast dye. |
26 | $44 | $595 |
| Partial removal of spine bone with nerve release during fusion This procedure involves removing part of the bone in a single segment of the lower spine to release the spinal cord or nerves, performed during a spinal fusion. |
22 | $196 | $1,448 |
| Spinal stabilization device placement, 3-6 segments Surgical placement of a device to stabilize three to six vertebrae in the back. |
21 | $578 | $3,145 |
| MRI of middle spinal canal, without contrast This procedure uses magnetic resonance imaging to create detailed pictures of the middle section of the spinal canal. It is performed without the use of contrast dye. |
21 | $69 | $1,475 |
| Spinal stabilization device placement, 7-12 segments Surgical placement of a device to stabilize the back involving 7 to 12 spine bone segments. |
20 | $593 | $3,352 |
| Open sacroiliac joint fusion with bone graft A surgical procedure to fuse the sacroiliac joint between the spine and pelvis using an open technique and bone graft. |
18 | $1,344 | $8,122 |
| 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. |
18 | $62 | $138 |
| Lower spine bone segment removal A surgical procedure to cut into or remove a segment of bone from the lower spine. |
15 | $579 | $5,370 |
| Placement of stabilizing device to back of 1 spine bone in neck A procedure involving the placement of a stabilizing device on the back of a single vertebra in the neck. |
15 | $574 | $3,187 |
| Spinal fusion with partial bone and disc removal A surgical procedure to join additional segments of the spine. It involves the partial removal of spine bone and disc tissue. |
14 | $367 | $2,289 |
| CT scan of middle spine, without contrast A CT scan of the middle spine performed without the use of contrast dye. This imaging test uses X-rays to create detailed pictures of the vertebrae and surrounding structures. |
14 | $58 | $595 |
| Partial removal of spine bone with nerve release, 1 segment A surgical procedure involving the partial removal of a bone segment in the spine to relieve pressure on the spinal cord or nerves. This is performed on a single spinal segment. |
13 | $618 | $3,995 |
| CT scan of upper spine, without contrast A CT scan uses X-rays to create detailed images of the upper spine. This procedure is performed without the use of contrast dye. |
11 | $57 | $595 |
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.
29.6% high complexity
14.0% medium
56.4% routine
Industry Payment Transparency
Open Payments through 2024 ↗$1,281,751
Total received (2018-2024)
Avg $183,107/year across 7 years
Top 3% in NC for neurological surgery
A higher payment rank reflects disclosed industry relationships (consulting, research, speaking) common among subspecialists — not wrongdoing.
24
Companies
836
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.
Financial / Ownership
Ownership or investment interests, royalties, and licensing fees
$859,417 (67.1%)
Consulting
Expert advisory fees, typically reflecting recognized clinical expertise
$213,895 (16.7%)
Speaking / Promotional
Speaker programs, honoraria, and industry-sponsored educational events
$203,054 (15.8%)
Meals & Travel
Food, beverages, travel, and lodging — typically low-value
$5,384 (0.4%)
Payment trend by year
Annual totals from pharmaceutical and medical device companies.
2024
$231,779
2023
$207,613
2022
$179,531
2021
$182,582
2020
$154,946
2019
$146,322
2018
$178,976
Payments by company (2024)
Consulting
Speaking
Meals & Travel
Research
Medtronic, Inc.
$151,503
Globus Medical, Inc.
$79,593
Stryker Corporation
$401
Baxter Healthcare
$133
Boston Scientific Corporation
$93
DePuy Synthes Sales Inc.
$38
Cerapedics Inc.
$18
Top 3 companies account for 99.9% of 2024 payments
All-time payments by company (2018-2024) ›
Globus Medical, Inc.
$590,896
Medtronic, Inc.
$340,903
NuVasive, Inc.
$268,521
Bioventus LLC
$36,645
Medtronic USA, Inc.
$21,954
Surgalign Spine Technologies, Inc.
$5,850
BOSTON SCIENTIFIC CORPORATION
$5,389
Medical Device Business Services, Inc.
$4,095
Boston Scientific Corporation
$3,475
MiRus, LLC
$1,623
Stryker Corporation
$1,039
DePuy Synthes Products, Inc.
$432
DePuy Synthes Sales Inc.
$335
Intrinsic Therapeutics
$145
Cerapedics Inc.
$139
Baxter Healthcare
$133
Saluda Medical Americas, Inc.
$44
Penumbra, Inc.
$24
Covidien LP
$22
Genentech USA, Inc.
$21
Spine Wave, Inc.
$20
SI-BONE, Inc.
$16
BAXTER HEALTHCARE
$15
Pacira Pharmaceuticals Incorporated
$14
Top 3 companies account for 93.6% of all-time payments
Associated products mentioned in payments ›
ACDF Retractor · ACP · ADAPTIX INTERBODY SYSTEM WITH TITAN NANOLOCK SURFACE TECHNOLOGY · ALIF · ALTERA · ANATOMIC PEEK PTC CERVICAL FUSION SYSTEM · ANTERALIGN SPINAL SYSTEM WITH TITAN NANOLOCK SURFACE TECHNOLOGY · ARIA · ARTiC-L · ATLANTIS ANTERIOR CERVICAL PLATE SYSTEM · Adaptix · Alecensa · Archon · Artemis · BARRICAID ACD (ANNULAR CLOSURE DEVICE) · Barricaid Annular Closure Device · CAPRI CORPECTOMY CAGE SYSTEM · CATALYFT PL EXPANDABLE INTERBODY SYSTEM · CD HORIZON · CD HORIZON SPINAL SYSTEM · CLYDESDALE · CLYDESDALE PTC SPINAL SYSTEM · COFLEX · CONFIDENCE SPINAL CEMENT SYSTEM · COSINE · CREO · CREO 5.5 · CREO 5.5/6.0 Non Threaded · CREO MIS · Catalyft · CoRoent · Corbel · DIVERGENCE-L · DIVERGENCE-L ANTERIOR/OBLIQUE LUMBAR FUSION SYSTEM · Direct Look Lat · ELEVATE · ELSA · ELSA ATP · ES2 SPINAL SYSTEM · EUROPA Pedicle Screw System · EVEREST SPINAL SYSTEM · EXCELSIUS GPS · EXPAREL · Evoke SCS · Excelsius - GPS · Excelsius Robotics System · Excelsius3D Imaging System · ExcelsiusGPS Robotic Navigation System · FLOSEAL · GENERAL - PAIN MANAGEMENT · GENERAL PAIN MANAGEMENT · GRAFTON · General - Therapies · HEDRON · Hedron IA · I-FACTOR PEPTIDE ENHANCED BONE GRAFT · INDEPENDENCE · INFINITY OCT System · INTELLIS · In-Line ALIF · KYPHON Balloon Kyphoplasty · L5-S1 · Lateral IBF · Lateral Inline · MARS 3VL · MARS 3VL Retractor · MARS Anterior Retractor · MARS Lateral ALIF · MAST QUADRANT · MAZOR X SYSTEM · MEDTRONIC REUSABLE INSTRUMENTS · MIDAS REX · MONUMENT · MaXcess · Mazor X Stealth Edition · MazorX - Renaissance · N/A · NAVLOCK · NVM5 · Nuvaline/NuvaMap O.R. · O-ARM-Spine · OsteoAMP · Other · PIVOX OBLIQUE LATERAL SPINAL SYSTEM · PIVOX Oblique Lateral Spinal System · POWEREASE · PRONE LATERAL · Posterior Auxiliary Instruments · Posterior Fusion · Psoas Preservation (ELSA ATP) · Pulse · QUARTEX · RELINE · RISE-L · SABLE · SPACE-D SYSTEM 5.5/6.0 VOYAGER INSTRUMENT SET · SPECTRA WAVEWRITER · STEALTH AUTOGUIDE SYSTEM · STEALTHSTATION S8 PLATFORM · SYMPHONY · Simplify Cervical Artificial Disc · Situate · Spectra WaveWriter · StealthStation · Superion · T2 STRATOSPHERE · TLIF · TLX · UNID_PASS · VIPER · Velys · WAVEWRITER ALPHA · WaveWriter Alpha Prime 16 · XLIF · XLX · ZEVO · nanoLOCK-C · nanoLOCK-L
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 →
Payments are distributed across multiple categories with no single dominant type. Total industry engagement is in the top 3% for neurological surgery in NC.
Geographic Context
Neurological surgerists within 10 mi
46
Per 100K population
4.1
County median income
$83,765
Nearest hospital
CAROLINAS MEDICAL CENTER/BEHAV HEALTH
1.8 mi
1.8 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. Kim is a clinical cardiology specialist, with above-average Medicare volume (top 1% in NC), with mixed engagement industry engagement in the top 3% of NC peers, with 18 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. Kim experienced with spinal fusion of additional segment?
Based on Medicare claims data, Dr. Kim performed 253 spinal fusion of additional segment 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. Kim receive payments from pharmaceutical companies?
Yes. Dr. Kim received a total of $1,281,751 from 24 companies across 836 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. Kim's costs compare to other neurological surgerists in Charlotte?
Dr. Kim's average Medicare payment per service is $213. 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. Kim) 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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