Medicare Enrolled
Dr. Steven Kent, MD
Cardiovascular Disease · Pinehurst, 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. Kent 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. Kent
Dr. Steven Kent is a cardiovascular disease specialist in Pinehurst, NC, with 20 years of NPI registration. Based on federal Medicare data, Dr. Kent performed 3,327 Medicare services across 2,390 unique beneficiaries.
Between the years covered by Open Payments, Dr. Kent received a total of $2,662 from 24 pharmaceutical and/or device companies across 104 individual payments. These payments are legal, publicly disclosed under the federal Sunshine Act, and common in cardiovascular disease. 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. Kent 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
$2,662 industry payments
Medicare Practice Summary
Medicare Utilization ↗3,327
Medicare services
Top 20% in NC for cardiovascular disease
2,390
Unique beneficiaries
$43
Avg. Medicare payment
Medicare patients only (65+ / disabled) · How to read this →
~166 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 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. |
529 | $84 | $255 |
| Routine 12-lead electrocardiogram (ECG) A test that records the electrical activity of the heart using at least 12 leads to produce a tracing. |
421 | $4 | $43 |
| EKG interpretation and report A standard electrocardiogram test that records the heart's electrical activity using at least 12 leads. The service includes a professional interpretation of the results and a written report. |
421 | $5 | $40 |
| Echocardiogram, transthoracic An ultrasound of the heart that uses color to show blood flow, rate, direction, and valve function. |
275 | $63 | $411 |
| 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. |
165 | $60 | $173 |
| Nuclear stress test of heart muscle A nuclear medicine imaging test that evaluates blood flow to the heart muscle at rest and during stress using a special camera. |
150 | $149 | $982 |
| Blood draw (venipuncture) Insertion of a needle into a vein to collect a blood sample. |
147 | $8 | $20 |
| Technetium Tc-99m sestamibi diagnostic injection A diagnostic injection of technetium Tc-99m sestamibi used for imaging studies. |
134 | $87 | $175 |
| Blood creatinine level test A blood test that measures the amount of creatinine, a waste product from muscle wear and tear, to help assess kidney function. |
94 | $5 | $35 |
| Blood urea nitrogen test A blood test that measures the amount of urea nitrogen to assess kidney function. |
94 | $4 | $33 |
| Blood potassium level test A blood test that measures the amount of potassium in your body. Potassium is an electrolyte that helps control heart and muscle function. |
92 | $5 | $30 |
| Blood sodium level test A laboratory test that measures the amount of sodium in your blood. Sodium is an electrolyte that helps regulate fluid balance and nerve function. |
91 | $5 | $28 |
| Hospital follow-up visit, moderate complexity Follow-up hospital visit for an existing patient involving moderate medical decision making. The visit requires at least 35 minutes of time spent on the date of service. |
84 | $59 | $170 |
| Regadenoson injection (Lexiscan) for heart stress test An injection of regadenoson, a medication used to stress the heart during diagnostic testing. |
76 | $49 | $133 |
| Exercise or drug-induced heart stress test with ECG A heart stress test performed using exercise or medication while monitoring the electrocardiogram, with physician review of the results. |
54 | $10 | $179 |
| Lipid panel (cholesterol and triglycerides) A blood test that measures cholesterol and triglyceride levels. |
49 | $13 | $95 |
| Exercise or drug-induced heart stress test with ECG A heart stress test performed using exercise or medication while an electrocardiogram is monitored under physician supervision. |
37 | $14 | $112 |
| Exercise or drug-induced heart stress test with ECG A test that monitors the heart's electrical activity while the patient exercises or receives medication to increase heart rate. |
36 | $21 | $174 |
| 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. |
32 | $96 | $324 |
| Remote pacemaker monitoring, 90 days Remote assessment of a pacemaker system, including single, dual, multiple lead, or leadless devices, performed up to 90 days apart. |
27 | $18 | $112 |
| Remote pacemaker/defibrillator monitoring, 90 days Remote evaluation of a pacemaker or implantable defibrillator system within 90 days of the last check. |
27 | $13 | $115 |
| Initial hospital admission, high complexity Initial hospital inpatient or observation care for a new patient involving high-level medical decision making, with at least 75 minutes total time on the date of the encounter. |
27 | $129 | $477 |
| CT scan of heart with contrast A computed tomography scan that uses contrast dye to create detailed images of the heart's structure. |
26 | $60 | $170 |
| Follow-up heart ultrasound An ultrasound of the heart performed to monitor or reassess a previously identified condition or treatment progress. |
23 | $18 | $88 |
| Complete blood count (CBC), automated An automated laboratory test that measures the levels of red blood cells, white blood cells, and platelets in the blood. |
20 | $6 | $40 |
| Cardiac catheterization | 20 | $203 | $1,040 |
| 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. |
20 | $126 | $392 |
| Kidney function blood test panel | 19 | $9 | $62 |
| Echocardiogram with color Doppler An ultrasound of the heart that uses color imaging to visualize blood flow, measure flow rate, and assess valve function. |
16 | $2 | $31 |
| Flu vaccine, quadrivalent A flu shot containing four strains of the influenza virus to help prevent seasonal influenza infection. |
15 | $76 | $125 |
| Continuous external EKG monitoring, 48 hours to 7 days This procedure involves recording the heart's electrical activity continuously using an external device for a period exceeding 48 hours but not more than 7 days. |
15 | $8 | $250 |
| Flu vaccine administration This procedure involves the administration of the influenza virus vaccine. It covers the process of delivering the vaccine to the patient. |
15 | $29 | $37 |
| 2-day continuous ECG monitoring A continuous electrocardiogram recording that captures heart activity over a 48-hour period. This test helps detect irregular heart rhythms or other cardiac issues that may not appear during a standard, short-term ECG. |
14 | $11 | $190 |
| 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. |
14 | $34 | $104 |
| 2-day continuous ECG with professional review A two-day continuous electrocardiogram recording that includes a review by a healthcare professional. |
13 | $13 | $184 |
| Continuous EKG monitoring review, 48-7 days Review and interpretation of continuous external EKG recordings lasting more than 48 hours up to 7 days. |
12 | $17 | $56 |
| Follow-up ultrasound of heart blood flow, valves and chambers An ultrasound exam that follows up on the heart's blood flow, valves, and chambers. It uses sound waves to create images of the heart's structure and function. |
12 | $5 | $42 |
| Natriuretic peptide level test A blood test that measures the level of natriuretic peptide, a protein produced by the heart and blood vessels. |
11 | $38 | $152 |
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.
10.9% high complexity
16.6% medium
72.6% routine
Industry Payment Transparency
Open Payments through 2024 ↗$2,662
Total received (2018-2024)
Avg $380/year across 7 years
Top 49% in NC for cardiovascular disease
A higher payment rank reflects disclosed industry relationships (consulting, research, speaking) common among subspecialists — not wrongdoing.
24
Companies
104
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
$2,662 (100.0%)
Payment trend by year
Annual totals from pharmaceutical and medical device companies.
2024
$98
2023
$893
2022
$156
2021
$84
2020
$206
2019
$548
2018
$675
Payments by company (2024)
Consulting
Speaking
Meals & Travel
Research
ZOLL Services LLC (A/K/A ZOLL LifeCor Corp)
$59
iRhythm Technologies, Inc.
$21
Janssen Pharmaceuticals, Inc
$17
Top 3 companies account for 100.0% of 2024 payments
All-time payments by company (2018-2024) ›
Boston Scientific Corporation
$523
Abbott Laboratories
$429
Actelion Pharmaceuticals US, Inc.
$243
E.R. Squibb & Sons, L.L.C.
$181
AstraZeneca Pharmaceuticals LP
$167
Novartis Pharmaceuticals Corporation
$137
Chiesi USA, Inc.
$135
Organogenesis Inc.
$117
Alnylam Pharmaceuticals Inc.
$113
PFIZER INC.
$111
SANOFI-AVENTIS U.S. LLC
$110
Janssen Pharmaceuticals, Inc
$95
ZOLL Services LLC (A/K/A ZOLL LifeCor Corp)
$87
Cardinal Health 200, LLC
$45
Daiichi Sankyo Inc.
$27
Amgen Inc.
$24
iRhythm Technologies, Inc.
$21
Edwards Lifesciences Corporation
$16
Novo Nordisk Inc
$16
Medtronic, Inc.
$15
Braemar Manufacturing, LLC
$14
LivaNova USA, Inc.
$12
Gilead Sciences, Inc.
$11
B. Braun Interventional Systems Inc.
$11
Top 3 companies account for 44.9% of all-time payments
Associated products mentioned in payments ›
Assurity Pacemaker · BRILINTA · CARDIOMEMS · Cardiac Monitoring Suite · CardioMEMS HF System · Circulatory Support · Corlanor · EDWARDS SAPIEN 3 TRANSCATHETER HEART VALVE (THV) · ELIQUIS · ENTRESTO · FARXIGA · HeartMate · HeartMate 3 Left Ventricular Dev · INJECTAFER · KENGREAL · LINQ II · LifeVest · MITRACLIP · OPSUMIT · OPSUMIT MACITENTAN · Ozempic · PRALUENT · Pacemakers · Puraply · Ranexa · Repatha · TandemLife · Unify Assura CRT Defibrillator · VYNDAQEL · WATCHMAN · WATCHMAN Access System · XARELTO · Z-MED BALLOON CATHETER · Zio monitor
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
Cardiologists within 10 mi
17
Per 100K population
16.5
County median income
$82,837
Nearest hospital
FIRSTHEALTH MOORE REGIONAL 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. Kent is a clinical cardiology specialist, with above-average Medicare volume (top 20% in NC), with low-engagement industry engagement, 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. Kent experienced with office visit, established patient (30-39 min)?
Based on Medicare claims data, Dr. Kent performed 529 office visit, established patient (30-39 min) 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. Kent receive payments from pharmaceutical companies?
Yes. Dr. Kent received a total of $2,662 from 24 companies across 104 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. Kent's costs compare to other cardiologists in Pinehurst?
Dr. Kent's average Medicare payment per service is $43. 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. Kent) 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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