Medicare Enrolled
Dr. Gary Heck, DO
Internal Medicine · Kinston, 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. Heck 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 →
Are you Dr. Heck?
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What this data tells you about Dr. Heck
Dr. Gary Heck is an internal medicine specialist in Kinston, NC, with 20 years of NPI registration. Based on federal Medicare data, Dr. Heck performed 10,774 Medicare services across 5,263 unique beneficiaries.
Between the years covered by Open Payments, Dr. Heck received a total of $12,505 from 58 pharmaceutical and/or device companies across 833 individual payments. These payments are legal, publicly disclosed under the federal Sunshine Act, and common in internal 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. Heck 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 3% volume in NC
$12,505 industry payments
Medicare Practice Summary
Medicare Utilization ↗10,774
Medicare services
Top 3% in NC for internal medicine
5,263
Unique beneficiaries
$29
Avg. Medicare payment
Medicare patients only (65+ / disabled) · How to read this →
~539 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Denosumab injection (Prolia/Xgeva) | 1,560 | $18 | $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. |
1,028 | $88 | $271 |
| Complete blood count (CBC) with differential An automated laboratory test that measures the levels of red blood cells, white blood cells, and platelets in the blood, including a breakdown of the different types of white blood cells. |
900 | $8 | $29 |
| Comprehensive metabolic blood panel A blood test that measures a group of chemicals, including glucose, electrolytes, and kidney and liver function markers. |
850 | $10 | $50 |
| Thyroid stimulating hormone (TSH) test A blood test that measures the level of thyroid stimulating hormone to evaluate thyroid function. |
798 | $16 | $58 |
| Lipid panel (cholesterol and triglycerides) A blood test that measures cholesterol and triglyceride levels. |
790 | $13 | $71 |
| Blood draw (venipuncture) Insertion of a needle into a vein to collect a blood sample. |
593 | $8 | $11 |
| Steroid injection (triamcinolone) A 10 mg injection of triamcinolone acetonide, a corticosteroid medication. This code specifies the drug and dosage administered. |
386 | $1 | $5 |
| 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. |
366 | $63 | $191 |
| Hemoglobin A1c test (diabetes monitoring) A blood test that measures your average blood sugar levels over the past two to three months. |
280 | $9 | $44 |
| Annual wellness visit, follow-up A follow-up annual wellness visit that includes a personalized prevention plan of service. |
279 | $124 | $267 |
| Free thyroxine (T4) test A blood test that measures the level of free thyroxine, a thyroid hormone, in the bloodstream. |
260 | $9 | $68 |
| Free T3 thyroid hormone test A blood test that measures the level of free triiodothyronine (T3) hormone in your body. This helps assess how well your thyroid gland is functioning. |
253 | $17 | $102 |
| 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. |
198 | $10 | $48 |
| 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. |
127 | $128 | $379 |
| Flu vaccine administration This procedure involves the administration of the influenza virus vaccine. It covers the process of delivering the vaccine to the patient. |
125 | $29 | $40 |
| Office visit for established patient An office visit for an existing patient that may not require the healthcare professional to be present. |
124 | $17 | $47 |
| 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. |
122 | $72 | $80 |
| Chest X-ray, 2 views An X-ray imaging test of the chest that captures two different angles to visualize the lungs, heart, and chest wall. |
121 | $17 | $54 |
| 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. |
117 | $10 | $58 |
| 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. |
115 | $2 | $15 |
| Respiratory virus detection test A laboratory test using immunoassay techniques to detect the presence of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus and influenza viruses. |
105 | $43 | $170 |
| PSA test (prostate cancer screening) A blood test that measures the level of prostate-specific antigen to screen for prostate cancer. |
85 | $19 | $55 |
| Autoimmune disorder antibody test A laboratory test that measures antibodies in the blood to help assess for autoimmune disorders. |
84 | $18 | $150 |
| Urine culture, bacterial colony count A laboratory test that measures the number of bacteria growing in a urine sample to help identify infections. |
77 | $8 | $37 |
| Basic metabolic blood panel A blood test that measures a group of basic chemicals, including total calcium levels. |
76 | $8 | $48 |
| Transitional care management, high complexity Coordination of care for a patient transitioning from a short-term hospital stay or other facility to home or another care setting. This service addresses a high-complexity medical problem. |
63 | $212 | $580 |
| Ferritin level test (iron stores) A blood test that measures the level of ferritin, a protein that stores iron in the body. |
62 | $13 | $63 |
| Vitamin B-12 injection An injection of vitamin B-12 (cyanocobalamin) with a dose of up to 1000 mcg. |
62 | $1 | $13 |
| Iron level test | 61 | $6 | $34 |
| Iron binding capacity test A blood test that measures the amount of iron in the blood and the blood's ability to bind and transport iron. |
61 | $9 | $40 |
| Vitamin D level test A blood test to measure the amount of Vitamin D-3 in your body. |
52 | $29 | $150 |
| Strep A rapid test A rapid test to detect Group A Streptococcus bacteria using an immunoassay method with direct visual observation. |
51 | $16 | $40 |
| Home health plan of care certification Certification by a physician or allowed practitioner for Medicare-covered home health services under a home health plan of care. This includes contacting the home health agency and reviewing reports of patient status required by physicians. |
50 | $39 | $146 |
| Screening mammography An X-ray of the breast used to detect breast cancer in women who have no signs or symptoms of the disease. |
49 | $120 | $300 |
| Antibiotic sensitivity test A laboratory test that determines which antibiotics, antifungals, or antivirals are effective against a specific microorganism using microdilution or agar dilution methods. |
36 | $8 | $60 |
| Bacterial culture, aerobic A laboratory test that grows and identifies bacteria capable of surviving in oxygen. The results help determine the presence of specific aerobic microorganisms. |
31 | $8 | $100 |
| Magnesium level test A blood test to measure the amount of magnesium in your body. This helps check for magnesium deficiency or excess. |
30 | $7 | $30 |
| Natriuretic peptide level test A blood test that measures the level of natriuretic peptide, a protein produced by the heart and blood vessels. |
29 | $38 | $119 |
| 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. |
28 | $159 | $338 |
| Vitamin B-12 level test A blood test that measures the amount of vitamin B-12 in your body. |
27 | $15 | $55 |
| Prothrombin time test (blood clotting) A laboratory test that measures how long it takes for blood to clot. This procedure evaluates the body's coagulation process. |
27 | $4 | $25 |
| 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. |
26 | $6 | $29 |
| PSA test (prostate cancer screening) | 18 | $18 | $66 |
| Knee X-ray, 3 views An X-ray imaging test of the knee joint that captures three different angles to evaluate the bones and surrounding structures. |
17 | $24 | $63 |
| Creatinine test (kidney function) A blood test that measures the amount of creatinine to assess kidney function or detect muscle injury. |
17 | $5 | $25 |
| Lipase level test A blood test that measures the amount of lipase, a fat-digesting enzyme, in your body. |
17 | $7 | $35 |
| 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. |
17 | $38 | $117 |
| Home health plan of care re-certification A physician reviews the patient's status and contacts the home health agency to re-certify the plan of care without the patient being present. |
17 | $32 | $125 |
| Stool test for blood to screen for colon tumors A test that analyzes a stool sample to detect hidden blood, which is used to screen for colon tumors. |
15 | $4 | $16 |
| Sed rate test (inflammation marker) This automated test measures how quickly red blood cells settle in a tube to detect inflammation in the body. |
15 | $3 | $19 |
| Folic acid level test A blood test that measures the amount of folic acid in the serum. |
14 | $14 | $51 |
| DNA antibody test (native or double-stranded) A blood test that measures the level of antibodies targeting native or double-stranded DNA. This test is used to detect the presence of these specific antibodies in the body. |
13 | $13 | $80 |
| Measurement of dna antibody, single stranded | 13 | $12 | $50 |
| Initial preventive physical examination, new Medicare beneficiary A comprehensive preventive health visit for new Medicare beneficiaries during their first 12 months of enrollment. The service is conducted as a face-to-face visit and is limited to preventive care. |
13 | $159 | $344 |
| X-ray of lower and sacral spine, minimum of 4 views An X-ray imaging test of the lower back and sacrum using at least four different angles to visualize the bones and joints. |
12 | $28 | $85 |
| Hip X-ray, 2-3 views An X-ray imaging test of the hip joint using two to three different angles to visualize the bones and surrounding structures. |
12 | $27 | $72 |
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 ↗$12,505
Total received (2018-2024)
Avg $1,786/year across 7 years
Top 8% in NC for internal medicine
A higher payment rank reflects disclosed industry relationships (consulting, research, speaking) common among subspecialists — not wrongdoing.
58
Companies
833
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
$12,481 (99.8%)
Speaking / Promotional
Speaker programs, honoraria, and industry-sponsored educational events
$24 (0.2%)
Payment trend by year
Annual totals from pharmaceutical and medical device companies.
2024
$1,023
2023
$1,908
2022
$1,867
2021
$1,557
2020
$1,707
2019
$2,297
2018
$2,146
Payments by company (2024)
Consulting
Speaking
Meals & Travel
Research
AstraZeneca Pharmaceuticals LP
$149
Amgen Inc.
$143
GlaxoSmithKline, LLC.
$132
Lilly USA, LLC
$131
ABBVIE INC.
$100
Novartis Pharmaceuticals Corporation
$68
PFIZER INC.
$48
Abbott Laboratories
$45
Otsuka America Pharmaceutical, Inc.
$43
Phathom Pharmaceuticals, Inc.
$39
Eisai Inc.
$22
Ardelyx, Inc.
$22
Inspire Medical Systems, Inc.
$18
Sumitomo Pharma America, Inc.
$18
Salix Pharmaceuticals, a division of Bausch Health US, LLC
$16
Novo Nordisk Inc
$15
Axsome Therapeutics, Inc.
$14
Top 3 companies account for 41.5% of 2024 payments
All-time payments by company (2018-2024) ›
Novo Nordisk Inc
$1,977
Amgen Inc.
$1,659
Lilly USA, LLC
$953
AstraZeneca Pharmaceuticals LP
$654
SANOFI-AVENTIS U.S. LLC
$562
Amarin Pharma Inc.
$557
GlaxoSmithKline, LLC.
$547
PFIZER INC.
$503
Salix Pharmaceuticals, a division of Bausch Health US, LLC
$490
ABBVIE INC.
$441
Abbott Laboratories
$398
Novartis Pharmaceuticals Corporation
$366
E.R. Squibb & Sons, L.L.C.
$343
Boehringer Ingelheim Pharmaceuticals, Inc.
$327
AbbVie Inc.
$306
Merck Sharp & Dohme Corporation
$281
Janssen Pharmaceuticals, Inc
$266
Hikma Pharmaceuticals USA
$255
Kowa Pharmaceuticals America, Inc.
$151
Esperion Therapeutics, Inc.
$148
Daiichi Sankyo Inc.
$112
Takeda Pharmaceuticals U.S.A., Inc.
$106
Regeneron Healthcare Solutions, Inc.
$102
Astellas Pharma US Inc
$85
Eisai Inc.
$73
Otsuka America Pharmaceutical, Inc.
$70
Genentech USA, Inc.
$52
Gilead Sciences, Inc.
$48
Axsome Therapeutics, Inc.
$46
Sunovion Pharmaceuticals Inc.
$46
Biohaven Pharmaceutical Holding Company Ltd.
$41
Phathom Pharmaceuticals, Inc.
$39
Bayer HealthCare Pharmaceuticals Inc.
$38
Inspire Medical Systems, Inc.
$36
ARBOR PHARMACEUTICALS, INC.
$36
AbbVie, Inc.
$34
Allergan Inc.
$28
Dexcom, Inc.
$27
Lundbeck LLC
$24
Ardelyx, Inc.
$22
Shield Therapeutics Inc
$19
Sumitomo Pharma America, Inc.
$18
ASSERTIO THERAPEUTICS, INC.
$18
Exact Sciences Corporation
$17
Vifor Pharma, Inc.
$17
Merck Sharp & Dohme LLC
$17
Nestle HealthCare Nutrition Inc.
$15
Grifols USA, LLC
$14
Shionogi Inc
$14
Eyevance Pharmaceuticals LLC
$13
Allergan, Inc.
$13
Currax Pharmaceuticals LLC
$13
Mylan Specialty L.P.
$12
Arbor Pharmaceuticals, Inc.
$12
AMAG Pharmaceuticals, Inc.
$12
DEXCOM, INC.
$11
IRONWOOD PHARMACEUTICALS, INC
$11
Synergy Pharmaceuticals Inc
$11
Top 3 companies account for 36.7% of all-time payments
Associated products mentioned in payments ›
ACCRUFER · ANORO · ANORO ELLIPTA · AREXVY · Aimovig · Amitiza · Auvelity · BASAGLAR · BELSOMRA · BEVESPI AEROSPHERE · BREZTRI · BYDUREON · Belviq · CAMZYOS · CHANTIX · COLOGUARD DNA CAPTURE REAGENTS · COMIRNATY · CONTRAVE · Cologuard Collection Kit · DEXCOM G6 TRANSMITTER · Dayvigo · Dexcom G6 Transmitter · ELIQUIS · EMGALITY · ENTRESTO · EUCRISA · EVENITY · Epclusa · FARXIGA · FREESTYLE LIBRE 2 · FREESTYLE LIBRE 3 · GEMTESA · Gralise · Horizant · IBSRELA · INJECTAFER · INSPIRE · INTRAROSA · INVOKANA · JANUVIA · JARDIANCE · KRYSTEXXA · Kerendia · Kloxxado · LEQVIO · LINZESS · LYRICA · Leqembi · Linzess · Livalo · MOUNJARO · MYRBETRIQ · Mitigare · Myrbetriq · NEXLETOL · NURTEC ODT · Otezla · Ozempic · PNEUMOVAX 23 · PRALUENT · PRALUENT ALIROCUMAB INJECTION · PREMARIN · PREVNAR - 13 · PREVNAR 13 · PREVNAR 20 · Prolastin-C Liquid · Prolia · QULIPTA · REXULTI · Repatha · Rybelsus · SEGLENTIS · SHINGRIX · SOLIQUA · SOLIQUA 100/33 · SPIRIVA RESPIMAT · STEGLATRO · STIOLTO RESPIMAT · SYNTHROID · Saxenda · Symproic · Synthroid · TOUJEO · TRADJENTA · TRELEGY ELLIPTA · TRINTELLIX · TRULICITY · Tobradex ST · Tresiba · Trintellix · Trulance · UBRELVY · VIBERZI · VOQUEZNA · VRAYLAR · Vascepa · Veltassa · Victoza · Wegovy · XARELTO · XIFAXAN · XOLAIR · Xofluza · Xolair · Yupelri · ZENPEP
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. Total industry engagement is in the top 8% for internal medicine in NC.
Geographic Context
Internal medicine physicians within 10 mi
73
Per 100K population
132.9
County median income
$44,795
Nearest hospital
UNC LENOIR HEALTH CARE
6.2 mi
6.2 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. Heck is a clinical cardiology specialist, with above-average Medicare volume (top 3% in NC), with low-engagement industry engagement in the top 8% 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. Heck experienced with denosumab injection (prolia/xgeva)?
Based on Medicare claims data, Dr. Heck performed 1,560 denosumab injection (prolia/xgeva) 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. Heck receive payments from pharmaceutical companies?
Yes. Dr. Heck received a total of $12,505 from 58 companies across 833 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. Heck's costs compare to other internal medicine physicians in Kinston?
Dr. Heck'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. Heck) 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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