Medicare Enrolled
Dr. Somasekhara Balla, MD
Cardiovascular Disease · Greenville, NC
Practice pattern: Cardiac Imaging
— Practice with significant diagnostic imaging and stress testing
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. Balla 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. Balla
Dr. Somasekhara Balla is a cardiovascular disease specialist in Greenville, NC, with 19 years of NPI registration. Based on federal Medicare data, Dr. Balla performed 5,779 Medicare services across 3,723 unique beneficiaries.
Between the years covered by Open Payments, Dr. Balla received a total of $1,706 from 17 pharmaceutical and/or device companies across 103 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. Balla 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.
✓ 19 years in practice
▲ Top 6% volume in NC
$1,706 industry payments
Medicare Practice Summary
Medicare Utilization ↗5,779
Medicare services
Top 6% in NC for cardiovascular disease
3,723
Unique beneficiaries
$41
Avg. Medicare payment
Medicare patients only (65+ / disabled) · How to read this →
~304 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 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. |
2,135 | $6 | $21 |
| Regadenoson injection (Lexiscan) for heart stress test An injection of regadenoson, a medication used to stress the heart during diagnostic testing. |
520 | $45 | $70 |
| 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. |
517 | $56 | $185 |
| 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. |
432 | $9 | $50 |
| 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. |
401 | $85 | $232 |
| Technetium Tc-99m sestamibi diagnostic injection A diagnostic injection of technetium Tc-99m sestamibi used for imaging studies. |
287 | $87 | $157 |
| Echocardiogram, transthoracic An ultrasound of the heart that uses color to show blood flow, rate, direction, and valve function. |
244 | $136 | $557 |
| Exercise or drug-induced heart stress test with ECG A heart stress test performed using exercise or medication while an electrocardiogram is monitored under physician supervision. |
150 | $16 | $57 |
| Exercise or drug-induced heart stress test with ECG A heart stress test performed using exercise or medication while monitoring the electrocardiogram, with physician review of the results. |
150 | $11 | $38 |
| Exercise or drug-induced heart stress test with ECG A test that monitors the heart's electrical activity while the patient exercises or receives medication to increase heart rate. |
148 | $21 | $122 |
| 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. |
140 | $317 | $1,063 |
| Blood draw (venipuncture) Insertion of a needle into a vein to collect a blood sample. |
128 | $8 | $27 |
| Online digital E/M service, established patient, 21+ minutes An online digital evaluation and management service for an established patient. This service requires a total time of 21 or more minutes over a period of up to 7 days. |
126 | $33 | $93 |
| 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. |
68 | $73 | $230 |
| Pacemaker system evaluation Assessment of a pacemaker device, including single, dual, multiple lead, or leadless systems. |
57 | $39 | $88 |
| Follow-up ultrasound of heart blood flow, valves and chambers An ultrasound exam that follows up on the heart's blood flow, valves, and chambers. It uses sound waves to create images of the heart's structure and function. |
46 | $5 | $20 |
| Echocardiogram with color Doppler An ultrasound of the heart that uses color imaging to visualize blood flow, measure flow rate, and assess valve function. |
45 | $2 | $9 |
| 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. |
38 | $101 | $337 |
| Continuous ECG monitoring, up to 30 days Continuous heart rhythm monitoring for up to 30 days, including professional review and reporting of the results. |
32 | $19 | $62 |
| Ultrasound of arm and leg arteries This procedure uses sound waves to create images of the blood vessels in the arms and legs. It allows healthcare providers to examine the structure and blood flow within these arteries. |
27 | $51 | $175 |
| 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. |
18 | $109 | $381 |
| Implantable defibrillator system check A check of the implanted defibrillator device to ensure it is functioning correctly. This evaluation covers single, dual, or multiple lead systems. |
17 | $50 | $163 |
| Continuous ECG monitoring with symptom tracking, up to 30 days This procedure involves continuous electrocardiogram monitoring for up to 30 days. It includes symptom monitoring to correlate heart activity with patient-reported events. |
15 | $6 | $37 |
| Continuous ECG monitoring with transmission and review Continuous electrocardiogram monitoring for up to 30 days with symptom tracking. The data is transmitted and reviewed by a healthcare professional who provides a report. |
14 | $18 | $64 |
| Follow-up heart ultrasound An ultrasound of the heart performed to monitor or reassess a previously identified condition or treatment progress. |
12 | $61 | $241 |
| Ultrasound of leg arteries or grafts An imaging test that uses sound waves to create pictures of the blood vessels in the legs or any surgical grafts present. |
12 | $120 | $670 |
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.
6.3% high complexity
26.1% medium
67.6% routine
Industry Payment Transparency
Open Payments through 2024 ↗$1,706
Total received (2018-2024)
Avg $244/year across 7 years
Bottom 43% in NC for cardiovascular disease
17
Companies
103
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
$1,670 (97.9%)
Speaking / Promotional
Speaker programs, honoraria, and industry-sponsored educational events
$36 (2.1%)
Payment trend by year
Annual totals from pharmaceutical and medical device companies.
2024
$443
2023
$370
2022
$167
2021
$94
2020
$126
2019
$404
2018
$102
Payments by company (2024)
Consulting
Speaking
Meals & Travel
Research
ZOLL Services LLC (A/K/A ZOLL LifeCor Corp)
$151
Novartis Pharmaceuticals Corporation
$148
E.R. Squibb & Sons, L.L.C.
$128
Boehringer Ingelheim Pharmaceuticals, Inc.
$16
Top 3 companies account for 96.5% of 2024 payments
All-time payments by company (2018-2024) ›
ZOLL Services LLC (A/K/A ZOLL LifeCor Corp)
$527
Janssen Pharmaceuticals, Inc
$249
Novartis Pharmaceuticals Corporation
$200
E.R. Squibb & Sons, L.L.C.
$174
PFIZER INC.
$148
iRhythm Technologies, Inc.
$71
Actelion Pharmaceuticals US, Inc.
$65
Amgen Inc.
$58
Boehringer Ingelheim Pharmaceuticals, Inc.
$46
Abbott Laboratories
$37
Philips Electronics North America Corporation
$25
Merck Sharp & Dohme LLC
$22
BOSTON SCIENTIFIC CORPORATION
$18
SANOFI-AVENTIS U.S. LLC
$18
Amarin Pharma Inc.
$17
Edwards Lifesciences Corporation
$16
AstraZeneca Pharmaceuticals LP
$14
Top 3 companies account for 57.2% of all-time payments
Associated products mentioned in payments ›
(5044) MCOT · CAMZYOS · Corlanor · ELIQUIS · ENTRESTO · FARXIGA · JARDIANCE · LEQVIO · LifeVest · MITRACLIP · OPSUMIT · PRADAXA · PRALUENT · Repatha · THORATEC HEARTMATE 3 LVAS IMPLANT KIT · VERQUVO · Vascepa · XARELTO · ZIO XT Patch · ZOOM
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 (98%) are for meals and travel — low-value interactions that are common across virtually all practicing physicians.
Geographic Context
Cardiologists within 10 mi
32
Per 100K population
18.6
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. Balla is a cardiac imaging specialist, with above-average Medicare volume (top 6% in NC), with low-engagement industry engagement, with 19 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. Balla experienced with ekg interpretation and report?
Based on Medicare claims data, Dr. Balla performed 2,135 ekg interpretation and report 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. Balla receive payments from pharmaceutical companies?
Yes. Dr. Balla received a total of $1,706 from 17 companies across 103 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. Balla's costs compare to other cardiologists in Greenville?
Dr. Balla's average Medicare payment per service is $41. 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. Balla) 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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