Medicare Enrolled
Dr. Zachary Kitchen, M.D.
Pain Medicine · New Bern, 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. Kitchen 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. Kitchen
Dr. Zachary Kitchen is a pain medicine specialist in New Bern, NC, with 19 years of NPI registration. Based on federal Medicare data, Dr. Kitchen performed 9,644 Medicare services across 2,581 unique beneficiaries.
Between the years covered by Open Payments, Dr. Kitchen received a total of $8,277 from 61 pharmaceutical and/or device companies across 417 individual payments. These payments are legal, publicly disclosed under the federal Sunshine Act, and common in pain 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. Kitchen 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 1% volume in NC
$8,277 industry payments
Medicare Practice Summary
Medicare Utilization ↗9,644
Medicare services
Top 1% in NC for pain medicine
2,581
Unique beneficiaries
$31
Avg. Medicare payment
Medicare patients only (65+ / disabled) · How to read this →
~508 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Contrast dye for imaging, lower concentration | 2,175 | $0 | $10 |
| Dexamethasone injection (steroid) An injection of dexamethasone sodium phosphate, a corticosteroid medication, administered in a dose of 1 milligram. |
2,000 | $0 | $3 |
| Hyaluronan intra-articular injection, 1 mg An injection of hyaluronan or its derivative into a joint space. This procedure delivers 1 mg of the substance directly into the affected joint. |
1,800 | $8 | $32 |
| Injection, methylprednisolone acetate, 40 mg | 530 | $6 | $30 |
| Betamethasone steroid injection An injection containing a combination of betamethasone acetate and betamethasone sodium phosphate. |
462 | $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. |
329 | $59 | $211 |
| Fluoroscopic guidance for needle placement Use of real-time X-ray imaging to guide the precise placement of a needle during a medical procedure. |
276 | $83 | $265 |
| 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. |
268 | $181 | $762 |
| Joint injection, major joint Removal of fluid from a large joint and/or injection of medication into the joint space. |
247 | $55 | $175 |
| 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. |
204 | $120 | $478 |
| 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. |
190 | $90 | $312 |
| 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. |
160 | $153 | $594 |
| 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. |
110 | $12 | $100 |
| 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. |
105 | $34 | $95 |
| 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. |
95 | $179 | $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. |
93 | $92 | $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. |
77 | $36 | $75 |
| Facet joint nerve destruction, additional joint This procedure uses imaging guidance to destroy nerves in an additional lower or sacral spinal facet joint. |
74 | $228 | $500 |
| Ketorolac injection, per 15 mg An injection of ketorolac tromethamine, a nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug, administered in doses measured per 15 mg. |
70 | $0 | $11 |
| 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. |
69 | $30 | $65 |
| 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 | $426 | $1,214 |
| 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. |
56 | $191 | $777 |
| 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. |
42 | $201 | $637 |
| 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. |
32 | $10 | $73 |
| 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. |
26 | $84 | $256 |
| Trigger point injection, 1-2 muscles A procedure involving the injection of medication into one or two specific muscles to treat trigger points. |
25 | $38 | $161 |
| Injection of anesthetic agent and/or steroid into other nerve or branch | 23 | $56 | $232 |
| 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. |
20 | $190 | $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. |
20 | $97 | $275 |
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 ↗$8,277
Total received (2018-2024)
Avg $1,182/year across 7 years
Top 30% in NC for pain medicine
A higher payment rank reflects disclosed industry relationships (consulting, research, speaking) common among subspecialists — not wrongdoing.
61
Companies
417
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
$8,277 (100.0%)
Payment trend by year
Annual totals from pharmaceutical and medical device companies.
2024
$1,322
2023
$1,565
2022
$1,726
2021
$625
2020
$489
2019
$928
2018
$1,622
Payments by company (2024)
Consulting
Speaking
Meals & Travel
Research
Boston Scientific Corporation
$423
Medtronic, Inc.
$230
Nevro Corp.
$170
ABBVIE INC.
$144
Collegium Pharmaceutical, Inc.
$64
PAINTEQ LLC
$48
Salix Pharmaceuticals, a division of Bausch Health US, LLC
$45
Valinor Pharma, LLC
$44
Virtus Pharmaceuticals LLC
$43
Novo Nordisk Inc
$27
Stryker Corporation
$26
Abbott Laboratories
$23
Saluda Medical Americas, Inc.
$22
PFIZER INC.
$13
Top 3 companies account for 62.3% of 2024 payments
All-time payments by company (2018-2024) ›
Relievant Medsystems, Inc.
$1,421
Boston Scientific Corporation
$896
Medtronic, Inc.
$684
Nevro Corp.
$657
Collegium Pharmaceutical, Inc.
$498
Forte Bio-Pharma LLC
$442
ABBVIE INC.
$427
Daiichi Sankyo Inc.
$296
Salix Pharmaceuticals, a division of Bausch Health US, LLC
$278
PFIZER INC.
$261
Sentynl Therapeutics, Inc.
$194
Scilex Pharmaceuticals Inc.
$158
Abbott Laboratories
$120
BOSTON SCIENTIFIC CORPORATION
$106
SCILEX PHARMACEUTICALS INC.
$99
Virtus Pharmaceuticals LLC
$99
ARBOR PHARMACEUTICALS, INC.
$98
Novartis Pharmaceuticals Corporation
$97
Almatica Pharma LLC
$87
Teva Pharmaceuticals USA, Inc.
$74
Azurity Pharmaceuticals, Inc.
$66
Lundbeck LLC
$66
Valinor Pharma, LLC
$62
Pernix Therapeutics Holdings, Inc.
$60
RedHill Biopharma Inc.
$52
Purdue Pharma L.P.
$50
PAINTEQ LLC
$48
BioDelivery Sciences International, Inc.
$48
Allergan, Inc.
$46
Nalu Medical, Inc.
$43
Shionogi Inc
$42
BIODELIVERY SCIENCES INTERNATIONAL, INC.
$40
Arbor Pharmaceuticals, Inc.
$40
Assertio Therapeutics, Inc.
$39
Saluda Medical Americas, Inc.
$37
SI-BONE, Inc.
$35
INSYS Therapeutics Inc
$33
Averitas Pharma Inc.
$31
GRT US Holding, Inc.
$31
Merz Pharmaceuticals, LLC
$30
Vertos Medical, Inc.
$28
Novo Nordisk Inc
$27
Biohaven Pharmaceuticals, Inc.
$27
Stryker Corporation
$26
SI-BONE, INC.
$26
Kaleo, Inc.
$25
Amgen Inc.
$22
Hikma Pharmaceuticals USA
$22
Baudax Bio Inc.
$20
Bioventus LLC
$20
Takeda Pharmaceuticals U.S.A., Inc.
$17
Medtronic USA, Inc.
$14
US WorldMeds, LLC
$14
Upsher-Smith Laboratories LLC
$14
West Therapeutics Development, LLC
$13
Kowa Pharmaceuticals America, Inc.
$13
Lilly USA, LLC
$12
Egalet US Inc
$12
Zyla Life Sciences, Inc.
$11
Zyla Life Sciences
$11
AstraZeneca Pharmaceuticals LP
$11
Top 3 companies account for 36.3% of all-time payments
Associated products mentioned in payments ›
AIMOVIG · AJOVY · ANJESO · Adthyza · Aimovig · Amitiza · BELBUCA · BOTOX · BUNAVAIL 2.1 mg 30-count box · Belbuca · Durolane · EMGALITY · ETERNA · EVZIO · Evoke · Evoke SCS · Evzio · FLECTOR · GENERAL PAIN MANAGEMENT · GENERAL - PAIN MANAGEMENT · GENERAL PAIN MANAGEMENT · GRALISE · General - Pain Management · Gralise · Horizant · INCEPTIV · INTELLIS · INTELLIS ADAPTIVESTIM · Intracept · KYPHON EXPRESS II KYPHOPAK TRAY · Kloxxado · LEVORPHANOL TARTRATE · LYRICA · Levorphanol · Levorphanol Tartrate · MILD DEVICE KIT · MOVANTIK · MYOBLOC · Morphabond ER · Movantik · NALOCET · NAPRELAN · NURTEC ODT · Nalocet · Nalu Neurostimulation System · Neuromodulation Dspsbls and Accs · Nucynta · PAINTEQ · PROCLAIM · Proclaim Family of SCS IPGs · QULIPTA · QUTENZA · Qutenza · RELISTOR · RELISTOR ORAL · REYVOW · SEGLENTIS · SPECTRA WAVEWRITER · SPRIX · SUBSYS · SYMPROIC · Senza · Senza Spinal Cord Stimulation System · SlimTip lead DRG Lead · Subsys · Superion · Superion Indirect Decompression System · Symproic · TOSYMRA SUMATRIPTAN NASAL SPRAY · UBRELVY · VYEPTI · WaveWriter Alpha Prime 16 · Wegovy · XTAMPZA · XTAMPZAER · Xeomin · Xtampza ER · ZOHYDRO ER · ZORVOLEX · ZTLido · ZTLido 30 POUCH in 1 CARTON 1 PATCH in 1 POUCH · 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 →
Most payments (100%) are for meals and travel — low-value interactions that are common across virtually all practicing physicians.
Geographic Context
Pain medicines within 10 mi
3
Per 100K population
3.0
County median income
$64,635
Nearest hospital
CAROLINA EAST MEDICAL CENTER
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. Kitchen is a mixed practice specialist, with above-average Medicare volume (top 1% 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. Kitchen experienced with contrast dye for imaging, lower concentration?
Based on Medicare claims data, Dr. Kitchen performed 2,175 contrast dye for imaging, lower concentration 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. Kitchen receive payments from pharmaceutical companies?
Yes. Dr. Kitchen received a total of $8,277 from 61 companies across 417 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. Kitchen's costs compare to other pain medicines in New Bern?
Dr. Kitchen'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. Kitchen) 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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