Medicare Enrolled
Dr. Thomas Bates, MD
Sports Medicine (Orthopaedic Surgery) Physician · Morehead City, 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. Bates 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. Bates
Dr. Thomas Bates is a sports medicine physician in Morehead City, NC, with 19 years of NPI registration. Based on federal Medicare data, Dr. Bates performed 8,101 Medicare services across 2,888 unique beneficiaries.
Between the years covered by Open Payments, Dr. Bates received a total of $867 from 14 pharmaceutical and/or device companies across 25 individual payments. These payments are legal, publicly disclosed under the federal Sunshine Act, and common in sports medicine (orthopaedic surgery) physician. 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. Bates 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 2% volume in NC
$867 industry payments
Medicare Practice Summary
Medicare Utilization ↗8,101
Medicare services
Top 2% in NC for sports medicine (orthopaedic surgery) physician
2,888
Unique beneficiaries
$42
Avg. Medicare payment
Medicare patients only (65+ / disabled) · How to read this →
~426 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Joint lubricant injection (TriVisc) An injection of hyaluronan or a derivative into a joint space. The dose specified is 1 milligram. |
3,852 | $7 | $20 |
| Betamethasone steroid injection An injection containing a combination of betamethasone acetate and betamethasone sodium phosphate. |
879 | $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. |
733 | $62 | $144 |
| Joint injection, major joint Removal of fluid from a large joint and/or injection of medication into the joint space. |
481 | $50 | $173 |
| Knee X-ray, 4 or more views An imaging test using X-rays to create multiple pictures of the knee joint from different angles. |
302 | $32 | $140 |
| 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. |
261 | $90 | $200 |
| 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. |
201 | $33 | $105 |
| 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. |
171 | $70 | $185 |
| Blood draw (venipuncture) Insertion of a needle into a vein to collect a blood sample. |
149 | $8 | $10 |
| Shoulder X-ray, 2+ views An X-ray imaging test of the shoulder joint using at least two different angles to visualize the bones and surrounding structures. |
129 | $24 | $108 |
| 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. |
109 | $16 | $93 |
| 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. |
96 | $28 | $116 |
| 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. |
82 | $9 | $60 |
| Musculoskeletal surgical navigation with imaging guidance A surgical procedure that uses imaging technology to guide orthopedic operations on the musculoskeletal system. |
71 | $114 | $296 |
| Total knee replacement | 68 | $959 | $5,955 |
| CT scan of leg, without contrast A computed tomography scan of the leg performed without the use of contrast dye. This imaging test uses X-rays to create detailed cross-sectional images of the leg's internal structures. |
63 | $54 | $565 |
| 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. |
60 | $116 | $265 |
| Total hip replacement Surgical procedure to replace the thigh bone and hip joint with artificial components. |
47 | $984 | $6,283 |
| Foot X-ray, 3+ views An X-ray imaging test of the foot that captures at least three different views to evaluate the bones and joints. |
35 | $24 | $95 |
| Wrist X-ray, minimum 3 views An imaging test using X-rays to capture at least three different angles of the wrist bones and joints. |
29 | $30 | $95 |
| 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. |
28 | $36 | $170 |
| Ankle X-ray, minimum 3 views An X-ray imaging test of the ankle that captures at least three different angles to evaluate the bones and joints. |
26 | $26 | $122 |
| Partial collarbone removal via endoscope This procedure involves the surgical removal of a portion of the collarbone (clavicle) using an endoscope, a small camera inserted through a tiny incision to guide the surgeon. |
25 | $160 | $2,330 |
| Arthroscopic shoulder surgery for bone shaving and ligament repair A minimally invasive procedure using a small camera to shave part of the shoulder bone and repair a ligament. |
25 | $132 | $2,300 |
| 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. |
25 | $36 | $100 |
| Endoscopic release of biceps tendon A minimally invasive procedure using an endoscope to release the tendon that connects the biceps muscle to the shoulder. |
21 | $429 | $3,430 |
| X-ray of hand, minimum of 3 views An X-ray imaging test of the hand that captures at least three different angles to visualize the bones and joints. |
21 | $28 | $95 |
| Ultrasound-guided large joint aspiration or injection This procedure uses ultrasound imaging to guide the removal of fluid from or the injection of medication into a large joint. |
19 | $66 | $190 |
| Arthroscopic rotator cuff repair A minimally invasive surgery to repair torn shoulder tendons using a small camera and instruments inserted through tiny incisions. |
19 | $811 | $3,733 |
| Tendon or ligament injection A procedure involving the injection of medication into a tendon or ligament. |
17 | $39 | $160 |
| 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. |
17 | $101 | $240 |
| Joint fluid aspiration or injection, small joint Removal of fluid from a small joint or injection of medication into a small joint. |
16 | $36 | $115 |
| Arthroscopic removal of knee cartilage A minimally invasive surgical procedure to remove damaged or loose pieces of cartilage from the knee joint using a small camera and instruments inserted through tiny incisions. |
12 | $377 | $2,468 |
| MRI of leg joint, without contrast A magnetic resonance imaging scan of a joint in the leg performed without the use of contrast dye. |
12 | $106 | $800 |
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.
1.7% high complexity
66.8% medium
31.5% routine
Industry Payment Transparency
Open Payments through 2024 ↗$867
Total received (2018-2024)
Avg $144/year across 6 years
Bottom 23% in NC for sports medicine (orthopaedic surgery) physician
14
Companies
25
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
$867 (100.0%)
Payment trend by year
Annual totals from pharmaceutical and medical device companies.
2024
$315
2023
$18
2022
$122
2021
$154
2019
$176
2018
$82
Payments by company (2024)
Consulting
Speaking
Meals & Travel
Research
Stryker Corporation
$315
Top 3 companies account for 100.0% of 2024 payments
All-time payments by company (2018-2024) ›
Stryker Corporation
$400
Smith+Nephew, Inc.
$100
OsteoCentric Technologies, Inc.
$74
Tricoast Surgical Solutions LLC
$50
Orthofix Medical, Inc.
$45
Cumberland Pharmaceuticals, Inc.
$33
Horizon Therapeutics plc
$32
Zimmer Biomet Holdings, Inc.
$26
Boston Scientific Corporation
$22
Wright Medical Technology, Inc.
$20
Pacira Pharmaceuticals Incorporated
$18
Baxter Healthcare
$17
FIDIA PHARMA USA INC.
$16
Horizon Pharma plc
$13
Top 3 companies account for 66.3% of all-time payments
Associated products mentioned in payments ›
BLUEPRINT PATIENT SPECIFIC INSTRUMENTATION · CALDOLOR · CORI · DVR Crosslock Plates/Screws/Pegs · Exparel · Foot and Ankle · Hymovis · JOURNEY II BCS · MAKO · PENNSAID · Physio-Stim · Physio-Stim Osteogenesis Stimulator · Regeneten · TISSEEL · TORNIER PERFORM REVERSED GLENOID · Unifi Technology · WaveWriter Alpha Prime 16
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.
Geographic Context
Sports medicine physicians within 10 mi
1
Per 100K population
1.5
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. Bates is a clinical cardiology specialist, with above-average Medicare volume (top 2% 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. Bates experienced with joint lubricant injection (trivisc)?
Based on Medicare claims data, Dr. Bates performed 3,852 joint lubricant injection (trivisc) 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. Bates receive payments from pharmaceutical companies?
Yes. Dr. Bates received a total of $867 from 14 companies across 25 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. Bates's costs compare to other sports medicine physicians in Morehead City?
Dr. Bates's average Medicare payment per service is $42. 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. Bates) 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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