Medicare Enrolled
Dr. Benedict Okwara, M.D.
Adolescent Medicine · Monroe, 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. Okwara 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. Okwara
Dr. Benedict Okwara is an adolescent medicine specialist in Monroe, NC, with 20 years of NPI registration. Based on federal Medicare data, Dr. Okwara performed 8,987 Medicare services across 3,932 unique beneficiaries.
Between the years covered by Open Payments, Dr. Okwara received a total of $5,369 from 48 pharmaceutical and/or device companies across 250 individual payments. These payments are legal, publicly disclosed under the federal Sunshine Act, and common in adolescent 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. Okwara 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 20% volume in NC
$5,369 industry payments
Medicare Practice Summary
Medicare Utilization ↗8,987
Medicare services
Top 20% in NC for adolescent medicine
3,932
Unique beneficiaries
$31
Avg. Medicare payment
Medicare patients only (65+ / disabled) · How to read this →
~449 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Chronic care management, first 20 min/month This service covers the first 20 minutes of clinical staff time directed by a healthcare professional each calendar month to manage chronic conditions. |
1,646 | $44 | $82 |
| Allergy skin test A diagnostic test performed to identify specific allergies by applying or introducing allergenic extracts to the body. The procedure measures the patient's immune response to various potential allergens. |
1,200 | $3 | $10 |
| Remote patient monitoring management, 20 min/month Management based on results from remote vital sign monitoring for the first 20 minutes per calendar month. |
524 | $31 | $106 |
| 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. |
443 | $81 | $419 |
| 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. |
328 | $28 | $125 |
| Blood glucose level test A test that measures the amount of sugar in your blood. |
296 | $4 | $12 |
| Comprehensive metabolic blood panel A blood test that measures a group of chemicals, including glucose, electrolytes, and kidney and liver function markers. |
274 | $10 | $24 |
| 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. |
272 | $33 | $138 |
| 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. |
259 | $8 | $22 |
| 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. |
248 | $54 | $284 |
| 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. |
236 | $2 | $7 |
| Blood draw (venipuncture) Insertion of a needle into a vein to collect a blood sample. |
227 | $6 | $6 |
| Chronic care management, additional 20 min/month This service covers an extra 20 minutes of clinical staff time directed by a healthcare professional for managing two or more chronic conditions each calendar month. |
220 | $35 | $62 |
| Advance care planning consultation, first 30 min A session focused on discussing and documenting future healthcare preferences and goals. This service covers the initial 30 minutes of the planning discussion. |
216 | $63 | $161 |
| Lipid panel (cholesterol and triglycerides) A blood test that measures cholesterol and triglyceride levels. |
195 | $13 | $37 |
| Ketorolac injection, per 15 mg An injection of ketorolac tromethamine, a nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug, administered in doses measured per 15 mg. |
160 | $0 | $2 |
| Thyroid stimulating hormone (TSH) test A blood test that measures the level of thyroid stimulating hormone to evaluate thyroid function. |
146 | $16 | $45 |
| Drug screening test A laboratory test that uses a chemistry analyzer to detect the presence of drugs in a sample. |
129 | $61 | $300 |
| Hemoglobin A1c test (diabetes monitoring) A blood test that measures your average blood sugar levels over the past two to three months. |
125 | $10 | $27 |
| 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. |
124 | $9 | $49 |
| Annual depression screening | 123 | $18 | $35 |
| 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. |
111 | $111 | $562 |
| Annual alcohol misuse screening, 5 to 15 minutes | 100 | $18 | $35 |
| SARS-CoV-2 immunoassay test A laboratory test using immunoassay techniques to detect the presence of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus. |
99 | $34 | $100 |
| 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. |
92 | $9 | $33 |
| Annual wellness visit, follow-up A follow-up annual wellness visit that includes a personalized prevention plan of service. |
92 | $123 | $226 |
| Vitamin D level test A blood test to measure the amount of Vitamin D-3 in your body. |
85 | $29 | $82 |
| Influenza virus detection test A laboratory test that uses an immunoassay technique to detect the presence of the influenza virus through direct visual observation. |
76 | $16 | $50 |
| Additional chronic care management time, 60 minutes This service covers an additional 60 minutes of clinical staff time directed by a healthcare professional for managing two or more chronic conditions, billed per calendar month. |
68 | $54 | $90 |
| Vitamin B-12 level test A blood test that measures the amount of vitamin B-12 in your body. |
60 | $15 | $42 |
| Strep A rapid test A rapid test to detect Group A Streptococcus bacteria using an immunoassay method with direct visual observation. |
56 | $16 | $32 |
| Smoking cessation counseling, 4-10 minutes A brief counseling session focused on helping patients quit smoking and tobacco use. The provider spends 4 to 10 minutes discussing strategies and support for cessation. |
53 | $14 | $29 |
| Methylprednisolone injection, up to 125 mg An injection of methylprednisolone sodium succinate, a corticosteroid medication, with a dosage of up to 125 mg. |
50 | $4 | $13 |
| Helicobacter pylori breath test A diagnostic test that analyzes a patient's breath to detect the presence of Helicobacter pylori bacteria. This procedure is used to identify infections associated with the stomach and upper digestive tract. |
43 | $66 | $185 |
| Helicobacter pylori drug administration This procedure involves the administration of a medication specifically used to treat Helicobacter pylori infection. |
43 | $8 | $22 |
| Complex chronic care management, first 60 minutes This service involves clinical staff time directed by a healthcare professional to manage two or more chronic conditions over a calendar month. It covers the first 60 minutes of this coordinated care effort. |
41 | $98 | $179 |
| Spirometry test before and after medication A test that measures the amount of air you can exhale and the speed of your breathing before and after taking a medication. |
39 | $27 | $116 |
| 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. |
39 | $82 | $638 |
| 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. |
39 | $41 | $178 |
| Echocardiogram, transthoracic An ultrasound of the heart that uses color to show blood flow, rate, direction, and valve function. |
33 | $139 | $437 |
| Inhalation treatment for airway obstruction or sputum production A treatment involving the inhalation of medication to help clear airway obstructions or reduce sputum production. |
33 | $7 | $35 |
| 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. |
31 | $56 | $169 |
| Stool test for hidden blood (FIT) A laboratory test that analyzes a stool sample to detect hidden blood using an immunoassay method. |
28 | $16 | $44 |
| Quadrivalent influenza vaccine, cell culture-derived A flu shot that protects against four strains of the influenza virus. It is produced using cell culture technology rather than traditional egg-based methods. |
25 | $31 | $50 |
| Flu vaccine administration This procedure involves the administration of the influenza virus vaccine. It covers the process of delivering the vaccine to the patient. |
25 | $24 | $26 |
| 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. |
21 | $142 | $386 |
| PSA test (prostate cancer screening) A blood test that measures the level of prostate-specific antigen to screen for prostate cancer. |
20 | $19 | $99 |
| 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. |
19 | $54 | $418 |
| Remote physiologic monitoring setup and education Initial setup of remote monitoring equipment and patient education on its use. |
18 | $13 | $42 |
| Urine microalbumin test A laboratory test that measures the amount of a specific protein called microalbumin in a urine sample. This analysis helps assess kidney function. |
17 | $6 | $8 |
| Ear wax removal A procedure to remove impacted ear wax from the ear canal. |
16 | $31 | $95 |
| Complete ultrasound of retroperitoneum An ultrasound examination of the structures located behind the abdominal cavity. |
15 | $83 | $219 |
| Middle ear function test A diagnostic test used to evaluate how well the middle ear is functioning. |
14 | $12 | $29 |
| Candida yeast detection test A laboratory test that uses a direct probe technique to detect the presence of Candida species, a type of yeast, in a patient sample. |
13 | $20 | $56 |
| Gardnerella vaginalis detection test A laboratory test that uses a direct probe technique to detect the presence of Gardnerella vaginalis bacteria. |
13 | $20 | $56 |
| New patient office visit, complex (60-74 min) | 13 | $109 | $804 |
| 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. |
12 | $138 | $376 |
| 2-day continuous ECG with review and report A two-day continuous electrocardiogram recording that includes a professional review and written report of the results. |
11 | $52 | $250 |
| Complete ultrasound of aorta, vena cava, groin vessels or bypass grafts A complete ultrasound exam of the aorta, vena cava, groin vessels, or bypass grafts. This imaging test uses sound waves to visualize these blood vessels. |
11 | $137 | $364 |
| Autonomic nervous system testing with heart rate response to deep breathing This test evaluates the function of the autonomic nervous system by measuring how the heart rate changes in response to deep breathing. |
11 | $67 | $165 |
| Autonomic nervous system function test This test evaluates how well the sympathetic nervous system is functioning. It assesses the automatic control of bodily processes such as heart rate and blood pressure. |
11 | $94 | $271 |
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.
0.5% high complexity
4.6% medium
94.9% routine
Industry Payment Transparency
Open Payments through 2024 ↗$5,369
Total received (2018-2024)
Avg $767/year across 7 years
Top 10% in NC for adolescent medicine
A higher payment rank reflects disclosed industry relationships (consulting, research, speaking) common among subspecialists — not wrongdoing.
48
Companies
250
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
$5,369 (100.0%)
Payment trend by year
Annual totals from pharmaceutical and medical device companies.
2024
$925
2023
$1,086
2022
$708
2021
$665
2020
$539
2019
$857
2018
$589
Payments by company (2024)
Consulting
Speaking
Meals & Travel
Research
AstraZeneca Pharmaceuticals LP
$290
ABBVIE INC.
$144
VERTEX PHARMACEUTICALS INCORPORATED
$140
PFIZER INC.
$78
Novo Nordisk Inc
$38
Amgen Inc.
$33
GlaxoSmithKline, LLC.
$32
Cranial Technologies, Inc
$31
Boehringer Ingelheim Pharmaceuticals, Inc.
$24
Seqirus USA Inc
$22
Otsuka America Pharmaceutical, Inc.
$20
Merck Sharp & Dohme LLC
$20
Exact Sciences Corporation
$19
SHIELD THERAPEUTICS INC
$18
Bayer Healthcare Pharmaceuticals Inc.
$15
Top 3 companies account for 62.0% of 2024 payments
All-time payments by company (2018-2024) ›
AstraZeneca Pharmaceuticals LP
$1,497
GlaxoSmithKline, LLC.
$633
PFIZER INC.
$364
ABBVIE INC.
$324
Gilead Sciences, Inc.
$222
Novartis Pharmaceuticals Corporation
$182
Horizon Therapeutics plc
$176
Amgen Inc.
$151
VERTEX PHARMACEUTICALS INCORPORATED
$140
Novo Nordisk Inc
$130
Boehringer Ingelheim Pharmaceuticals, Inc.
$127
ViiV Healthcare Company
$125
Janssen Pharmaceuticals, Inc
$119
SANOFI-AVENTIS U.S. LLC
$101
AbbVie Inc.
$73
Indivior Inc.
$68
Exact Sciences Corporation
$60
Allergan, Inc.
$58
Lilly USA, LLC
$57
Abbott Laboratories
$52
Otsuka America Pharmaceutical, Inc.
$52
Cranial Technologies, Inc
$50
Medline Industries, Inc.
$47
Bayer HealthCare Pharmaceuticals Inc.
$46
Astellas Pharma US Inc
$39
Genentech USA, Inc.
$37
Masimo Corporation
$35
Takeda Pharmaceuticals U.S.A., Inc.
$34
Relypsa, Inc.
$29
Becton, Dickinson and Company
$26
SANOFI PASTEUR INC.
$22
Seqirus USA Inc
$22
Avanos Medical
$21
Xeris Pharmaceuticals, Inc.
$21
Merck Sharp & Dohme LLC
$20
Merck Sharp & Dohme Corporation
$20
Boston Scientific Corporation
$19
Intuity Medical Inc
$19
SHIELD THERAPEUTICS INC
$18
Salix Pharmaceuticals, a division of Bausch Health US, LLC
$17
Mylan Pharmaceuticals Inc.
$16
Nevro Corp.
$16
VBI Vaccine (Delaware) Inc.
$16
Fortovia Therapeutics, Inc.
$15
Bayer Healthcare Pharmaceuticals Inc.
$15
RedHill Biopharma Inc.
$13
Shionogi Inc
$13
Supernus Pharmaceuticals, Inc.
$11
Top 3 companies account for 46.5% of all-time payments
Associated products mentioned in payments ›
ABILIFY MAINTENA · ACCRUFER · AIRSUPRA · AMITIZA · ANORO · ANORO ELLIPTA · AREXVY · BEXSERO · BREZTRI · BREZTRI AEROSPHERE · BYDUREON · CHANTIX · Cologuard Collection Kit · DULERA · Doc Band · ELIQUIS · ENTRESTO · FARXIGA · FASENRA · FLUZONE QUADRIVALENT · Fluad · FreeStyle Libre 2 · GARDASIL · GVOKE PFS · JARDIANCE · KRYSTEXXA · Kerendia · MYRBETRIQ · Motegrity · NURTEC ODT · Otezla · Ozempic · PREMARIN · PREVNAR 20 · Pogo Automatic Blood Glucose Monitoring System · PreHevbrio · Prolia · QULIPTA · Repatha · Rybelsus · SET and rainbow SET · SOLIQUA 100/33 · SUBLOCADE · SYMBICORT · Senza Spinal Cord Stimulation System · Symfi Lo · Symproic · TOUJEO · TRELEGY ELLIPTA · TROKENDI XR · TRULICITY · Talicia · UBRELVY · VESICARE · VRAYLAR · Veltassa · Victoza · WaveWriter Alpha Prime 16 · XARELTO · XIFAXAN · Xofluza
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 10% for adolescent medicine in NC.
Geographic Context
Adolescent medicines within 10 mi
3
Per 100K population
1.2
County median income
$99,243
Nearest hospital
ATRIUM HEALTH UNION
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. Okwara is a clinical cardiology specialist, with above-average Medicare volume (top 20% in NC), with low-engagement industry engagement in the top 10% 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. Okwara experienced with chronic care management, first 20 min/month?
Based on Medicare claims data, Dr. Okwara performed 1,646 chronic care management, first 20 min/month 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. Okwara receive payments from pharmaceutical companies?
Yes. Dr. Okwara received a total of $5,369 from 48 companies across 250 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. Okwara's costs compare to other adolescent medicines in Monroe?
Dr. Okwara's average Medicare payment per service is $31. 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. Okwara) 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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