Medicare Enrolled
Dr. Stephen Smith, M.D.
Family Medicine · Morganton, NC
Practice pattern: Mixed Practice
— Diverse clinical practice across multiple procedure types
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. Smith 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. Smith
Dr. Stephen Smith is a family medicine specialist in Morganton, NC, with 20 years of NPI registration. Based on federal Medicare data, Dr. Smith performed 50,543 Medicare services across 4,067 unique beneficiaries.
Between the years covered by Open Payments, Dr. Smith received a total of $4,322 from 19 pharmaceutical and/or device companies across 91 individual payments. These payments are legal, publicly disclosed under the federal Sunshine Act, and common in family 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. Smith 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 0% volume in NC
$4,322 industry payments
Medicare Practice Summary
Medicare Utilization ↗50,543
Medicare services
Top 0% in NC for family medicine
4,067
Unique beneficiaries
$4
Avg. Medicare payment
Medicare patients only (65+ / disabled) · How to read this →
~2,527 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Testosterone injection An injection of testosterone cypionate, a form of testosterone hormone. The dose is measured in milligrams. |
41,100 | $0 | $0 |
| Denosumab injection (Prolia/Xgeva) | 3,300 | $18 | $25 |
| Comprehensive metabolic blood panel A blood test that measures a group of chemicals, including glucose, electrolytes, and kidney and liver function markers. |
484 | $10 | $25 |
| Thyroid stimulating hormone (TSH) test A blood test that measures the level of thyroid stimulating hormone to evaluate thyroid function. |
421 | $16 | $45 |
| Lipid panel (cholesterol and triglycerides) A blood test that measures cholesterol and triglyceride levels. |
420 | $13 | $40 |
| Blood draw (venipuncture) Insertion of a needle into a vein to collect a blood sample. |
411 | $8 | $20 |
| 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. |
392 | $8 | $25 |
| 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. |
375 | $82 | $214 |
| Hemoglobin A1c test (diabetes monitoring) A blood test that measures your average blood sugar levels over the past two to three months. |
291 | $10 | $25 |
| 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. |
270 | $9 | $40 |
| Creatinine test (kidney function) A blood test that measures the amount of creatinine to assess kidney function or detect muscle injury. |
262 | $5 | $15 |
| Annual alcohol misuse screening, 5 to 15 minutes | 236 | $18 | $30 |
| Annual depression screening | 231 | $18 | $30 |
| Annual wellness visit, follow-up A follow-up annual wellness visit that includes a personalized prevention plan of service. |
226 | $124 | $200 |
| Uric acid level test A blood test that measures the level of uric acid in your body. Uric acid is a waste product formed when the body breaks down purines. |
209 | $4 | $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. |
194 | $54 | $153 |
| Free thyroxine (T4) test A blood test that measures the level of free thyroxine, a thyroid hormone, in the bloodstream. |
168 | $9 | $61 |
| 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. |
150 | $6 | $40 |
| Zoledronic acid injection, 1 mg An injection of zoledronic acid administered at a dose of 1 mg. |
150 | $6 | $30 |
| Urinalysis with microscopic exam A urine test performed manually that includes examining the sample under a microscope to check for abnormalities. |
145 | $3 | $10 |
| 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. |
111 | $2 | $10 |
| Flu vaccine administration This procedure involves the administration of the influenza virus vaccine. It covers the process of delivering the vaccine to the patient. |
98 | $25 | $25 |
| PSA test (prostate cancer screening) A blood test that measures the level of prostate-specific antigen to screen for prostate cancer. |
93 | $19 | $50 |
| Flu vaccine, quadrivalent A flu shot containing four strains of the influenza virus to help prevent seasonal influenza infection. |
91 | $76 | $80 |
| Office visit for established patient An office visit for an existing patient that may not require the healthcare professional to be present. |
83 | $14 | $45 |
| Vitamin B-12 injection An injection of vitamin B-12 (cyanocobalamin) with a dose of up to 1000 mcg. |
66 | $1 | $5 |
| Ketorolac injection, per 15 mg An injection of ketorolac tromethamine, a nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug, administered in doses measured per 15 mg. |
60 | $0 | $15 |
| Diabetes self-management training, individual Individualized education and training for managing diabetes, billed per 30-minute session. |
53 | $38 | $90 |
| Vitamin D level test A blood test to measure the amount of Vitamin D-3 in your body. |
49 | $29 | $80 |
| Vitamin B-12 level test A blood test that measures the amount of vitamin B-12 in your body. |
35 | $15 | $65 |
| 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. |
30 | $27 | $75 |
| Joint injection, major joint Removal of fluid from a large joint and/or injection of medication into the joint space. |
29 | $44 | $113 |
| Folic acid level test A blood test that measures the amount of folic acid in the serum. |
29 | $14 | $60 |
| Injection, methylprednisolone acetate, 40 mg | 28 | $5 | $12 |
| Hormone pellet insertion under the skin A small hormone pellet is placed just beneath the skin to release medication slowly over time. |
27 | $66 | $150 |
| Unclassified drug A medication that does not fit into standard HCPCS or CPT classification categories. |
27 | $510 | $718 |
| 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. |
26 | $116 | $300 |
| 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. |
23 | $40 | $90 |
| 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. |
22 | $35 | $95 |
| Erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR) test A blood test that measures how quickly red blood cells settle in a test tube to detect inflammation in the body. This specific method is performed manually rather than using an automated machine. |
21 | $4 | $15 |
| 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. |
17 | $20 | $100 |
| Transitional care management services, moderate complexity Services provided to coordinate care during the transition from an inpatient or other facility setting back to the community. This includes follow-up and management of a health problem of at least moderate complexity. |
17 | $156 | $300 |
| Ferritin level test (iron stores) A blood test that measures the level of ferritin, a protein that stores iron in the body. |
13 | $13 | $80 |
| Iron level test | 13 | $6 | $36 |
| 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. |
13 | $9 | $40 |
| 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. |
13 | $212 | $350 |
| Adm sarscv2 bvl 50mcg/.5ml a | 12 | $39 | $70 |
| Pneumococcal conjugate vaccine (PCV20) An intramuscular injection of the 20-valent pneumococcal conjugate vaccine. It is used to protect against diseases caused by Streptococcus pneumoniae bacteria. |
9 | $282 | $320 |
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 ↗$4,322
Total received (2018-2024)
Avg $617/year across 7 years
Top 11% in NC for family medicine
A higher payment rank reflects disclosed industry relationships (consulting, research, speaking) common among subspecialists — not wrongdoing.
19
Companies
91
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
$4,295 (99.4%)
Other
Charitable contributions, space rental, and other categories
$15 (0.3%)
Speaking / Promotional
Speaker programs, honoraria, and industry-sponsored educational events
$12 (0.3%)
Payment trend by year
Annual totals from pharmaceutical and medical device companies.
2024
$228
2023
$193
2022
$90
2021
$195
2020
$1,339
2019
$2,146
2018
$130
Payments by company (2024)
Consulting
Speaking
Meals & Travel
Research
AstraZeneca Pharmaceuticals LP
$140
Novo Nordisk Inc
$44
PFIZER INC.
$16
Boehringer Ingelheim Pharmaceuticals, Inc.
$15
Exact Sciences Corporation
$13
Top 3 companies account for 87.8% of 2024 payments
All-time payments by company (2018-2024) ›
Novo Nordisk AS
$2,009
Eli Lilly and Company
$1,322
AstraZeneca Pharmaceuticals LP
$178
AbbVie Inc.
$159
Novo Nordisk Inc
$125
Janssen Pharmaceuticals, Inc
$115
Otsuka America Pharmaceutical, Inc.
$78
PFIZER INC.
$70
SANOFI-AVENTIS U.S. LLC
$53
Supernus Pharmaceuticals, Inc.
$42
Medtronic, Inc.
$37
Genentech USA, Inc.
$26
Axsome Therapeutics, Inc.
$24
Merck Sharp & Dohme Corporation
$16
Baxter Healthcare
$15
Boehringer Ingelheim Pharmaceuticals, Inc.
$15
ABBVIE INC.
$15
Exact Sciences Corporation
$13
Lilly USA, LLC
$12
Top 3 companies account for 81.2% of all-time payments
Associated products mentioned in payments ›
AIRSUPRA · Auvelity · BREZTRI · CHANTIX · Cologuard Collection Kit · DIABETES - DISEASE · EUCRISA · FARXIGA · INTELLIS ADAPTIVESTIM · INVOKANA · JARDIANCE · KYPHON EXPRESS II KYPHOPAK TRAY · LYRICA · NURTEC ODT · Ozempic · PNEUMOVAX 23 · REXULTI · Rybelsus · SOLIQUA · TOUJEO · TROKENDI XR · UBRELVY · VRAYLAR · XARELTO · 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 (99%) are for meals and travel — low-value interactions that are common across virtually all practicing physicians.
Geographic Context
Family medicine physicians within 10 mi
166
Per 100K population
188.9
County median income
$55,684
Nearest hospital
BLUE RIDGE HEALTHCARE HOSPITALS, INC
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. Smith is a mixed practice specialist, with above-average Medicare volume (top 0% in NC), with low-engagement industry engagement in the top 11% 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. Smith experienced with testosterone injection?
Based on Medicare claims data, Dr. Smith performed 41,100 testosterone injection 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. Smith receive payments from pharmaceutical companies?
Yes. Dr. Smith received a total of $4,322 from 19 companies across 91 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. Smith's costs compare to other family medicine physicians in Morganton?
Dr. Smith's average Medicare payment per service is $4. 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. Smith) 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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