Medicare Enrolled
Dr. Julia Hughes, M.D.
Gastroenterology · Raleigh, 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. Hughes 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 →
Are you Dr. Hughes?
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What this data tells you about Dr. Hughes
Dr. Julia Hughes is a gastroenterology specialist in Raleigh, NC, with 15 years of NPI registration. Based on federal Medicare data, Dr. Hughes performed 2,388 Medicare services across 769 unique beneficiaries.
Between the years covered by Open Payments, Dr. Hughes received a total of $9,821 from 35 pharmaceutical and/or device companies across 281 individual payments. These payments are legal, publicly disclosed under the federal Sunshine Act, and common in gastroenterology. 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. Hughes 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.
✓ 15 years in practice
▲ Top 12% volume in NC
$9,821 industry payments
Medicare Practice Summary
Medicare Utilization ↗2,388
Medicare services
Top 12% in NC for gastroenterology
769
Unique beneficiaries
$31
Avg. Medicare payment
Medicare patients only (65+ / disabled) · How to read this →
~159 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 (iodine-based) A contrast agent containing 300-399 mg/ml of iodine used to enhance imaging studies. It is administered per milliliter to improve the visibility of internal structures. |
1,200 | $0 | $0 |
| Tissue pathology examination, moderate complexity A laboratory test where a pathologist examines tissue samples under a microscope to analyze cellular details. This intermediate complexity procedure involves specialized techniques to identify abnormalities in the tissue. |
486 | $48 | $75 |
| 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. |
139 | $85 | $134 |
| Colonoscopy with biopsy A procedure to collect tissue samples from the large intestine using a flexible tube with a camera. The samples are examined to check for abnormalities or disease. |
100 | $91 | $223 |
| Upper GI endoscopy with biopsy A procedure to collect tissue samples from the esophagus, stomach, or upper small intestine using a flexible tube with a camera. The samples are examined to check for abnormalities. |
73 | $60 | $167 |
| Special stain test for organisms A laboratory test using special stains on tissue slides to identify microorganisms. The process includes the technical preparation of the slides and a professional interpretation of the results. |
49 | $79 | $116 |
| Blood draw (venipuncture) Insertion of a needle into a vein to collect a blood sample. |
48 | $8 | $8 |
| Colon polyp removal with endoscopic snare This procedure removes polyps or growths from the large bowel using a flexible tube with a camera and a wire loop tool. The snare is used to cut off the growths during the examination. |
47 | $164 | $272 |
| Liver function blood test panel | 35 | $8 | $11 |
| 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. |
35 | $8 | $11 |
| Basic metabolic blood panel A blood test that measures a group of basic chemicals, including total calcium levels. |
32 | $8 | $11 |
| 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. |
28 | $101 | $174 |
| Balloon dilation of esophagus, stomach, or upper small bowel, less than 3.0 cm A procedure using a flexible endoscope to widen a narrowed section of the esophagus, stomach, or upper small bowel with a balloon that is less than 3.0 cm in length. |
18 | $83 | $277 |
| Colonoscopy A diagnostic exam of the large bowel using a flexible endoscope to visualize the interior of the colon. |
15 | $124 | $197 |
| Ferritin level test (iron stores) A blood test that measures the level of ferritin, a protein that stores iron in the body. |
15 | $13 | $19 |
| Vitamin B-12 level test A blood test that measures the amount of vitamin B-12 in your body. |
14 | $15 | $22 |
| Iron level test | 14 | $6 | $15 |
| 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. |
14 | $9 | $15 |
| CT scan of abdomen and pelvis with contrast A CT scan that uses dye to create detailed images of the abdomen and pelvis. This imaging test helps doctors examine internal organs and structures in these areas. |
13 | $226 | $331 |
| 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. |
13 | $128 | $188 |
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 ↗$9,821
Total received (2018-2024)
Avg $1,403/year across 7 years
Top 17% in NC for gastroenterology
A higher payment rank reflects disclosed industry relationships (consulting, research, speaking) common among subspecialists — not wrongdoing.
35
Companies
281
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
$5,013 (51.0%)
Consulting
Expert advisory fees, typically reflecting recognized clinical expertise
$4,638 (47.2%)
Speaking / Promotional
Speaker programs, honoraria, and industry-sponsored educational events
$171 (1.7%)
Payment trend by year
Annual totals from pharmaceutical and medical device companies.
2024
$2,299
2023
$6,353
2022
$360
2021
$118
2020
$137
2019
$361
2018
$194
Payments by company (2024)
Consulting
Speaking
Meals & Travel
Research
ABBVIE INC.
$551
Salix Pharmaceuticals, a division of Bausch Health US, LLC
$340
Janssen Biotech, Inc.
$209
BIOTRONIK NRO, Inc.
$184
PFIZER INC.
$178
Celltrion USA Inc.
$171
Takeda Pharmaceuticals U.S.A., Inc.
$120
Alnylam Pharmaceuticals Inc.
$61
Lilly USA, LLC
$61
Celgene Corporation
$57
Regeneron Healthcare Solutions, Inc.
$50
QOL Medical, LLC
$48
Ardelyx, Inc.
$41
Gilead Sciences, Inc.
$41
Merck Sharp & Dohme LLC
$39
Phathom Pharmaceuticals, Inc.
$37
Novo Nordisk Inc
$30
Eisai Inc.
$19
Boehringer Ingelheim Pharmaceuticals, Inc.
$18
VIVUS LLC
$16
CapsoVision, Inc.
$15
Abbott Laboratories
$13
Top 3 companies account for 47.9% of 2024 payments
All-time payments by company (2018-2024) ›
E.R. Squibb & Sons, L.L.C.
$4,638
ABBVIE INC.
$1,051
Celgene Corporation
$870
Salix Pharmaceuticals, a division of Bausch Health US, LLC
$487
Janssen Biotech, Inc.
$313
PFIZER INC.
$294
Braintree Laboratories, Inc.
$196
Takeda Pharmaceuticals U.S.A., Inc.
$188
BIOTRONIK NRO, Inc.
$184
Regeneron Healthcare Solutions, Inc.
$181
Allergan Inc.
$177
Celltrion USA Inc.
$171
QOL Medical, LLC
$162
AbbVie, Inc.
$120
Novo Nordisk Inc
$114
Ardelyx, Inc.
$99
Lilly USA, LLC
$78
Alnylam Pharmaceuticals Inc.
$61
Boehringer Ingelheim Pharmaceuticals, Inc.
$53
Amgen Inc.
$52
Gilead Sciences, Inc.
$41
Merck Sharp & Dohme LLC
$39
Phathom Pharmaceuticals, Inc.
$37
Abbott Laboratories
$35
Ferring Pharmaceuticals Inc.
$31
Eisai Inc.
$19
AbbVie Inc.
$18
Shionogi Inc
$18
VIVUS LLC
$16
CapsoVision, Inc.
$15
SANOFI PASTEUR INC.
$15
Synergy Pharmaceuticals Inc
$13
NESTLE HEALTHCARE NUTRITION INC.
$13
INTERCEPT PHARMACEUTICALS, INC.
$13
Merck Sharp & Dohme Corporation
$11
Top 3 companies account for 66.8% of all-time payments
Associated products mentioned in payments ›
Aimovig · Amitiza · CLENPIQ · CREON · CYLTEZO · CapsoCam Plus · Creon · DIFICID · DUPIXENT · Dexilant · ENTYVIO · EOHILIA · EVENITY · FLUZONE QUADRIVALENT · GATTEX · GIVLAARI · HUMIRA · Humira · IBSRELA · JANUVIA · JARDIANCE · LINZESS · Leqembi · MOUNJARO · Mavyret · Mulpleta · OCALIVA · OMVOH · Ozempic · PROCLAIM · Proclaim IPG · Prolia · Prospera · QSYMIA · RINVOQ · Rybelsus · SKYRIZI · STELARA · SUCRAID · SUPREP BOWEL PREP · SUTAB · Sucraid · TREMFYA · TRULANCE · Tresiba · Trulance · VEGZELMA · VIBERZI · VOQUEZNA · Wegovy · XELJANZ · XIFAXAN · ZENPEP · ZEPOSIA · ZYMFENTRA
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 (51%) are for meals and travel — low-value interactions that are common across virtually all practicing physicians.
Geographic Context
Gastroenterologists within 10 mi
109
Per 100K population
9.5
County median income
$101,763
Nearest hospital
REX HOSPITAL
2.6 mi
2.6 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. Hughes is a mixed practice specialist, with above-average Medicare volume (top 12% in NC), with low-engagement industry engagement in the top 17% of NC peers, with 15 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. Hughes experienced with contrast dye for imaging (iodine-based)?
Based on Medicare claims data, Dr. Hughes performed 1,200 contrast dye for imaging (iodine-based) 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. Hughes receive payments from pharmaceutical companies?
Yes. Dr. Hughes received a total of $9,821 from 35 companies across 281 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. Hughes's costs compare to other gastroenterologists in Raleigh?
Dr. Hughes'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. Hughes) 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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