Medicare Enrolled
Dr. Debra McCutcheon
Anesthesiology · Morehead City, NC
Practice pattern: Mixed Practice
— Diverse clinical practice across multiple procedure types
Speaking/Promotional
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. McCutcheon 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. McCutcheon
Dr. Debra McCutcheon is an anesthesiology specialist in Morehead City, NC, with 18 years of NPI registration. Based on federal Medicare data, Dr. McCutcheon performed 6,329 Medicare services across 2,031 unique beneficiaries.
Between the years covered by Open Payments, Dr. McCutcheon received a total of $51,793 from 53 pharmaceutical and/or device companies across 404 individual payments. These payments are legal, publicly disclosed under the federal Sunshine Act, and common in anesthesiology. The majority of payments are for speaking programs and promotional activities, reflecting participation in industry-sponsored events. Patients may wish to discuss these relationships with their provider.
The Data Coverage level for Dr. McCutcheon 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 2% volume in NC
$51,793 industry payments
Medicare Practice Summary
Medicare Utilization ↗6,329
Medicare services
Top 2% in NC for anesthesiology
2,031
Unique beneficiaries
$38
Avg. Medicare payment
Medicare patients only (65+ / disabled) · How to read this →
~352 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Dexamethasone injection (steroid) An injection of dexamethasone sodium phosphate, a corticosteroid medication, administered in a dose of 1 milligram. |
1,650 | $0 | $3 |
| Contrast dye for imaging, lower concentration | 1,498 | $0 | $10 |
| Triamcinolone acetonide injection, 1 mg An injection of triamcinolone acetonide, a corticosteroid medication, administered in a 1 mg dose without preservatives. |
382 | $2 | $2 |
| Betamethasone steroid injection An injection containing a combination of betamethasone acetate and betamethasone sodium phosphate. |
368 | $5 | $21 |
| 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. |
298 | $57 | $211 |
| Injection, methylprednisolone acetate, 40 mg | 270 | $6 | $30 |
| Drug test with direct observation A drug screening test performed under direct observation to ensure the sample is provided correctly. This method is used to verify the integrity of the specimen collection process. |
157 | $12 | $100 |
| Fluoroscopic guidance for needle placement Use of real-time X-ray imaging to guide the precise placement of a needle during a medical procedure. |
138 | $83 | $265 |
| Joint injection, major joint Removal of fluid from a large joint and/or injection of medication into the joint space. |
129 | $54 | $175 |
| 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. |
129 | $92 | $312 |
| Sacral spine nerve root injection with imaging guidance An injection of anesthetic and/or steroid medication into a sacral spine nerve root. The procedure uses imaging guidance to ensure accurate placement. |
124 | $196 | $637 |
| 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. |
115 | $33 | $95 |
| 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. |
112 | $120 | $478 |
| Spine facet joint injection with imaging guidance, single level An injection is administered into a single facet joint of the lower or sacral spine while using imaging guidance to ensure accurate placement. |
102 | $180 | $502 |
| Facet joint injection, second level, with imaging guidance An injection into a lower or sacral spine facet joint using imaging guidance for the second level treated. |
102 | $96 | $253 |
| Remote patient monitoring management, 20 min/month Management based on results from remote vital sign monitoring for the first 20 minutes per calendar month. |
78 | $35 | $75 |
| 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. |
75 | $30 | $65 |
| Facet joint nerve destruction, additional joint This procedure uses imaging guidance to destroy nerves in an additional lower or sacral spinal facet joint. |
74 | $248 | $500 |
| Injection of anesthetic or steroid into sacroiliac joint with imaging guidance This procedure involves injecting an anesthetic or steroid medication into the joint connecting the lower spine and hip bone. Imaging guidance is used to ensure accurate placement of the injection. |
70 | $137 | $590 |
| Facet joint nerve destruction, single joint A procedure to destroy nerves in a single lower or sacral spinal facet joint using imaging guidance to target pain signals. |
66 | $463 | $1,214 |
| Injection into lower spine canal with imaging guidance A procedure where a substance is injected into the lower part of the spinal canal. The injection is performed using imaging guidance to ensure accurate placement. |
62 | $182 | $762 |
| Additional sacral spine nerve root injection with imaging An injection of anesthetic and/or steroid medication into an additional sacral spine nerve root level, guided by imaging. |
41 | $84 | $256 |
| Ultrasound guidance for needle placement Use of ultrasound imaging to guide the precise placement of a needle during a medical procedure. |
40 | $42 | $176 |
| Spinal injection with imaging guidance A procedure where medication is injected into the middle or upper part of the spinal canal. Imaging technology is used to guide the needle to the correct location. |
38 | $189 | $777 |
| Spine facet joint injection with imaging guidance, single level An injection is administered into a single facet joint of the upper or middle spine while using imaging guidance to ensure accurate placement. |
37 | $193 | $554 |
| Facet joint injection, second level, with imaging An injection into a second spinal facet joint in the upper or middle spine, guided by imaging to ensure accurate placement. |
35 | $100 | $275 |
| Orphenadrine injection, up to 60 mg An injection of orphenadrine citrate administered in a dose of up to 60 milligrams. |
25 | $7 | $50 |
| 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. |
24 | $81 | $312 |
| Trigger point injection, 1-2 muscles A procedure involving the injection of medication into one or two specific muscles to treat trigger points. |
18 | $32 | $161 |
| Knee nerve block injection with imaging guidance An injection of anesthetic and/or steroid medication into a nerve branch of the knee, performed using imaging guidance to ensure accurate placement. |
17 | $185 | $350 |
| 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 | $39 | $125 |
| Destruction of nerve branches of knee using imaging guidance | 14 | $334 | $525 |
| Spinal neurostimulator generator insertion Surgical placement of a spinal neurostimulator generator or receiver device. |
13 | $157 | $1,083 |
| Facet joint nerve destruction, single joint This procedure uses imaging guidance to destroy the nerves supplying a single upper or middle spinal facet joint. It is performed to interrupt pain signals from that specific joint. |
11 | $446 | $1,240 |
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 ↗$51,793
Total received (2018-2024)
Avg $7,399/year across 7 years
Top 2% in NC for anesthesiology
A higher payment rank reflects disclosed industry relationships (consulting, research, speaking) common among subspecialists — not wrongdoing.
53
Companies
404
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.
Speaking / Promotional
Speaker programs, honoraria, and industry-sponsored educational events
$32,902 (63.5%)
Meals & Travel
Food, beverages, travel, and lodging — typically low-value
$10,869 (21.0%)
Consulting
Expert advisory fees, typically reflecting recognized clinical expertise
$8,021 (15.5%)
Payment trend by year
Annual totals from pharmaceutical and medical device companies.
2024
$2,645
2023
$4,630
2022
$1,273
2021
$3,609
2020
$7,248
2019
$18,720
2018
$13,667
Payments by company (2024)
Consulting
Speaking
Meals & Travel
Research
Boston Scientific Corporation
$1,249
Abbott Laboratories
$211
ABBVIE INC.
$195
PAINTEQ LLC
$184
Nevro Corp.
$178
Collegium Pharmaceutical, Inc.
$114
Virtus Pharmaceuticals LLC
$94
Saluda Medical Americas, Inc.
$88
Vertos Medical, Inc.
$64
PFIZER INC.
$61
Medtronic, Inc.
$40
SI-BONE, INC.
$37
Spinal Simplicity, LLC
$35
Forte Bio-Pharma LLC
$32
SPR Therapeutics, Inc
$29
Azurity Pharmaceuticals, Inc.
$19
IDORSIA PHARMACEUTICALS US INC
$15
Top 3 companies account for 62.6% of 2024 payments
All-time payments by company (2018-2024) ›
Nevro Corp.
$36,399
Boston Scientific Corporation
$7,330
Saluda Medical Americas, Inc.
$2,700
BOSTON SCIENTIFIC CORPORATION
$1,349
Spinal Simplicity, LLC
$481
Vertos Medical, Inc.
$326
Abbott Laboratories
$308
ABBVIE INC.
$304
Collegium Pharmaceutical, Inc.
$286
PFIZER INC.
$249
PAINTEQ LLC
$184
Amgen Inc.
$170
SPR Therapeutics, Inc
$166
SI-BONE, INC.
$125
Medtronic, Inc.
$118
Virtus Pharmaceuticals LLC
$94
Allergan, Inc.
$81
Teva Pharmaceuticals USA, Inc.
$75
Lilly USA, LLC
$71
Azurity Pharmaceuticals, Inc.
$70
Forte Bio-Pharma LLC
$68
Relievant Medsystems, Inc.
$67
IDORSIA PHARMACEUTICALS US INC
$50
ARBOR PHARMACEUTICALS, INC.
$50
Novartis Pharmaceuticals Corporation
$48
Lundbeck LLC
$46
Shionogi Inc
$42
Pernix Therapeutics Holdings, Inc.
$40
Nalu Medical, Inc.
$35
Arbor Pharmaceuticals, Inc.
$33
Assertio Therapeutics, Inc.
$31
Daiichi Sankyo Inc.
$31
Allergan Inc.
$30
Biohaven Pharmaceutical Holding Company Ltd.
$29
Scilex Pharmaceuticals Inc.
$24
RedHill Biopharma Inc.
$22
Avanos Medical
$21
SI-BONE, Inc.
$20
SCILEX PHARMACEUTICALS INC.
$20
GRT US Holding, Inc.
$19
AstraZeneca Pharmaceuticals LP
$16
Sentynl Therapeutics, Inc.
$16
Horizon Pharma plc
$16
Novo Nordisk Inc
$16
INSYS Therapeutics Inc
$15
AbbVie Inc.
$15
US WorldMeds, LLC
$14
Almatica Pharma LLC
$14
BioDelivery Sciences International, Inc.
$14
Hikma Pharmaceuticals USA
$12
Biohaven Pharmaceuticals, Inc.
$12
Zyla Life Sciences
$12
Stimwave Technologies Incorporated
$11
Top 3 companies account for 89.6% of all-time payments
Associated products mentioned in payments ›
AIMOVIG · AJOVY · Aimovig · BOTOX · BUNAVAIL 2.1 mg 30-count box · Belbuca · EMGALITY · ENTRADA · ETERNA · Evoke · Evoke SCS · FREESTYLE LIBRE · GENERAL DBS · GENERAL PAIN MANAGEMENT · GENERAL - PAIN MANAGEMENT · GENERAL PAIN MANAGEMENT · GENERATOR · General - Pain Management · Gralise · HA MINUTEMAN G3-R · HORIZANT · Horizant · INTELLIS ADAPTIVESTIM · Intracept · KYPHON EXPRESS II KYPHOPAK TRAY · Kloxxado · LEVORPHANOL TARTRATE · LYRICA · Levorphanol · MOVANTIK · MYOBLOC · Morphabond ER · Movantik · NALOCET · NAPRELAN · NURTEC ODT · Nalu Neurostimulation System · Neuromodulation Dspsbls and Accs · Nucynta · Omnia · PAINTEQ · PAXLOVID · PENNSAID · PROCLAIM · QULIPTA · QUVIVIQ · Qutenza · SPECTRA WAVEWRITER · SPRINT PNS System · SUBSYS · Senza · Senza Spinal Cord Stimulation System · Spectra WaveWriter · Superion · Superion Indirect Decompression System · Symproic · TREXIMET · UBRELVY · VYEPTI · WAVEWRITER ALPHA · WaveWriter Alpha Prime 16 · Wegovy · XTAMPZA · XTAMPZAER · ZOHYDRO ER · ZORVOLEX · ZTLido · ZTLido 30 POUCH in 1 CARTON 1 PATCH in 1 POUCH · Zipsor · iFuse Implant · mild Device Kit
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 →
The majority of payments (64%) are for speaking programs and promotional activities, which reflect participation in industry-sponsored educational or marketing events. This is common in anesthesiology and does not inherently indicate bias, but patients may wish to be aware. Total industry engagement is in the top 2% for anesthesiology in NC.
Geographic Context
Anesthesiologists within 10 mi
7
Per 100K population
10.2
County median income
$70,235
Nearest hospital
CARTERET GENERAL HOSPITAL
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. McCutcheon is a mixed practice specialist, with above-average Medicare volume (top 2% in NC), with speaking/promotional industry engagement in the top 2% 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. McCutcheon experienced with dexamethasone injection (steroid)?
Based on Medicare claims data, Dr. McCutcheon performed 1,650 dexamethasone injection (steroid) 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. McCutcheon receive payments from pharmaceutical companies?
Yes. Dr. McCutcheon received a total of $51,793 from 53 companies across 404 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. McCutcheon's costs compare to other anesthesiologists in Morehead City?
Dr. McCutcheon's average Medicare payment per service is $38. 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. McCutcheon) 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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