Medicare Enrolled
Dr. Eric Howell
Dermatology · Greenville, 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. Howell 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. Howell
Dr. Eric Howell is a dermatology specialist in Greenville, NC, with 18 years of NPI registration. Based on federal Medicare data, Dr. Howell performed 10,764 Medicare services across 5,073 unique beneficiaries.
Between the years covered by Open Payments, Dr. Howell received a total of $5,015 from 26 pharmaceutical and/or device companies across 217 individual payments. These payments are legal, publicly disclosed under the federal Sunshine Act, and common in dermatology. 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. Howell 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 4% volume in NC
$5,015 industry payments
Medicare Practice Summary
Medicare Utilization ↗10,764
Medicare services
Top 4% in NC for dermatology
5,073
Unique beneficiaries
$29
Avg. Medicare payment
Medicare patients only (65+ / disabled) · How to read this →
~598 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Destruction of precancerous skin growths, 2-14 This procedure involves the removal or destruction of two to fourteen precancerous skin lesions. It is performed to eliminate abnormal skin cells that have the potential to develop into cancer. |
4,812 | $5 | $20 |
| 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. |
1,852 | $55 | $200 |
| Destruction of precancerous skin growth, 1 Removal of a single precancerous skin growth. This procedure destroys abnormal skin cells to prevent them from developing into cancer. |
1,345 | $39 | $145 |
| Steroid injection (triamcinolone) A 10 mg injection of triamcinolone acetonide, a corticosteroid medication. This code specifies the drug and dosage administered. |
637 | $1 | $5 |
| Office visit, established patient (10-19 min) An office visit for an existing patient lasting 10 to 19 minutes. The visit involves medical evaluation and management of the patient's condition. |
522 | $36 | $125 |
| Destruction of skin growths (warts/lesions), 1-14 This procedure involves the removal or destruction of one to fourteen skin growths. It is a minor surgical intervention performed on the skin surface. |
237 | $70 | $235 |
| New patient office visit (30-44 min) An initial office visit for a new patient lasting between 30 and 44 minutes. This code is used when the total time spent on the date of the encounter falls within this range. |
233 | $64 | $225 |
| Skin biopsy, tangential A procedure to remove a sample of the first identified skin growth for laboratory examination. |
157 | $64 | $191 |
| Destruction of 15 or more precancerous skin growths This procedure involves the removal or destruction of fifteen or more precancerous skin lesions. It is performed to treat abnormal skin cells that have the potential to develop into cancer. |
140 | $114 | $300 |
| Drug injection, under skin or into muscle A procedure involving the administration of a medication or substance via injection into the subcutaneous tissue or muscle. |
139 | $9 | $50 |
| New patient office visit, 15-29 minutes An initial office visit for a new patient lasting 15 to 29 minutes. This code is used when the total time spent on the date of the encounter meets this duration threshold. |
99 | $39 | $175 |
| Destruction of cancerous skin growth on face, 0.6-1.0 cm This procedure involves the removal or destruction of a cancerous skin lesion located on the face, ears, eyelids, nose, lips, or mouth. The lesion treated measures between 0.6 and 1.0 centimeters in diameter. |
72 | $126 | $400 |
| Destruction of cancer skin growth, 1.1-2.0 cm Removal of a cancerous skin growth on the trunk, arms, or legs that measures between 1.1 and 2.0 centimeters. |
63 | $125 | $359 |
| Injection into skin growths, 1-7 A procedure involving the injection of medication into one to seven skin growths. |
62 | $34 | $111 |
| Shaving of skin growth, 0.6-1.0 cm A minor procedure to shave off a skin growth on the body, arms, or legs that measures between 0.6 and 1.0 centimeters. |
52 | $83 | $240 |
| Destruction of cancerous skin growth on face, 1.1-2.0 cm This procedure involves the removal or destruction of a cancerous skin lesion located on the face, ears, eyelids, nose, lips, or mouth. The lesion treated measures between 1.1 and 2.0 centimeters in diameter. |
35 | $131 | $405 |
| Destruction of cancer skin growth, 0.6-1.0 cm This procedure involves the removal or destruction of a cancerous skin growth measuring 0.6 to 1.0 centimeters. It is performed on the scalp, neck, hands, feet, or genitals. |
34 | $110 | $352 |
| Blood draw (venipuncture) Insertion of a needle into a vein to collect a blood sample. |
33 | $8 | $55 |
| Destruction of cancer skin growth, 0.6-1.0 cm This procedure involves the removal or destruction of a cancerous skin growth located on the trunk, arms, or legs that measures between 0.6 and 1.0 centimeters. |
31 | $86 | $305 |
| Topical aminolevulinic acid HCl 20% solution A topical medication applied to the skin for medical treatment. It is supplied as a single-unit dosage form containing 354 mg of the active ingredient. |
29 | $304 | $475 |
| Destruction of cancer skin growth of scalp, neck, hands, feet, or genitals, 1.1-2.0 cm | 28 | $131 | $395 |
| 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. |
27 | $71 | $275 |
| Light therapy to destroy precancerous skin growth This procedure uses light to treat and remove precancerous skin lesions. It is a method for destroying abnormal skin cells before they become cancerous. |
24 | $91 | $250 |
| Simple drainage of skin abscess A minor procedure to drain a localized collection of pus from the skin. The abscess is opened to allow the fluid to escape and promote healing. |
20 | $76 | $210 |
| Shaving of skin growth, 0.6-1.0 cm A minor procedure to shave off a skin growth measuring 0.6 to 1.0 cm from the scalp, neck, hands, feet, or genitals. |
18 | $73 | $238 |
| Shaving of small skin growth on face or mouth area A minor procedure to shave off a small skin growth, measuring 0.5 cm or less, located on the face, ears, eyelids, nose, lips, or mouth. |
18 | $80 | $221 |
| Ear tissue biopsy A procedure to remove a small sample of tissue from the ear for laboratory examination. |
18 | $61 | $210 |
| Shaving of skin growth on face, 0.6-1.0 cm This procedure involves shaving off a skin growth located on the face, ears, eyelids, nose, lips, or mouth. The size of the growth being removed is between 0.6 and 1.0 centimeters. |
16 | $69 | $270 |
| Punch biopsy of first skin growth A small, circular piece of skin is removed from a skin growth using a circular blade. The sample is then sent to a laboratory for examination. |
11 | $87 | $250 |
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 ↗$5,015
Total received (2018-2024)
Avg $716/year across 7 years
Top 32% in NC for dermatology
A higher payment rank reflects disclosed industry relationships (consulting, research, speaking) common among subspecialists — not wrongdoing.
26
Companies
217
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
$3,640 (72.6%)
Consulting
Expert advisory fees, typically reflecting recognized clinical expertise
$1,014 (20.2%)
Speaking / Promotional
Speaker programs, honoraria, and industry-sponsored educational events
$361 (7.2%)
Payment trend by year
Annual totals from pharmaceutical and medical device companies.
2024
$536
2023
$906
2022
$920
2021
$438
2020
$106
2019
$1,648
2018
$461
Payments by company (2024)
Consulting
Speaking
Meals & Travel
Research
ABBVIE INC.
$287
LEO Pharma Inc.
$128
GENZYME CORPORATION
$37
Lilly USA, LLC
$33
Novartis Pharmaceuticals Corporation
$20
Janssen Biotech, Inc.
$16
E.R. Squibb & Sons, L.L.C.
$15
Top 3 companies account for 84.4% of 2024 payments
All-time payments by company (2018-2024) ›
Allergan Inc.
$1,014
ABBVIE INC.
$939
Merz North America, Inc.
$550
Janssen Biotech, Inc.
$543
LEO Pharma Inc.
$389
AbbVie Inc.
$304
AbbVie, Inc.
$258
Novartis Pharmaceuticals Corporation
$165
PFIZER INC.
$158
Amgen Inc.
$143
Organogenesis Inc.
$116
Lilly USA, LLC
$90
Regeneron Healthcare Solutions, Inc.
$73
GENZYME CORPORATION
$37
Galderma Laboratories, L.P.
$34
Sun Pharmaceutical Industries Inc.
$33
Helsinn Therapeutics (U.S.), Inc.
$32
Incyte Corporation
$23
Celgene Corporation
$19
Allergan, Inc.
$19
E.R. Squibb & Sons, L.L.C.
$15
Paratek Pharmaceuticals, Inc.
$15
Ortho Dermatologics, a division of Bausch Health US, LLC
$14
Almirall LLC
$13
Genentech USA, Inc.
$12
STRATA Skin Sciences, Inc.
$10
Top 3 companies account for 49.9% of all-time payments
Associated products mentioned in payments ›
ABSORICA (isotretinoin) · ADBRY · AKLIEF · Absorica LD · BOTOX COSMETIC · COSENTYX · DUPIXENT · Dermatological Psoriasis and Vitiligo Treatment · EUCRISA · Enbrel · Erivedge · HUMIRA · Humira · NUZYRA · OPZELURA · Otezla · PuraPly AM · RINVOQ · SILIQ · SKYRIZI · Seysara · Skyrizi · Sotyktu · TALTZ · TREMFYA · Tremfya · VALCHLOR
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 (73%) are for meals and travel — low-value interactions that are common across virtually all practicing physicians.
Geographic Context
Dermatologists within 10 mi
10
Per 100K population
5.8
County median income
$58,851
Nearest hospital
ECU HEALTH MEDICAL CENTER
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. Howell is a clinical cardiology specialist, with above-average Medicare volume (top 4% in NC), with low-engagement industry engagement, 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. Howell experienced with destruction of precancerous skin growths, 2-14?
Based on Medicare claims data, Dr. Howell performed 4,812 destruction of precancerous skin growths, 2-14 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. Howell receive payments from pharmaceutical companies?
Yes. Dr. Howell received a total of $5,015 from 26 companies across 217 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. Howell's costs compare to other dermatologists in Greenville?
Dr. Howell's average Medicare payment per service is $29. 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. Howell) 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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